Mohs Surgery in Colorado Springs, CO
The Fellowship Difference
Dr. Matheson was the first fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon to begin practice in Colorodo Springs. He underwent an intensive year of additional surgical training beyond dermatology residency to gain skills in skin cancer removal and facial reconstruction. He is a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery and is board certified in micrographic dermatologic surgery.Downloads
Post-op Instructions
- For Wounds Healing by Mother Nature (Second Intention)
- For Wounds Closed with Stitches or Flap
- For Wounds Repaired with a Skin Graft
Several surgical and non-surgical techniques are used to treat skin cancer. Mohs Micrographic Surgery is a precise surgical method with a very high cure rate. Named in honor of Dr. Frederic Mohs who pioneered the concept, the technique involves a layer-by-layer excision of tissue around a cancer, with examination of 100% of the surgical margins.
The physician performing Mohs surgery acts as both the surgeon and pathologist, and performs the surgery under local anesthetic in the office. By removing the cancer in a series of thin layers, normal tissue surrounding the cancer is preserved, and scarring is reduced.
Mohs surgery has a high cure rate
because the Mohs surgeon "maps out" the cancer and examines the
entire surgical margin under the microscope for residual cancer
cells. While the laboratory processing is taking place, the patient
waits comfortably in the waiting room. If residual tumor is seen,
the patient is brought back from the waiting room, and an
additional thin layer of tissue is excised. The lab process is then
repeated. This goes on until all margins are determined clear, and
the patient is then brought back from the waiting room. The Mohs
surgeon then evaluates the resultant wound, and decides the best
way to repair the wound whether with sutures, a flap, or a skin
graft. Some wounds are best left to heal in on their own, by Mother
Nature. Most patients complete the entire process of cancer removal
and repair of the wound in about four
hours.
Tumors most appropriately treated
with Mohs are basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of
the face, especially those that are large, near scar tissue, or
have failed treatment by other means. Whenever cancer occurs in an
area where it is important to preserve healthy tissue, Mohs may be
indicated.
Mohs surgery is not necessary for
all skin cancers, but it is an advanced technique we are able to
provide our patients when appropriate.