Mohs Surgery

Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a highly specialized, state-of-the-art technique used for the treatment of skin cancers. Mohs surgery is different from routine surgical excision - with the Mohs technique, surgically removed tissue is carefully mapped, color-coded, and thoroughly examined microscopically by the surgeon on the same day of surgery. During this process, 100% of tissue margins are evaluated to ensure that the tumor is completely removed prior to repairing the skin defect. Mohs micrographic surgery results in the highest cure rate (97-99%) for skin cancers while minimizing the removal of normal tissue.

With standard surgical excision, only approximately 1% of tissue margins are examined and the results are only available days after the surgery. If cancer cells are found to remain during that delayed pathologic examination a second surgical procedure will be required at a later date.

Mohs surgeons are dermatologists who have performed additional fellowship training to become experts in Mohs micrographic surgery. As a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, Dr. Ravinder Gogia is highly skilled in all aspects of the technique, including surgical removal of the tumor, pathologic examination of the tissue, and advanced reconstruction techniques of the skin. Call our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gogia: 1-415-499-0100.