Mohs surgery is used to treat the most common types of skin cancer. Your doctor will perform the procedure in stages, cutting away sections of your skin and then examining them. This allows them to remove all cancerous regions while keeping your healthy skin intact.
If you suspect you have skin cancer on your scalp, see a specialist immediately. Untreated cancer can spread and pose significant health risks. If your doctor does diagnose skin cancer, talk to them about Mohs surgery as a treatment option.
What Is Mohs Surgery on the Scalp?
Mohs surgery, also known as Mohs micrographic surgery, is used to remove cancerous lesions from the skin. Mohs surgery has a high cure rate, allowing you to keep as much skin as possible because doctors remove only the sections with cancerous cells.1 Mohs surgery is a good option for the scalp because there aren’t many layers of tissue, making the procedure a bit easier for doctors.
The surgery happens in stages, and your doctor will examine the areas of the scalp they are removing to see if cancerous cells remain. This systematic process will enable them to leave unaffected layers of your scalp in place.
Why Do Doctors Perform Mohs Surgery?
Doctors perform Mohs surgery for patients with basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and other forms of skin cancer. They might choose this method if the area they are treating is large or aggressive. Removing one layer at a time allows them to see how far the cancerous cells have spread and whether you may need additional treatment. They can better evaluate the tissue surrounding cancerous lesions compared to other techniques.2
Doctors may perform Mohs surgery if you previously had the procedure to remove cancer in the same area. Success rates for Mohs surgery for recurring cases are over 90%.
What To Expect During Mohs Surgery
Your doctor conducts Mohs surgery on your scalp in stages. You may be sitting or lying down depending on which way presents the best angle for your doctor. They inject local anesthesia into the affected area to prepare you for the surgery.3
Your doctor will create a map of your scalp and use a scalpel to cut away a thin layer of tissue they already identified as cancerous through a biopsy. The surgeon then cuts the tissue into sections and looks at them under a microscope to see if the edges and sides still contain cancerous cells. If cancerous cells remain, the surgeon refers to the map so that they know which areas need more layers stripped away. They will repeat the process to identify the remaining cancerous and healthy cells until no cancerous cells remain on the edges or the underside of the tissue they removed.
Mohs surgery on scalp recovery time is short. You should be careful around that area of your scalp to avoid opening the wound or stitches. Your doctor may give you an ointment or cream to use on the surgical area.4
Benefits and Risks of Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery has the highest cure rate in treating basal and squamous cell skin cancers.5 Basal cell surgeries are successful up to 99% of the time for first surgeries and 94% for recurring cases. It is successful 95-99% of the time for first-time squamous cell surgeries and 90% for recurrences.
Another advantage of Mohs surgery is that doctors perform it on an outpatient basis. This saves you the time and money that comes with hospital admittance. You also only need local anesthesia for Mohs surgery, so you don’t have to worry about general anesthesia’s risks or recovery time.
The risks of complications associated with Mohs surgery are low but do include the following:
- Poor wound healing
- Scar formation
- Infection
- Cancerous cell regrowth
- Excessive bleeding
- A larger wound than anticipated
When Should You See a Doctor To Ask About Mohs Surgery?
You should examine your scalp regularly for signs of skin cancer, especially if you spend a lot of time in the sun. Your hair may not provide enough protection, and it is not unusual for cancer to develop on your head. If you have a family history of skin cancer or have a history of skin cancer, you should perform thorough examinations.6 If you have trouble seeing all areas, ask someone to help you look.
There are several types of growths you should watch for, including:7
- Sores that bleed and don’t heal or that regularly return in the same area
- Raised red patches that may be itchy
- Bumps that are pink or red with blue, black, or brown areas
- Growths that look like warts
- New spots that change shape or color
To be safe, you should see a doctor anytime you have an unusual growth on your scalp, especially if it doesn’t show signs of going away. After a biopsy confirms a skin cancer diagnosis, you can talk to your doctor about whether Mohs surgery is a good fit for you.
Learn More About Taking Care of Your Skin
Keep yourself informed about skin cancer and other skin problems by visiting My Skin Treatment. We offer comprehensive, physician-reviewed articles to help you identify symptoms and seek treatments that help you maintain healthy skin and avoid future problems.
SOURCES:
- American Academy of Dermatology Association: “What is Mohs Surgery?”
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Mohs Surgery.”
- Skin Cancer Foundation: “Mohs Surgery.”
- UCF Health: “Mohs Surgery Procedure, Recovery, & Risks.”
- Cleveland Clinic: “Mohs Surgery.”
- Northeast Dermatology Associates: “Mohs Surgery: Why You May Need Mohs on the Scalp.”
- Very Well Health: “Skin Cancer on the Scalp.”
