Three of the most common forms of skin cancer are Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Skin Cell Carcinoma, and Melanoma. The push is still on to find a cure for cancer, but there is an effective treatment for Basal and Squamous Skin Cell Carcinoma and even for early-stage Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.

Traditional treatment

Wide local excision is the most common and accessible treatment for skin cancer. In this method, the surgeon identifies the tumor’s border and adds a margin to ensure the entire tumor is removed and to optimize the cure rate. After the tumor is removed, it is sent to a pathology lab for analysis. Confirmation that the tumor was completely removed could take several weeks.

Mohs surgery

Mohs Micrographic Surgery is a precise surgical procedure where thin layers of skin in the area of the visible cancer are removed one at a time and immediately analyzed to determine whether the tissue is cancerous. The surgeon will continue to remove layers for examination in the lab until no cancer cells are detected.

The challenge for patients seeking Mohs surgery

Although Mohs surgery is widely recognized as the preferred treatment for many skin cancer diagnoses, there is one significant challenge for patients seeking this procedure. There are fewer than 30 Mohs surgeons across Canada leading to a lack of access to treatment and long wait times.

Dr. Guo is board-certified in Canada and the US and has 16 years of post-secondary education. He has received surgical and cosmetic training at more than 15 prestigious institutions in Canada, the US, and Asia. 

He is a fellowship-accredited Mohs surgeon with expert knowledge on facial anatomy and surgical reconstruction. Dr. Guo brings an exceptional understanding of medical and cosmetic dermatology and many years of extensive experience to his practice.

There are five primary benefits of Mohs Surgery for treating skin cancer:

• Better odds that the tumor will be completely removed- Because your surgeon will check for the presence of cancer cells as each layer is removed, there is a good chance that all traces of cancer can be detected and removed.
• Better cosmetic outcomes- Unlike in traditional treatment where your surgeon must remove a margin of healthy tissue to ensure the tumor is excised, the precise removal technique and immediate analysis of tissue mean that your surgeon can remove less skin and minimize scarring.
• Mohs Surgery is quick- Usually performed in your doctor’s office, the procedure is reasonably brief. Although you will need to wait for lab results between each removal, the procedure typically only lasts between two and four hours.
• It is virtually painless- Your surgeon will likely inject an anesthetic to numb the area to be treated, but most patients report little to no pain during or after the procedure.
• Mohs Surgery has high rates of success- The cure rate varies based on the type of tumor treated, but for basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, cure rates are typically around 95%.

Fellowship training for Mohs surgery

Dr. Guo is a double board-certified medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatologist with Fellowship training in Mohs Micrographic Surgery. A fellowship is an extra step taken by specialists after completion of their specialist training, and only a board-certified dermatologist can enroll in a fellowship program. Mohs surgeons are rigorously trained in facial anatomy and facial surgery. This allows Dr. Guo to perform the precise and intricate Mohs surgery with the most skilled knowledge, but also allows him to apply his familiarity with facial anatomy to every procedure he performs. This benefits most cosmetic and facial surgery and facial reconstruction patients because these complex procedures rely on an understanding of the location and function of facial bones, muscles, fat pads, nerves, blood vessels, and more.

Visit our brand new state-of-the-art facility with top-of-the-line and cutting-edge technologies and equipment, and a full spectrum of medical, surgical, cosmetic, and laser dermatology. 

You can count on short wait times, knowledgeable staff, easy parking, and stringent COVID protocols. Our facility is one of the largest Mohs Surgical Suites in Canada.