Mohs Surgeon in San Antonio

Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery of South Texas

Office of Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery of South Texas - South Texas Dermatology
5282 Medical Dr
#518
San Antonio TX, 78229

We are located in the Westgate Medical Center at the southeast intersection of Babcock and Medical Drive. Babcock Road is the best road to access the building.

Get Directions

(210) 615-8200

Fax: (210) 615-8220

Monday:

8:00AM - 4:30PM

Tuesday:

8:00AM - 4:30PM

Wednesday:

8:00AM - 4:30PM

Thursday:

8:00AM - 4:30PM

Friday:

8:00AM - 4:30PM

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Meet the Doctor

About Our Mohs Surgeon in San Antonio

Mohs Surgery in San Antonio, Texas

Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery of South Texas, now a part of U.S. Dermatology Partners, is devoted to the surgical treatment of skin cancer. Dr. John G. LeVasseur is a board-certified, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, who has practiced Mohs surgery and cutaneous reconstructive surgery for over fifteen years. Dr. LeVasseur uses the Mohs technique to remove cancers in the office with a local anesthetic, examine them microscopically, map them, and remove them in a very precise fashion. We can then repair the resulting defect with reconstructive surgery on the same day. This process offers the potential to spare as much normal skin as possible while providing the highest assurance of cure. Our passion as a premier South Texas Dermatology practice is to provide the highest quality skin care available to you, our patients. We hope to make each visit — from initial consultation to treatment and follow-up — the most convenient and comfortable experience possible.


Our Practice Philosophy

Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery of South Texas, now a part of U.S. Dermatology Partners, has been providing highly specialized skin cancer care to the residents of central and south Texas since 1989, and is known for its expertise and for the personal attention paid to each patient treated here. The practice has been kept small to permit sufficient time for the individual needs of our patients. We strongly believe that each patient should thoroughly understand the nature of their problem, available treatment options with advantages and disadvantages, risks, and possible outcomes. We spend a lot of time educating our patients and sincerely want them to understand what we are doing and why. We believe in informed consent by shared decision-making, and prefer to see patients for preoperative evaluations in advance of their surgery for these important discussions, and for appropriate planning on our part and theirs.

Much of the time in a Mohs procedure is consumed by laboratory tissue processing and examination. For patient comfort, we bandage the wound and release the patient to the waiting room while we work in the laboratory.

Most patients treated here are sent by other physicians, mostly dermatologists, who have biopsied their cancer and determined that a Mohs procedure is the appropriate management. Our role is to treat the cancer by the most precise method, maximizing the cure rate and minimizing the loss of normal tissue, to permit restoration of function and appearance. We surgically repair more than 90% of the defects here immediately following the Mohs procedure. Some selected defects heal best on their own, without reconstructive surgery, and some defects are best repaired by plastic or oculoplastic surgeons. We arrange for this care when appropriate. Our patients return to their doctors for ongoing skin cancer surveillance and any other medical care they may need. We stress the importance of sunlight protection and at least an annual skin check with their doctor.

We do not believe that all skin cancers need Mohs Surgery and concur with the indications promulgated by the American College of Mohs Surgery: large cancers, cancers located in important anatomic areas of the face, cancers that have failed previous treatment, and cancers that exhibit aggressive microscopic features. Most of our patients have basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.

Our staff prides itself on being friendly, courteous and respectful, compassionate, forthright, and efficient. We strive to treat patients the way we would like to be treated.

We are proud to serve San Antonio and surrounding metro areas.

Accreditations & Awards

Dr. John LeVasseur is a Board-Certified Dermatologist and Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon in San Antonio, Texas at U.S. Dermatology Partners, formerly Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery of South Texas.  John G. LeVasseur - Badge (ACMS)

Dermatology Services

What Is Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Basal Cell Carcinoma, also known as basalioma or basal cell cancer, is the most common type of skin cancer and carries the least amount of risk, though it still requires attention. If caught and treated early, basal cell carcinomas are not likely to be life-threatening, but they do have the potential to cause disfigurement of the skin tissue.

Almost one million new cases of basal cell carcinoma are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and up to 30% of Caucasians may develop basal cell carcinomas in their lifetime.

Basal cell carcinoma treatment

Basal cell carcinoma can be treated by removing the affected area.

