Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Mohs Skin Cancer Removal Surgery

Mohs surgery is a highly specialised technique which is the gold standard for removal of trickier skin cancers (BCCs & SCCs) on the face.

WHAT IS MOHS SURGERY?

Mohs is a technique that ensures the highest chance (greater than 99%) of complete removal of your tumour, first time.  Importantly, Mohs allows the surgeon to preserve the maximum amount of healthy skin surrounding the cancer, taking only a 1mm margin. This means the wound will be kept as small as possible and scarring kept to an absolute minimum. The patient leaves with a great deal of confidence that their tumour is gone.

By contrast, doctors performing conventional skin cancer surgery take a 3-4mm margin around the tumour, removing a larger amount of healthy skin, resulting in a bigger wound and more scarring.  Unfortunately, regular surgery has a lower cure rate of 85-90%, sometimes leading to the disappointing situation where a second procedure is required.  Occasionally the residual cancer can grow for some time undetected under the scar, resulting in an additional procedure and further scarring.

The Dr Simon Tucker Difference

The difference with Mohs surgery is that Dr Tucker uses on-site pathology facilities where he will analyse the tumour excision specimen himself while the patient is made comfortable in a lounge with a temporary bandage. In 30 minutes you know for certain if the margins are clear and your skin cancer is completely gone. If it is the wound is repaired, and if it isn’t a small extra excision is taken. The process is repeated until the tumour is cured.

A Mohs surgeon is a specialist dermatologist who also completes an accredited program of Mohs surgery training and who holds FACD (Fellow of the Australian College of Dermatologists).  

Dr Tucker is the only private dermatologist in Cairns and the only Mohs surgeon north of Brisbane. He is also a member of the ACMS (American College of Mohs Surgery). 

MORE INFORMATION

Skin Checks

Skin Cancer Removal

Non-Surgical Approaches

Moles & Benign Lesions

Cosmetic Procedures

Types of Skin Cancer

Everyone's skin is individual

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