Dermatologist in Colorado Springs, CO.

Trinidad and Colorado Springs, CO residents needing Mohs Surgery often have questions before their procedure. At Skin Cancer and Dermatology Center of Colorado Springs, Dr. Brett Matheson, Dr. Christopher Sartori, and Dr. Martin Harris would like to put your mind at ease by answering some FAQs because our mission is to provide expert medical aid with a patient-centered approach.

What Is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs Surgery, also called Mohs Micrographic Surgery, is considered one of the most effective techniques for treating basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas (types of skin cancers) by removing the malignant tissue and leaving behind the healthy tissue with minimal scarring. 

What Should I Expect During the Procedure?

Unless your dermatologist has serious concerns, your Mohs surgery will take place at their medical office or in a surgical suite making it an outpatient procedure.

You will remain awake and alert as your surgeon inspects the site and injects a local anesthetic into the area where they need to work. Once the area has numbed sufficiently, the surgeon will cut out the visible skin cancer and remove a thin layer of the surrounding skin. You will then be bandaged and wait comfortably while your skin sample is checked for cancer cells. If there are still skin cancer cells present, then another layer of skin will be removed and inspected. If there are no cancer cells, you are done with your procedure. 

Once a skin layer sample is clear of cancer cells, your surgeon will assess your wound to determine whether you need further treatment. This may be bandaging the wound, putting in stitches, a skin graft or similar, or referral to another surgeon for treatment.

If your condition is stable, you will be released to go home. 

Is It Painful?

Your Mohs surgery should not be painful. The most discomfort you should experience is when the local anesthesia is injected.

What Should I Expect After the Procedure?

You should expect to be tired for a few days after your procedure and may experience light bleeding. Additionally, you may need to take some antibiotics to prevent any possibility of infection and some pain medications to ease any discomfort.

Reach out

If you are a Trinidad or Colorado Springs, CO resident needing Mohs surgery, please book an appointment with Dr. Matheson, Dr. Sartori, or Dr. Harris at the Skin Cancer and Dermatology Center of Colorado Springs at the Colorado Springs office by calling (719) 574-0310, or in Trinidad, CO, at (800) 290-2478, so call today.