01 Types of Skin Cancer Surgery

Types of Skin Cancer Surgery

Feeling a bit uncertain after a skin cancer diagnosis is understandable. You’re going through a life-changing period and likely looking for answers. It’s time to sit down and explore your surgery options. The good news is you have a variety of effective treatments that can help you or your loved one take the path to recovery.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in America, with about 6.1 million adults receiving treatment each year for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Thankfully, there are various effective surgical procedures to remove cancer cells.

To help you evaluate your choices, we’ve gathered information on different types of skin cancer surgery, how they are performed and how they can increase chances of recovery.

Schedule your appointment with Berman Skin Institute online now.

Mohs Surgery

What does Mohs surgery stand for? The acronym for MOHS stands for “micrographically oriented histographic surgery.” The procedure is named after its developer, Frederic E. Mohs, MD, who also calls it “Mohs Micrographic Surgery.”

Mohs surgery is an accurate skin cancer removal technique that involves cutting away layers of the skin tumor. A surgeon carefully examines the area under a microscope to identify skin layers that need removal. This procedure is repeated until the cancer is eliminated without damaging healthy skin.

After the tumor is removed, it leaves a wound. Depending on its size, the surgeon may close it with stitches or allow it to heal independently. In other cases, the surgeon will perform reconstructive surgery. This option is often appropriate for removing skin cancer on the face and neck.


Recovery time varies per patient, but the initial healing period can take two to three weeks. With a 99% cure rate, Mohs surgery is today’s most effective skin cancer removal technique. It’s used to treat the following types of skin cancer:

  • BCC
  • SCC
  • Melanomas
  • Less common skin cancers

Curettage and Electrosurgery

The curettage and electrosurgery method targets less sensitive areas, such as skin around the eyes and lips. To perform this procedure, an anesthetic is injected into the skin cancer tissue. Then, the tumor is gradually removed with a spoon-shaped tip called a curette.

Next, a practitioner uses a tool to burn the cancer tissue and eliminate the remaining cancer cells. It helps prevent bleeding and seals the wound. This technique is done once or twice to remove any of the leftover cancer. The wound is then covered to heal.

Recovery time varies depending on the wound’s size, though it can heal in around three to six weeks. Curettage and Electrosurgery have an almost 95% cure rate. It’s a skin cancer removal surgery that treats non-aggressive cancers in the skin’s top layer, such as small BCC and SCC sites.

Surgical Excision

Surgical excision, or standard excision, uses a surgical knife to remove the entire cancer tissue with some of the normal surrounding skin. The removed tissue is examined in a lab to determine if there are remaining cancer cells over the edges of the healthy skin.

If the result confirms cancer, the patient must return for surgery at a later date. This removes more cancer tissue, ensuring the affected area is cancer-free. Patient recovery varies, especially if they need to return for another surgery. After the procedure, an excision wound can take a few weeks to heal.

Surgical excision treats skin cancers in less cosmetically sensitive areas of the body, such as thighs and arms. While it can remove other skin growths like cysts and moles, it is not commonly used for removing skin cancer on the face.

Surgical excision can eliminate the following skin cancers:

  • Melanomas
  • BCC
  • SCC

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery is a procedure for removing many types of cancer, including skin cancers like BCC and SCC. This method involves freezing cancer tissues with liquid nitrogen or argon gas to destroy the tumor. It is less commonly used for more aggressive forms of skin cancer because it may not penetrate deeper layers of skin.

A surgeon uses a cotton swab or sprayer to apply liquid nitrogen to the affected area. When the frozen tissue thaws, the cancer cells are destroyed. The frozen tumor forms a scab and eventually falls off when the skin heals. This method usually causes less bleeding and pain than traditional surgeries and is minimally invasive.

Cryosurgery is effective, specifically for small BCC found on the top layer of skin, with an 85% to 90% cure rate. It is a suitable skin cancer removal surgery for patients who have blood clotting issues or those who cannot undergo anesthesia.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a type of surgery that can detect if the cancer spreads beyond the primary tumor. In this procedure, a surgeon removes a lymph node to confirm if it has cancer cells. The node is tested in a lab, and the patient waits for the results.

A negative result means the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes and other organs. If it is positive, the medical provider will know the cancer stage. It also suggests a patient needs to have other lymph nodes removed. Depending on the extent of the surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsy may require a short recovery in the hospital or may allow a patient to go home afterward.

A medical provider may recommend a sentinel lymph node biopsy if a patient has melanoma that has a high risk of spreading. This type of melanoma has the following qualities:

  • Looks like a sore and breaks open
  • Grows to a specific thickness in the skin
  • Has cells that multiply quickly

After this procedure, medical providers can create a more specific treatment plan. The biopsy is crucial because it determines the seriousness of the cancer, especially if other organs are affected. It allows medical providers to devise the best treatment for the patient’s recovery.

Does Insurance Cover Skin Cancer Surgery?

The answer is yes. Insurance can cover your skin cancer surgery. Many health insurance companies include skin cancer screenings in their policies. However, it’s best to check with your insurance provider because coverage varies per person.

Berman Skin Institute works with many types of insurance providers and offers financing options through CareCredit. For procedures exceeding $1,500, we require no down payment and 0% interest financing for up to 12 months.

Book an Appointment at Berman Skin Institute

Skin cancer is a highly treatable condition, with most types of skin cancer being cured with early detection. If you or your loved one has received a skin cancer diagnosis, talk to your health care provider to review the best possible treatment options for your case.

For skin cancer removal surgery, consider Mohs surgery at Berman Skin Institute. This procedure offers a cure rate of up to 99% and is highly suitable for skin cancers of the face and other sensitive areas of the body. Our providers receive specialized fellowship training in dermatologic oncology, pathology and plastic surgery reconstruction for optimal patient care.

Book your appointment at Berman Skin Institute today.

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