MOHS MICROGRAPHIC SURGERY

ABOUT MOHS MICROGRAPHIC SURGERY

The treatment of choice for cancers of the face and other sensitive areas, the MOHS technique allows the physician to precisely identify and remove the entire tumor, leaving surrounding healthy tissue intact and unharmed.

First, the surgeon will excise the tumor. The specimen will then be immediately prepared and examined by the surgeon, who is also our in-house pathologist. The specimen will have been specially marked so that if the cancer has not been entirely removed, the surgeon can then immediately return to the site and remove only what is absolutely necessary, leaving as little scarring as possible. Because our MOHS specialists are at the height of their field in surgery, pathology, and re-construction, this procedure has the highest success rate of all treatments for skin cancer.

AM I A CANDIDATE FOR MOHS SURGERY?

Here is an example of the step by step process used to determine whether a patient is a candidate for MOHS surgery

Initially, a suspicious lesion or mole will be viewed by the dermatologist with the naked eye, then examined with a dermatoscope.

The lesion will then be subjected to laser skin imaging with a confocal microscope. When used appropriately by an expert confocalist, this technology can spare a patient from an unnecessary biopsy or, in some cases, can diagnose melanoma/skin cancer which would not have been detected by the naked eye alone.

After confocal microscopy and analysis, if the lesion is still classified as suspicious, the physician will perform a skin biopsy, which is still the gold standard for diagnosing benign from malignant lesions. We always have a board certified dermatopathologist on-site to review these biopsies and correlate with the clinical impression, thus managing the patient in the most effective possible way.

Sometimes, other skin growths, such as age spots or dark skin tags, can be mistaken for moles. At Rao Dermatology, we combine over 25 years of clinical experience and judgement with the latest non-invasive diagnostic tools to determine whether a biopsy is necessary. This is especially important if you have numerous moles or a mole at a cosmetically significant site, in order to minimize the possibility of scarring. If your dermatologist is unconvinced that a mole is benign, it will still be biopsied, but at Rao Dermatology, we use every technological means necessary to determine whether surgery is the only option.

When surgery is necessary, or when a patient chooses to remove a mole for aesthetic purposes, we perform these procedures in-house in the privacy and comfort of our state-of-the-art surgical facility.

TESTIMONIALS

“I have been going to Dr. Rao for a few years, and am very satisfied with the quality of service and care.”
Sidney, Rao Dermatology Patient
“Both my husband and I have visited Rao Dermatology for over 20 years.”
Lisa, Rao Dermatology Patient
“The best dermatologist I have ever seen.”
Haley, Rao Dermatology Patient
“He is very professional and caring about any concern you have.”
- Rao Dermatology Patient
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. My daughter has been treated for over 3 years elsewhere and our new insurance sent us here. I cannot believe how fast they acted to keep my daughter on track with the only treatment that has worked."
- Rao Dermatology Patient
"The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. I went in about a year ago to help get rid of my acne and my skin has never been better. They're usually on track with their appointment times so you're in and out in a timely manner. They've also helped diagnose and treat my husbands psoriasis."
- Rao Dermatology Patient
"This office is great and I am glad that we were able to come here. They give you a lot of information, and sometimes it's hard to process/remember, but they are very patient until you understand. I would definitely recommend them."
- Rao Dermatology Patient
"My experience has always been awesome here in Hanford. The staff are wonderful and make you feel like family!!!!"
- Rao Dermatology Patient
"Love the staff, everyone is so nice and friendly"
- Rao Dermatology Patient
"The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. I went in about a year ago to help get rid of my acne and my skin has never been better. They're usually on track with their appointment times so you're in and out in a timely manner. They've also helped diagnose and treat my husband's psoriasis."
- Cassidy
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We recently lost our insurance. ( anthem pulled out of central cal) my daughter has been treated for over 3 years elsewhere and our new ins sent us here. I cannot believe how fast they acted to keep my daughter on track with the only treatment that has worked. They took us in on short notice. Squeezed us in at 730am to accommodate us. ( we live an hour away ) and did everything possible to make sure my daughter had what she needed. My daughter was so worried. Dr Rao made everything all good. Sounds kinda silly but unless you have a 14 1/2 year old daughter you just cannot understand how important their service was today. Holly, griselle , all top notch. All I can say is thank you again."
- Matt
"I have been coming to Rao Dermatology for a few months . And it is my Honor to say that all the Staff are VERY PROFESSIONAL AND RESPECTFUL. All the Ladies are very Beautiful and are so concerned about their patients. Their Happy Attitudes are contagious. Love them all. Thank You Dr. Rao and Ladies. I look forward to my next appointment."
- James
"Doctor Rao has been my dermatologist for 6 years. He is one of the foremost authorities on skin cancer in the country, but what really makes him special is the way he communicates his knowledge to his patients. He is an excellent doctor, and has removed several moles for me with minimal or no scarring. He is also very cautious and not aggressive about treatment, and always puts the health of his patients first. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a great dermatologist, whether for skin cancer or cosmetic purposes."
- Anna
"I have been going to this office for a few months and everyone in this office is extremely friendly and is able to answer all questions I have asked. I have been going weekly for acne treatments and have seen great results so far. I also had a cyst removed a few weeks ago and have zero complaints."
- Angela
"I was treated with excellent customer service! Everyone was so friendly! The girls in the front were more than willing to answer all my questions and help me select the best product for my face! The room assistants were great and were there to answer any other questions I had. The clinicians were very specific on what treatment would be best for my condition and they were right! It worked! I would recommend this office to everyone!!! It was by far the most caring group of professionals I have ever had. It wasn't just a business but it was a place where I could go and know I was well taken care of no matter how severe the case is. They are the best!"
- Trisha

In accordance with the State of California, face masks are required at the time of your visit.

For the safety of our staff and our patients, we are grateful for your understanding and cooperation.

  • ACNE FACIAL $75/60 mins

    Deep cleansing and purifying facial designed to help with oily and acne prone skin

  • H2O2 FACIAL - SKIN REJUVENATION FACIAL $155/60 mins

    Multifunctional 6-in-1 H2o2 Water Hydrodermabrasion Facial

  • RADIO FREQUENCY FACIAL $125/60 mins

    Radio Frequency heats the skin’s deeper layers to induce new collagen and elastin production, encourages cell turnover, and helps skin become firmer, toned, and more youthful-looking