Mohs Surgery in Wichita, KS: Surgeons, Cost & Recovery

Most people don't search for Mohs surgery in Wichita until a biopsy result lands. Then the questions come fast.

Mohs surgery is a skin cancer operation where the surgeon removes the cancer one thin layer at a time and checks each layer under a microscope while you wait. It keeps as much healthy skin as possible, which is why it's used so often on the face.

Below, you'll find who performs Mohs surgery in Wichita, what one Wichita clinic publishes as its fee, what the day looks like, and the questions worth asking before you go in.

What is Mohs surgery, and who needs it?

Mohs surgery is an in-office skin cancer removal. The surgeon cuts out the visible cancer plus a thin margin, checks the edges under a microscope, and repeats only where cancer remains. It's mainly used for basal and squamous cell carcinoma in visible areas.

The full name is Mohs micrographic surgery. "Micrographic" means the surgeon maps the tissue and reads it under a microscope, so each layer is tracked to an exact spot on your skin.

Here's the thing most patients don't know going in: the Mohs surgeon plays two roles. They're the surgeon, and they're also the person reading your slides. That's what makes the same-day, layer-by-layer approach possible.

Which skin cancers is it used for?

Mohs is most often used for the two most common skin cancers:

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC): slow-growing and rarely spreads, but it keeps growing into nearby skin if it's left alone.
• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): more likely than BCC to grow deeper, so it's treated promptly.

Wichita Skin & Mohs also mentions melanoma alongside BCC and SCC. That's a decision your dermatologist makes case by case. For melanoma and other skin cancer treatment options, see our guide to skin cancer screening and treatment in Wichita.

Why is it used so often on the face, hands and feet?

These areas don't have spare skin. Taking a wide "safety" margin on a nose, eyelid or ear can change how it looks and works.

Mohs removes only the tissue that tests positive. And the billing code for first-stage Mohs (CPT 17311) is written for exactly these spots: head, neck, hands, feet and genitals.

How does Mohs surgery work, step by step?

Mohs surgery happens in stages on one day. The surgeon numbs the area, removes a thin layer, maps it, checks it under a microscope and repeats only where cancer shows. The wound is repaired once the edges are clear, usually the same day.

Let's walk through a typical day:

1. Check-in and marking. The team confirms the biopsy site and marks it. Bring a photo of the spot if you have one.
2. Local anesthetic. The area is numbed with an injection. You stay awake.
3. First layer (stage 1). The surgeon removes the visible cancer and a thin rim of skin.
4. Mapping. The tissue is cut, color-coded and matched to a map of the wound.
5. Lab reading. The surgeon reads the slides while you wait with a bandage on.
6. More stages if needed. If cancer shows at an edge, only that spot is removed in the next layer.
7. Repair. Once the edges are clear, the wound is closed, left to heal on its own, or repaired with a flap or graft.

How long does Mohs surgery take?

Plan on a big part of the day. Heartland Dermatology describes the procedure as usually taking "only a few hours" and asks patients to bring a friend or family member.

The waiting is the hard part, not the pain. So bring a book, a phone charger and a snack if the clinic allows it.

Is Mohs surgery done under general anesthesia?

Not usually. Mohs is normally done in the office under local anesthetic, and people who've had it describe a same-day visit.

That's why one community thread stands out. A patient was told by the dermatology office that it would be local anesthetic and same day. The plastic surgeon's office then talked about anesthesia, a second appointment, bloodwork and an EKG. The patient later found another Mohs surgeon who said the plastic surgery and anesthesia weren't needed.

If you hear two different plans, ask both offices to explain why before you agree to either.

Who does Mohs surgery in Wichita?

At least three Wichita practices advertise Mohs surgery: Wichita Dermatology & Aesthetics, Heartland Dermatology and Wichita Skin & Mohs. Before booking, confirm the surgeon's Mohs training, whether they take your insurance and whether they're taking new patients.

Checked September 2026. New-patient wait times: Not yet verified. Listing order is by location, not a ranking.

Wondering how these practices compare overall? Our side-by-side of Wichita dermatology clinics covers more than Mohs.

How do I check a Mohs surgeon's training?

Look up the surgeon on the American Board of Dermatology's "Verify a Dermatologist" tool. Dermatologists who trained in Mohs can now hold board certification in micrographic dermatologic surgery, and the lookup shows it.

Do I need a referral for Mohs surgery?

Most people reach a Mohs surgeon after a biopsy by their own dermatologist, who sends the referral. Whether your insurance plan requires a separate referral depends on the plan: Not yet verified. The dermatologist cost and insurance guide will list them by insurer.

How much does Mohs surgery cost in Wichita?

Heartland Dermatology is the only top Wichita practice that publishes its fees. Its standard fee for the first stage of Mohs on the head, neck, hands or feet is $1,075.38. What you pay depends on your insurance, how many stages you need and the repair.

Wichita clinics rarely post prices. A common complaint in the community threads is that people can't find a price before they go in. The published fee list is useful, but read it the right way: a standard fee is the clinic's list price, not your bill.

