Dr. Daniel Taheri Improves Recovery Outcomes in Mohs Surgery Patients

Dr. Daniel Taheri, Chief Medical Director of LA Laser and Skin Center, has found a way to combine lifesaving Mohs surgery procedures with innovative plastic surgery techniques to improve postoperative outcomes of skin cancer patients. These improved outcomes are over 65 years in the making. Since Dr. Frederic E. Mohs invented the Mohs procedure in the 1930’s and perfected the surgery in the 1950’s (1), Mohs micrographic surgery has been the most effective and least invasive way to cure skin cancer. Mohs micrographic surgery starts with the removal of a small area of skin cancer, which is immediately tested under a microscope on site to determine the location of the cancer cells in the sample. The patient remains in the operating room during testing. Once analysis pinpoints the direction of the cancer’s growth, another small layer of skin is removed and examined. This process continues layer by layer until the entire mass of skin cancer has been removed. Mohs micrographic surgery is unique compared to other skin cancer surgeries, because only areas containing actual skin cancer cells are removed, leaving as much healthy skin as possible in the margins surrounding the excision. In other skin cancer removal procedures, large pieces of healthy tissue are removed along with cancerous cells, creating bigger, more vulnerable wounds in patients. At the end of Mohs micrographic surgery, 99% of first time cancer patients and 94% of recurrent cancer patients are cancer free (2).

Immediately following surgery, patients begin the process of postoperative recovery focused on minimizing scarring and eliminating infection. That’s where Dr. Daniel Taheri’s innovative surgery techniques come into play.

Managing postoperative care for Mohs patients takes a highly trained team of experts, and Dr. Taheri has developed the perfect recovery protocols. From masterful suture technique to the latest in wound dressings and antiseptic cleansers, every component works together for optimal patient recovery. At Dr. Taheri’s practice, all wounds from Mohs procedures are dressed with EpiFix, the latest technology in wound care. EpiFix is a wound dressing that uses amniotic membrane and other proteins from live human cells to create a barrier over wounds (3). This highly specialized patch accelerates healing, minimizes inflammation, and reduces scar tissue. Despite the widely documented efficacy of EpiFix, few plastic surgeons are aware of the technology, and even fewer are willing to spare the added expense. Meanwhile, Dr. Taheri’s patients have been enjoying the benefits of EpiFix since its release in 2015.

Dr. Taheri pairs EpiFix with Hibiclens, another specialized tool for technologically advanced wound care. Hibiclens minimizes and even eliminates the chance of postoperative infection in Mohs surgery patients. It works by killing germs on contact and then bonding to the skin for continued antimicrobial defense (4). Though all Mohs surgeons cover wounds with some form of antimicrobial treatment, Hibiclens’ superior formula has been clinically proven to support better postoperative outcomes. It’s another factor that upholds improved recovery outcomes in Dr. Taheri’s Mohs patients.  

Most importantly, Dr. Taheri’s decades of experience allowed him to perfect specialized suture techniques. These suture methods not only reduce infections rates, but they also improve the appearance of postsurgical scars. Since many Mohs surgeries are performed on highly visible areas such as the face and arms, scar reduction is incredibly important to the patients Dr. Taheri serves. That’s why they often chose Dr. Taheri and LA Laser and Skin Center for Mohs surgery.

Dr. Taheri is ready to welcome new patients to all 23 of his dermatology centers across Arizona, California, and Nevada. If you or a loved one is in need of skin cancer treatment and you’d like to learn more about our world class staff of board certified dermatologists, physician assistants, registered nurses, and patient care specialists, visit https://www.lalasercenter.com/mohs-micrographic-surgery/ or call 1-800-501-3376.  

References: 

1: http://www.mohscollege.org/about-mohs-surgery/history-of-mohs-surgery 

2: http://www.skincancermohssurgery.org/about-mohs-surgery/post-operative-care 3: http://www.mimedx.com 

4: http://www.molnlycke.us/antiseptics/general-skin-cleansing/hibiclens/#confirm