Mohs surgery is the best approach for patients with skin cancers in specific areas. These include the eyelids, and certain areas on the nose and ears and scalp. It can be a very expensive proposition, so the prospective patient should be aware of the charges beforehand. In addition, some Mohs surgeons will perform the procedure on lesions that can be removed by simpler procedures.
This topic was addressed in a recent NY Times article: "Patients’ Costs Skyrocket; Specialists’ Incomes Soar" by Elisabeth Rosenthal. In our opinion, Ms. Rosenthal's article is accurate although it may generate some heat from Mohs surgeons and the American Academy of Dermatology.
The article centered on the experience of a woman in Arkansas. It described "a daylong medical odyssey through different private offices on the manicured campus at the Baptist Health Medical Center that involved a dermatologist, an anesthesiologist and an ophthalmologist who practices plastic surgery. It generated bills of more than $25,000."
Caveat emptor. If you are referred for Micrographic Mohs Surgery, it is probably appropriate. But read the article carefully and ask questions. If your skin cancer is not around the eyes, nose or ears or on the scalp, get a second opinion.