Skin cancer is considered low risk when the affected cells remain clustered in a single group. Both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are rarely life-threatening. Though it is unlikely to spread to other parts of your body, if left untreated, basal cell carcinoma can move into nearby bone or other tissue.

Basal cell carcinoma typically begins as a small, shiny bump on the face, although it can occur on any part of the body.

What Is Melanoma?

Melanoma, the deadliest of skin cancers, only accounts for about 4 percent of all skin cancer cases, but causes about 79 percent of skin cancer deaths.

Melanoma is a cancer of the skin that begins in the melanocytes, which are the cells that produce the pigment melanin. It is the leading cause of cancer death in women 25 to 30 years old and the second leading cause of cancer death in women 30 to 35 years old.

In some cases, melanoma occurs in melanocytes throughout the body, even if those parts have never been exposed to the sun.

 

What Is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs surgery offers the highest cure rates for all non-melanoma skin cancers. For certain cases of the most common types of skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma — the cure rate can be as high as 99 percent.

Mohs surgery is a highly specialized surgical technique used to treat non-melanoma skin cancers in which the surgeon removes all of the visible cancer, plus a small margin of the surrounding healthy tissue and examines it to ensure that all cancer cells have been removed at the time of surgery.

Before and After Mohs Surgery Technique

The Mohs surgery technique treats skin cancers by removing all of the visible cancer. Image Source: newhealthadvisor.com

During Mohs micrographic surgery — named after Dr. Frederic Mohs, who first performed it in the 1930s — cancer is removed from the skin layer by layer until all cancerous cells have been removed. This type of surgery is most commonly used for cancers that have a high risk of re-occurrence. This technique allows for complete removal of the skin cancer while minimizing the removal of surrounding healthy skin.

What Is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. with more than 3.5 million cases diagnosed each year.

Skin cancer is the result of uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells that takes place when skin cells suffer DNA damage and then mutate, causing them to multiply rapidly and form malignant (cancerous) tumors. Most skin cancers develop on the visible outer layer of the skin (the epidermis), particularly on sun-exposed areas such as the face, head, hands, arms and legs. They are usually easy to detect with a skin examination, which increases the chances of early diagnosis.

There are different types of skin cancer, each named for the type of skin cell from which they originate. The most common type of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. Almost one million new cases of basal cell carcinoma are diagnosed each year in the U.S. Most skin cancers fall into one of three categories:

There are often warning signs that cancer is developing. The most common are pre-cancerous lesions called actinic keratoses that often develop on sun-exposed areas. These tumors replace normal surrounding tissue and generally do not spread to other areas.

Skin cancer is considered low risk when the affected cells remain clustered in a single group. Both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are rarely life-threatening.

Skin cancer is considered a high risk when cells have invaded surrounding tissues. The third most common skin cancer, malignant melanoma, can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

If skin cancer is detected before it has spread to surrounding tissues, the chances of a complete recovery and cure are excellent. High-risk forms of cancer like melanoma require more aggressive treatments.

Doctor removing mole from a patient's shoulder.

Suspicious moles should be watched closely, as they might indicate a cancerous growth.

What Is Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a common form of skin cancer that develops in the squamous cells that make up the outer layer of the skin. Although it is usually not life-threatening, it can be aggressive in some cases.

If left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can grow large or spread to other parts of your body, causing serious complications.

Dermatologist examining male patient's skin for signs of Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Your dermatologist will be able to examine your skin for signs of squamous cell carcinoma.

Stay in the Know

Get the latest news on skin care, conditions and treatments

Sign Up

arrow down

Get to Know Us Better

What is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs surgery is a highly specialized treatment for certain skin cancers. This technique allows the Mohs surgeon to identify and remove any cancer that extends beyond what you see with your eyes alone. This process offers the potential to spare as much normal skin as possible while providing the highest assurance of cure.

Please see the links below for more detailed information:
www.skincancermohssurgery.org/mohs-surgery/
www.skincancermohssurgery.org
www.mohscollege.org

How is Mohs Surgery Performed? Watch Here.

Mohs surgery has the highest cure rates for all non-melanoma skin cancers. For certain cases of the most common types of skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma — the cure rate can be as high as 99 percent.

Ready to Get Started?