Mohs Surgery Reviews
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Average Mohs Surgery Cost: $2,196
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“No Scar Answer to my Skin Cancer”
francine
Worth It
Spent: $1,000 in Arizona
Spent: $1,000 in Arizona
during my visit to the dermatologist I pointed out a red spot on my nose that seemed to scab over easily, but never quite heal. The derm told me it was a squamous cell carcinoma, the kind caused by sun damage. While squamous cell cancer won't usually kill you, if left untreated it does spread, and it can create big ugly areas.
It could have eaten away my entire nose. I saw some photos of that. I decided it was best to have it removed when it was new and small.
I went to a skin cancer specialist in Moh's surgery. Moh's surgery is a subspecialty of dermatology, and not everyone does it. But I wanted it, because the alternative was to be disfigured.
My skin lesion was on my nose, so I didn't want somebody cutting a big piece off it. Mohs sounded like the perfect solution, because it's done with local anaesthesia, and the surgeon removes the skin layer by layer, or slice by slice, sending each slice to be biopsied while you are still in the office and numbed. You stay until a layer comes back clean. So they only take off exactly what's necessary to "get' the cancer. It's a cure about 98% of the time.
And then you are sent to a cosmetic surgeon. In my case, because this was on the bridge of my nose, they had to do a skin graft (they can't just sew up that area, because there's hardly any extra skin.). So they took some skin from my shoulder and grafted it on to my nose. They held it in place with a cotton ball that they sewed into the nose as well. Several days later, they removed the graft.
You can hardly tell it is there. There's no hole in my nose, and no real scar. This surgery is WORTH IT. I will look for some photos I took during the procedure, and if I find them, I'll post them.
This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.
Helpful review?

I agree. My Moh's surgeon was highly recommended by my dermatologist. They both said I wouldn't need a plastic surgeon. The nasty scar I have says they were wrong. Always get a plastic surgeon.
If you have anything done on your face get a plastic surgeon.
If you have to return several times to the mohs surgeon, make sure you understand how much is being done and what you are going to look like
thank you for your reply You can email pictures to: mmark5@mchsicom. I am still terrified about this surgery. Scheduled for Jan.2012
I have a large incision after removal on cancer on my face would love to see after pics of what to expect. Surgery one month ago. Had a plastic surgeon really nervous Looks so bad right now but he did stich me well Judy