MIDWEST DERMATOLOGY
MOHS SURGERY SPECIALISTS
Mohs surgery, offered at Midwest Dermatology, is considered the “gold standard” for treating many types of skin cancer. As one of Chicago’s top fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons, James Quertermous, MD is known for his expertise in treating skin cancer through this revolutionary surgical procedure. Dr. Quertermous performs Mohs surgery at the Arlington Heights clinics. Book your skin check to see if Mohs surgery is right for you at either office by using the online scheduling system or by calling the clinic.
Q&A
Mohs surgery is essential for treating some of the most common types of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and certain kinds of melanoma. It’s particularly effective for skin cancers that:
- Have undefined borders.
- Appear large or aggressive.
- Are likely to come back.
Mohs surgery is also ideal if you have a cancerous growth in an area where you want to preserve healthy tissue, such as on your face, hands, or genitals.
During a Mohs surgery, Dr. Bangash injects a local anesthetic to ensure the affected area is numb. He does not knock you out, and you are awake during the procedure. He uses a scalpel to remove the outer, visible portion of the growth, as well as a small amount of underlying tissue.
Dr. Bangash then places that skin tissue on a slide and evaluates it under a microscope.
He repeats this process layer by layer until the tissue sample no longer has a cancerous cell. While the surgery shouldn’t be painful, it can be time-consuming, especially if you have a larger growth or have several tumors that need to be removed.
The biggest advantage to Mohs surgery is that you get your results back right away; your cancer is removed on the spot. Dr. Bangash is a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon and has extensive experience, so you can feel confident that the cancer at that site will be gone.
As with most cancers, though, skin cancer can develop again. Because most skin cancers occur as a result of exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or tanning beds, you’re going to have to be diligent about wearing sunscreen daily and protecting your skin.
Book your skin check and see if Mohs surgery is right for you by scheduling an evaluation at Midwest Dermatology. Use the online scheduling system or call the clinic.