Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Dr. Adam Nabatian has dedicated his career to dermatology, completing a skin cancer fellowship in Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Cutaneous Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery - credentials very few distinguished dermatologists have.

As a fellowship-trained and double board-certified Mohs Surgeon, Dr. Nabatian performs a very intricate skin cancer removal with minimal to no scarring, even on the most visible, delicate and high functioning areas such as the face, nose, ears, neck, genitals, hands and feet. Dr. Nabatian has performed over 10,000 Mohs Micrographic Surgeries.

Mohs surgery is the most advanced and effective treatment for a variety of skin cancer types. Mohs surgery is an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia. On the day of surgery, the surgical site is anesthetized and the skin cancer is removed with a narrow margin of normal skin. The tissue is then brought to the on-site laboratory where it is processed and evaluated under the microscope by Dr. Nabatian. If residual skin cancer is noted at any margin, then additional tissue is removed from the area where skin cancer is still present. This tissue is again processed and evaluated for residual tumor. If skin cancer is still present at the margin, then additional tissue is removed from the affected area. This process is repeated until the entire skin cancer is removed.

Once the margins are clear, reconstruction may be performed. In some cases, the wound will heal naturally. In other cases, the wound will be sutured into a straight or curved line. Sometimes, a more advanced procedure such as a skin flap or skin graft is needed to repair the defect. The choice of reconstruction is generally based on several factors including the size and location of the wound, the quality of the surrounding tissue, smoking status, and patient goals of care.

Advantages of Mohs Surgery

  • Cancer cure rate as high as 99 percent – higher than any other treatment option

  • The lowest risk of recurrence when compared to other treatment options, including cases of aggressive or recurring cancers.

  • Performed in an outpatient office under local anesthesia

  • Complete circumferential margin control. In Mohs surgery, 100% of the surgical margin is evaluated to ensure tumor clearance.

  • Tissue sparing procedure. The Mohs technique allows the surgeon to remove as little healthy tissue as possible, while ensuring complete removal of the skin cancer.

  • Minimal potential for disfigurement or scarring

  • Intraoperative margin assessment. With Mohs surgery, the tumor margin is evaluated during the procedure. This allows the patient to return home on the day of surgery with confidence that the tumor has been completely removed.

If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer, or believe you may have a cancerous lesion, call (212) 433-3788 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Nabatian to find out if our Mohs surgery is right for you.