Mohs Surgery: A Highly Specialized Surgery

Mohs micrographic surgery, also known as Mohs chemosurgery, is a highly specialized procedure for the total removal of skin cancers. Mohs surgery is named in honor of Dr. Frederic Mohs, the physician who developed the technique. This form of treatment differs from all other methods of treating skin cancer by the use of a layer-by-layer method of removing skin cancer. It utilizes detailed mapping techniques along with microscopic examination of 100% of the removed tissue margins to ensure complete removal. This methodology provides the highest chance of removing every cancer cell. Studies show that the procedure yields a cure rate of over 99%. For recurrent skin cancers, the cure rate is approximately 95%.

Mohs surgery is the gold standard for treatment of skin cancers on the head, including the scalp, neck, hands, feet, shins, genitalia and most large, recurrent or aggressive cancers. The most common skin cancers treated with Mohs surgery are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma in situ, but almost all skin cancers can be effectively treated with Mohs surgery.

MetroDerm’s state-of-the-art surgical facility is honored to have Dr. Diamondis Papadopoulos and Dr. Amy Kim on staff. Together, Drs. Papadopoulos and Kim, both board-certified dermatologists and Mohs surgeons, have performed more than 20,000 cases of Mohs micrographic surgery. They are both Diplomates of the American Board of Dermatology, Fellows of the American Academy of Dermatology, Fellows of the American College of Mohs Surgery, and Fellows of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery.

Dr. Papadopoulos holds memberships with the American Medical Association, American Society of Phlebology, European Academy of Dermatology, Atlanta Association of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, and the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. He is frequently in demand as a skin cancer expert on local and national media outlets, including CNN.

Dr. Kim holds memberships with the Skin Cancer Foundation, Women’s Dermatologic Society, and the Atlanta Association of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. She appears frequently on local media outlets as an expert on skin cancer.