Mohs micrographic surgery, also known as Mohs surgery, is one procedure used to treat people who have been diagnosed with skin cancer. Learning more about this treatment can put your mind at ease when you are facing a skin cancer diagnosis. Here are four facts that patients should know about skin cancer treatment through Mohs surgery:

1. Mohs surgery can help your dermatologist remove all of your skin cancer.

Mohs surgery is a type of excision surgery. However, it differs from other types of excision surgery due to the methodology used. During Mohs surgery, your dermatologist will remove thin layers of tissue. These tissue samples will be examined in a laboratory while your surgery is ongoing. Your dermatologist will continue to cut away thin layers of skin until the last sample is found free of cancer. This strategy allows your dermatologist to remove all of the cancerous cells from any given part of your body. It can therefore prevent the need for additional surgeries in the future.

2. Mohs surgery can be used to minimize scarring.

Mohs surgery is sometimes chosen as a skin cancer treatment for highly visible body parts. Your hands, face, and neck are some of the first things that people see when they look at you, and scars are highly noticeable in these areas. Since Mohs surgery is precise, it can be used to minimize the amount of healthy tissue removed during treatment. As such, Mohs surgery can be an effective method of minimizing scarring when treating skin cancer. 

3. Mohs surgery is comfortable.

Mohs surgery is typically performed in your dermatologist's office, and you will be awake during this surgery. At the beginning of your appointment, your dermatologist will sanitize your skin before injecting you with a local anesthetic. This medication will numb your skin and the underlying tissue, so you will not feel the process of excision. You may feel some pressure during your surgery, but you should not notice any pain. Any residual soreness you feel after the anesthesia wears off can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication at home.

4. Mohs surgery is a lengthy process.

Mohs surgery offers many benefits for the treatment of skin cancer. However, this type of excision surgery usually takes longer than other forms of skin cancer treatment. Since each tissue sample must be examined individually, patients can expect to spend several hours at their dermatologist's office. Reading a book or listening to music during your surgery can help you stay calm throughout the process. 

For more information reach out to a company such as Desert Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists.