Melanoma Mohs Surgery Volume & Outcomes
Melanoma Mohs Surgery at Advanced Dermatologic Surgery
At Advanced Dermatologic Surgery, every melanoma patient benefits from a vertically integrated care model that exists at very few centers nationwide. Dr. Hocker performs the surgery, reads his own pathology, and completes the plastic surgery reconstruction — all in a single visit, under local anesthesia.
Dr. Hocker performs 300 melanoma Mohs cases annually
● Dr. Hocker performs 300 melanoma Mohs cases annually — 37.5× the national top-decile facility threshold.
● 2,400+ Cases (Lifetime Experience)
Large cumulative
experience means repeated exposure to complex tumor patterns, atypical margins, and reconstruction challenges.
In melanoma — where microscopic spread can be subtle — pattern recognition improves with case volume, reducing the chance of missed disease.
● Dr. Hocker performs the surgery, reads his own pathology, and completes the plastic surgery reconstruction — all in a single visit, under local anesthesia.
Advantages of Melanoma Mohs surgery at Advanced Dermatologic Surgery
- State-of-the-art Mohs surgery unit
that is equipped with on-site laboratories for real-time microscopic evaluation and same-day results to the patient.
- Immediate notification that cancer is completely removed.
- Fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon with advanced training in skin cancer and reconstructive surgery. The cure rate using Mohs surgery by a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon is more than 99% for most skin cancers. Other methods of treatment only offer a 50% chance of success.
- Our fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon handles all aspects of your care including performing surgery, examining the excised cancerous lesion or tumor in the on-site laboratory, and performing reconstructive surgery.
- Our melanoma cancer 10 year recurrence rate of 0.32%
is lower than every published meta-analytic benchmark for Mohs melanoma surgery.
- Maximum preservation of healthy skin for the best possible cosmetic and functional results.
- In most cases, our surgeon is able to complete same-day reconstruction at the ADS Surgical Center next door. Our Mohs surgeon has advanced training in reconstructive surgery.
Preparing for Your Appointment
Advanced Dermatologic Surgery surgeon and team members meet with each patient on the day of their surgery to discuss any preoperative concerns related to skin cancer, treatment, or reconstructive surgery. During this discussion, patients will be given an opportunity to ask questions and receive education on treatment, recovery, and skin cancer prevention.
What to Expect
When you arrive for your appointment you will be greeted by our receptionists who will help you check in and complete any necessary paperwork prior to your appointment. Next, a member of our medical team will escort you to our clinic where they will go over your medical history in detail and collect additional information from you as needed to assure your experience is safe and customized to your needs. They will work with you to locate and uncover the area of your skin that has the lesion requiring treatment.
Once you are settled in the room, the team member will step out of the room to prepare your chart and discuss your case and your specific skin lesion with your surgeon. Your surgeon will then meet with you to examine and mark your lesion with a surgical pen, discuss your treatment plan, and answer any questions you may have.
Your medical team will perform a series of injections around the skin cancer to assure that the area is numb. Next, your Mohs surgeon will remove all visible portions of the skin and a thin margin of normal-appearing skin around the cancerous lesion. The medical team member will stop any bleeding and place a temporary bandage over the wound. While the lab prepares your slide for the Mohs surgeon to examine, you will then be given the option of waiting in our waiting room or in your vehicle based on your comfort.
Our waiting room is stocked with snacks and beverages for our patients. Wifi is also available for use. Due to the long nature of Mohs surgery day, ALL PATIENTS SHOULD BRING THEIR OWN LUNCH, or have a family member bring lunch for them.
Once your cancer has been fully removed, you will be notified and scheduled for reconstruction. There will be a waiting period between when you are informed that the cancer has been successfully removed and when your surgeon performs the reconstruction.
Melanoma Mohs Surgery FAQs
How many melanoma Mohs cases should a surgeon perform each year?
While there is no formal minimum requirement, research demonstrates that higher surgical volume is associated with improved melanoma outcomes. National data suggest the top decile of Mohs facilities treat approximately eight melanoma cases annually.
At Advanced Dermatologic Surgery, Dr. Thomas L. H. Hocker performs approximately 300 melanoma Mohs cases per year, reflecting a specialized, high-volume practice focused on complex skin cancer care.
Is Mohs surgery better than wide local excision for melanoma?
For appropriately selected melanoma, Mohs micrographic surgery can provide lower recurrence rates because it evaluates 100% of the surgical margin in real time. Wide local excision evaluates only a small portion of margins.
At Advanced Dermatologic Surgery, melanoma Mohs surgery is integrated with on-site pathology interpretation and same-surgeon reconstruction, allowing comprehensive care during a single visit when clinically appropriate.
Does MART-1 immunostaining reduce melanoma recurrence?
MART-1 immunostaining highlights melanoma cells that may be difficult to detect with standard staining. Evidence indicates immunostaining improves detection accuracy and is associated with lower recurrence rates.
in melanoma cases as part of its margin-evaluation.
Advanced Dermatologic Surgery uses MART-1 immunostaining on melanoma cases as part of its margin evaluation protocol, supporting precise tumor clearance.
Do most Mohs surgeons treat invasive melanoma?
Many Mohs surgeons treat melanoma in situ but do not routinely manage invasive melanoma, often due to the additional pathology expertise required.
Dr. Hocker’s training in dermatology, dermatopathology, and Mohs surgery allows Advanced Dermatologic Surgery to treat both melanoma in situ and selected invasive melanoma within a specialized workflow.
What makes Advanced Dermatologic Surgery different for melanoma care?
Advanced Dermatologic Surgery combines several elements associated with specialized melanoma treatment:
High annual melanoma surgical volume
Triple board certification in dermatology, dermatopathology, and Mohs surgery
On-site pathology interpretation
Routine use of immunostaining techniques
Same-surgeon reconstruction when indicated
A coordinated team experienced in complex skin cancer
This integrated approach supports continuity of care and consistent margin assessment.