Source: heartland-derm.com/price-transparency, checked September 29, 2026. These are published standard fees, not what insured patients pay out of pocket. Additional stages (CPT 17312) and repair fees weren't collected: Not yet verified.

Will insurance pay for Mohs surgery?

Mohs treats a diagnosed skin cancer, so it's billed as medical care, not cosmetic. That matters. But your share still depends on your deductible, coinsurance and whether the surgeon is in your network.

Call your insurer with the CPT code (17311 for the head, neck, hands or feet) and ask three things:

1. Is this surgeon in network?
2. How much of my deductible is left?
3. Is the wound repair billed separately?

What adds to the bill?

• Extra stages. Each additional layer is billed as its own code.
• The repair. Stitches, flaps and grafts are separate procedures.
• A separate surgeon for the repair. If a plastic surgeon closes the wound, that's another bill and often another visit.
• Pathology. Biopsy readings are billed on top of the biopsy itself.

What should I ask before my Mohs surgery day?

Ask how long to plan for, who repairs the wound, whether you need anything beyond local anesthetic, and how results and changes reach you. Community threads show these four gaps cause most of the stress around Mohs.

People who've had Mohs report a few specific surprises. One patient learned on the morning of surgery that the diagnosis had changed. Another said the repair was different from what was discussed and nobody explained why. And one got a cancer result by message at 5 pm on a Friday, right as the office closed.

None of that is rare enough to ignore. So write these down and bring them:

1. How many hours should I plan to be here?
2. Will I only need local anesthetic?
3. Who repairs the wound, and is it the same day?
4. What kind of repair do you expect: stitches, a flap or a graft?
5. If the plan changes on the day, who explains it to me before we start?
6. How will you share results, and who do I call after hours?
7. Can someone drive me home?

Waiting weeks for the appointment is its own kind of stress. One patient with a past squamous cell cancer described spotting a new raised mole and being told the next opening was weeks away. If a spot changes while you wait, call and ask to go on a cancellation list.

What happens after Mohs surgery: stitches, scars and recovery?

Most Mohs wounds are closed with stitches the same day. Small wounds are sometimes left to heal on their own, and larger ones need a flap or graft. You go home with a bandage and written aftercare, and you usually return to remove stitches.

How many stitches do you get with Mohs surgery?

No standard number exists. The size of the final wound decides it, and you only learn that after the last stage.

A small wound on the back of a hand needs far less than a wound on the nose that takes a flap. Ask the surgeon at the end of surgery what they closed and why.

Who repairs the wound after Mohs?

Usually the Mohs surgeon repairs the wound on the same day. Fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons learn reconstruction as part of that training; Heartland's Dr. Rickstrew, for example, lists "Reconstructive" in his title.

Large or complex repairs are sometimes sent to a plastic surgeon. That's when the plan gets confusing, as the anesthesia story above shows. Ask before the day, not after.

What does recovery look like?

• A pressure bandage stays on for the time your surgeon specifies.
• Follow the written wound-care sheet exactly.
• Plan for swelling and bruising, especially around the eyes.
• Keep your follow-up visit for stitch removal and a wound check.

Skin cancer patients also need regular skin checks afterwards. One commenter described yearly checks as "peace of mind." That's a fair way to see it.

What are the downsides of Mohs surgery?

Mohs takes longer than a simple excision, costs more per procedure, and still leaves a scar. It's also not needed for every skin cancer. Small, low-risk cancers on the trunk or legs are often treated with simpler options.

Here's an honest list:

• Time. You spend hours at the clinic, not minutes.
• Cost. Heartland's first-stage Mohs fee ($1,075.38) is more than three times its small malignant excision fee ($317.89).
• Scarring. Mohs keeps the scar as small as possible, but there's still a scar.
• Access. Fewer surgeons do it, so waits get long.

That last point is real in Wichita. Wait times are the most common complaint in local community threads about dermatology in general.

What are the alternatives to Mohs surgery?

The main alternatives are standard excision, scraping and burning (electrodesiccation and curettage), radiation, and prescription creams for thin, superficial cancers. Your dermatologist chooses based on the cancer's type, size, depth and location, plus your health.

Patients on Mayo Clinic Connect ask a direct version of this: "radiation or Mohs?" It's a fair question, especially for older patients who'd rather avoid surgery. Ask your dermatologist to explain why they're recommending one over the other. The "new alternative" people search for is usually a newer radiation-based option; ask whether it fits your cancer Source pending.

How quickly should a basal cell carcinoma be removed?

Basal cell carcinoma grows slowly, so it isn't treated as an emergency like melanoma. But it keeps growing into nearby skin if you wait. Book treatment once it's diagnosed, and ask for a cancellation list if the wait is long.

Is basal cell carcinoma very serious?

Basal cell carcinoma is the least likely skin cancer to spread. That doesn't make it harmless. Left alone, a BCC on the nose or near the eye can damage the tissue around it, which makes the eventual surgery bigger.

Want to understand what happens before Mohs, from the first skin check to the biopsy? Start with what a dermatologist actually does.

Ready to talk to a Mohs surgeon? Request an appointment and we'll help you find a Wichita dermatologist who performs Mohs surgery.