​​with traditional methods.  With this highly specialized procedure, the skin cancer tumor is accurately and precisely removed down to its roots, giving it little or no chance to grow back.  Your physician will determine your needs for Mohs surgery and our staff will prepare you for the procedure.  We work with selective Plastic and Oculoplastic surgeons for advanced and complicated surgical cases.  ​

• Excisional Surgery

Excisional Surgery involves the removal of the lesion along with some of the surrounding tissue as a safety margin. This area is usually stitched closed after the lesion is removed. This procedure is performed in our office and the removed tissue is then sent to a laboratory for microscopic review to assure complete removal.

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Preparation for Mohs Micrographic Surgery

When a patient is referred to our clinic for Mohs, a formal consultation appointment is set for the patient to meet Dr. Beau Burrow and have any questions answered regarding the procedure.  At that time, a plan will be put into place for when and how the skin cancer will be treated and repaired.  Upon arrival the day of surgery, any last minute questions or concerns can be addressed before getting started. 

Prior to surgery, we recommend that patients get a full night’s sleep and (unless told otherwise) eat breakfast. The procedure is performed entirely on an outpatient basis in our office. The laboratory work involved in preparing the tissue for microscopic interpretation is labor-intensive and can take up to 1 – 2 hours or more to complete for each layer.  Most patients bring a book or something to do while waiting on the results.  We ask each patient to plan to spend the morning with us, but many patients may be finished earlier.

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Your Recovery – Return To Health And A Healthy Lifestyle

Immediately after surgery and during the recovery period, there will often be the sensation of tightness as well as soreness of the treated area. The area can also become very swollen and bruised depending on the extent of involvement. The incision line(s) typically improve in appearance over the first three to six months postoperatively, especially if exposure to the sun is avoided. The extent of scarring (which normally occurs after any surgery) is kept to a minimum because the Mohs surgeon removes only the skin cancer and a minimal amount of healthy tissue.

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Preoperative Instructions for Mohs or Excisional Surgery

• Your surgery will be performed in our office on an outpatient basis unless otherwise instructed by our provider or nurse.

• For patients having Mohs micrographic skin cancer surgery, plan to possibly spend most of the morning in our office (infrequently, it may be all day). This does not mean that you will be in surgery the entire time.  We do all laboratory testing while you wait in order to minimize the chance of tumor recurrence.  The lab work takes time, so you may want to bring something to read or someone to keep you company.  While waiting on laboratory results, you may return to our patient reception area to be with your family and/or friend(s) where coffee is provided.  Patients who are NOT having Mohs will NOT have to wait on the laboratory results.

• Eat a light meal before coming in for surgery unless otherwise instructed.

• If you are known to have cardiovascular disease and have been prescribed a blood thinner such as aspirin, Plavix, Eliquis, or Coumadin by your physician, it may not be necessary to discontinue it.  Please discuss this with our scheduling nurse before surgery. If you have not been prescribed aspirin or other blood thinners by your physician for the treatment of known cardiovascular disease, avoid aspirin for at least 3 days prior to surgery and for 2 – 3 days after surgery.  All patients should try to avoid other NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as Advil/Motrin/ibuprofen, Naprosyn/Aleve/naproxen, Vitamin E, and similar medications as these medications also increase the tendency of bleeding.  Plain Tylenol may be taken if pain medicine is needed.

• TAKE YOUR REGULAR MEDICINES on the morning of surgery, except as discussed above.

• If not provided to us previously, please bring a list of all medicines that you are currently taking.

• Avoid drinking alcohol for 2 – 3 days prior to surgery and for 2 days after surgery as this increases the chances of bleeding.

• If you are diabetic, please bring a snack. If you have asthma, please bring your inhalers.

• We use only local anesthesia, so you will not be put to sleep in our clinic. 

• Take a bath or shower using an antibacterial soap on the morning of your surgery. We recommend that you do not apply makeup on the morning of your surgery (if the surgical site is on your face).

• Wear comfortable clothes. You may be asked to remove your shirt and a gown will be furnished.  Therefore, button-down shirts are preferable and one-piece garments (i.e., jumpsuits) are discouraged.

• You may bring someone with you or have someone available to call in order to drive you home after your surgery, especially if the surgical site is on your face or near your eye.

• If you have questions or want to cancel your scheduled appointment, please call and speak to our surgery coordinator as soon as possible.

 

Mohs Surgery FAQs

I have a documented skin cancer and am interested in Mohs as a treatment option. Who can I talk to?

Dr. Burrow would be more than happy to discuss this treatment option with you during a Mohs consultation. To schedule a consultation please call 601-939-0005.

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Why is Mohs superior to other skin cancer removal techniques? 

Mohs Micrographic Surgery offers patients the best possible cure rates and cosmetic results by thoroughly removing the diseased tissue only, preserving any surrounding "healthy" tissue. When compared to other treatments, there is no comparison; Mohs surgery is in a class by itself.

 

How long does the procedure take?

The excision itself takes approximately 10 - 15 minutes; however, the duration of the procedure depends on the location and size of the skin cancer. While several stages may be required, the sectioning, marking, and microscopic analysis may take up to one hour for each stage alone.

 

Where is the procedure performed?

The vast majority of Mohs procedures are performed on-site at our clinic. 

 

Will I be put to sleep for the procedure?

No, all procedures performed at our clinic will only use local numbing medication. 

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Will I scar?

While scarring is unavoidable, the Mohs technique offers minimal cosmetic disruption and the best cosmetic results.