Our Services

Dr. Ransdell is a fellow of the American Society for Mohs Surgery (ASMS) and we preform Mohs surgery in our office with our own on-site CLIA-certified laboratory. Dr. Ransdell recently obtained the newly developed subspecialty designation in Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery (MDS/Mohs).

Our Surgical Dermatology Services include: Mohs micrographic surgery, regular skin cancer excision surgery, and non-malignant lesion removal (cysts, lipomas, and moles).

When appropriate, we also consider using non-surgical approaches to treating superficial skin cancers including topical chemotherapy and immunomodulatory creams.

Dr. Ransdell has a strong interest in functional medicine. He creates an individualized treatment plan for each patient and integrates lifestyle, diet, and overall wellness.

We are happy to offer Mohs surgery in house here at Longhorn Dermatology. Mohs surgery, named after its inventor Dr. Frederick Mohs, is a highly effective surgical technique used in dermatology to treat certain types of skin cancer. It is considered the most precise and advanced method for removing skin cancers, particularly those with aggressive growth patterns or located in cosmetically sensitive areas where tissue preservation is crucial.

How does Mohs surgery work?

1. Local anesthesia: The patient is given local anesthesia to numb the area around the skin cancer, ensuring they remain comfortable throughout the procedure.
2. Removal of visible tumor: The surgeon then removes the visible portion of the skin cancer, along with a thin layer of surrounding normal tissue.
3. Tissue mapping: The removed tissue is carefully mapped and marked with specific orientation points to guide the laboratory work.
4. Laboratory processing: The on-site lab processes the removed tissue by freezing it, cutting it into thin sections, and staining them for examination under a microscope.
5. Microscopic examination: The surgeon analyzes the tissue sections under the microscope, looking for any cancer cells at the edges (margins) of the specimen.
6. Layer-by-layer removal: If cancer cells are found at the edges, the surgeon returns to the specific area where cancer cells were detected and removes another thin layer of tissue from that precise location. This process is repeated as necessary until no cancer cells remain in the examined tissue.
7. Closure: Once all cancer cells have been removed, the surgeon discusses the best options for wound closure, which might involve allowing the wound to heal naturally or using reconstructive techniques like sutures, grafts, or flaps.

What are the advantages of Mohs Surgery?

The advantages of Mohs surgery include its high cure rate, precision in removing cancerous cells while sparing healthy tissue, and the ability to examine the entire tumor during the procedure, reducing the likelihood of cancer recurrence. It is particularly beneficial for skin cancers that have ill-defined borders, have recurred after previous treatments, or are in critical areas like the face or hands.

Have more questions on what the Mohs surgery process entails?

Our office staff is happy to help answer any remaining questions you may have.