When surgical removal is the appropriate treatment for a skin cancer, the specific procedure matters. The goal in every case is complete removal of the cancer, but how to achieve that depends on a number of factors that vary from patient to patient and lesion to lesion.
The type and subtype of cancer matters. The size and depth matter. The location matters enormously — a small BCC on the trunk is a very different surgical problem than the same cancer on the nose or eyelid. Whether the cancer has been treated before and recurred matters. The patient’s health status, age, and cosmetic priorities all factor into the discussion.
South Florida Skin Center offers the full range of surgical treatment options: Mohs micrographic surgery, standard excisional surgery, and electrodesiccation and curettage. When removal creates a defect requiring reconstruction, we handle that as part of the same treatment. Dr. Herbst holds fellowship training specifically in Mohs Micrographic Surgery — one of the highest standards of qualification for performing this procedure — and has been performing dermatologic surgery for over two decades. We recommend the approach that’s best for the specific clinical situation, and we explain why.
Skin Cancer Reconstruction
Removing a skin cancer solves one problem and creates another: a wound that needs to heal as well as possible, both medically and cosmetically. For small cancers in low-risk…
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Electrodesiccation & Curettage (ED&C)
Electrodesiccation and curettage is one of the oldest techniques in dermatologic surgery, and its longevity reflects its effectiveness in the right context. For appropriate patients with appropriate tumors in appropriate locations,…
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Excisional Surgery
Excisional surgery is the most common surgical approach for skin cancer outside of Mohs. The tumor is removed with a planned margin of surrounding healthy tissue, the wound is…
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Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Mohs micrographic surgery achieves the highest documented cure rates for the skin cancers where it’s indicated while removing the least amount of healthy tissue — two goals that usually…
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