Midwest Medical Specialists

Some skin conditions require more than topical treatments or oral medication for relief or cure. This may include more invasive procedures, for diagnosis and treatment. MMS dermatologists possess the expertise and the state-of-the-art equipment necessary for this level of care.

Micrographic Surgery for Skin Cancer (Mohs)

Mohs Micrographic Surgery, an advanced treatment procedure for skin cancer, offers the highest potential for recovery - even if the skin cancer has been previously treated. Midwest Medical Specialists has three dermatologists on staff trained in this extremely precise and demanding procedure in which the physician serves as surgeon, pathologist and reconstructive surgeon.

Mohs Surgery (named after its developer, Dr. Frederic Mohs) relies on the accuracy of a microscope to trace and ensure removal of skin cancer down to its roots, while leaving healthy tissue unharmed. This procedure is most often used in treating two of the most common forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

The Mohs technique involves several key steps which can be time-consuming, but offer a nearly 99% cure rate when it comes to many kinds of skin cancers.
Photo courtesy of: UW HEALTH

MOHS surgery generally requires only a local anesthetic and can be performed right in our MMS office or Surgical Center. It can be time-consuming, but is extremely effective in treating many forms of skin cancer. While you can expect a scar, it will be smaller and less noticeable since the procedure removes less normal tissue.

The surgery is performed in four steps:

• Step One: Tissue is surgically removed
• Step Two: The removed tissue is frozen, cut into small slices, placed on slides, and "mapped" to show abnormalities
• Step Three: Tissue slides are analyzed. Steps 1 - 3 are repeated until no further cancer is found
• Step Four: Reconstruction of the surgical defect (stitches, grafts, flaps or natural healing)

Mohs is the procedure of choice in anatomically important areas, such as the eyelid, nose and lips, because of its tissue sparing results and cure rate of 97% - 99% for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. For more information on Mohs Surgery, we encourage you to visit: www.mohssurgery.ca

Mole & Cyst Removal

Among the many routine procedures performed at MMS is the removal of cysts, moles, and skin tags. These growths are extremely common on the body and face, and, though generally benign, they can be annoying, uncomfortable and even embarrassing. Cysts, moles and skin tags can be removed quickly and simply on an outpatient basis.

Once removed, mole tissue is sent for biopsy to determine whether it is benign or malignant.
Photo courtesy of: LEA PATERSON / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

The removal procedure involves the following steps:

1. First, a local anesthetic is applied or injected.
2. The mole or cyst is removed by simple excision, which may require a few stitches depending on the size. Skin tags can often be snipped off. In the majority of mole and cyst cases, the whole procedure normally takes no more than 20 minutes.
3. Normally there is little or no recuperation time for skin tag, mole, or cyst removal. If stitches are applied, you will need to return in approximately 10 days for removal - a painless and quick procedure.
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PhotoDynamic Therapy

Another important treatment for precancerous skin lesions is photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT involves the topical application of a photosensitizing drug called Aminolevulanic Acid, and a Blue-U^® light. When Aminolevulanic Acid is exposed to the specific wavelength of light produced by the Blue-U^® light, the photosensitizers produce a form of oxygen that kills nearby cells.

Photodynamic therapy is a very effective way to treat many types of skin cancers and pre-skin cancers.
Photo courtesy of: DAVID PARKER / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

PDT is an effective treatment for actinic damage, using a chemical activated by light to obliterate abnormal cells. PDT also appears to deprive abnormal cells of blood supply and activate our defenses for tumor immunity.

You may also be interested in: Blue Light (PhotoDynamic) Treatments for severe acne.