Concierge Mohs surgery · UK
Mohs micrographic surgery - clear margins, the smallest possible scar.
Margin-controlled excision with same-day frozen-section mapping for high-risk skin cancer. Trained Mohs surgeons in dedicated suites - with reconstruction planned for the same afternoon.
Why patients choose us
- 01
Trained Mohs surgeons - no substitutes
BSDS-listed Mohs surgeons who have completed a full Mohs fellowship. Not a standard dermatologist adding a frozen section.
- 02
Reconstruction planned for the same day
Primary closure, flap or graft - same afternoon. Complex reconstructions handed to an oculoplastic or facial plastic partner in the same theatre where needed.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private Mohs surgery costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our vetted UK partners. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options, with cover checked.
In short
A single-day Mohs procedure with local flap reconstruction: £3,500–£6,500, all-in.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohs surgery, single stage, primary closure | £2,800–£4,500 | 2–3 hours total | Same day |
| Mohs surgery, 1–3 stages, local flap closure | £3,500–£6,500 | 3–5 hours total | Same day |
| Mohs surgery, complex/multi-stage + graft | £5,500–£9,500 | 4–7 hours total | Same day |
| Mohs with combined oculoplastic reconstruction | £6,500–£12,000 | 4–8 hours total | Same day or 1 night |
| Additional Mohs stage | + £450–£800 each | + 45–90 min | Same visit |
| Diagnostic biopsy (if not done) | £350–£650 | 15–20 min | Same visit |
| Consultation and photography | £220–£380 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices depend on the number of Mohs stages required, the complexity of reconstruction, and whether an oculoplastic or facial plastic surgeon is needed. We quote firm figures after review.
The problem
The right tumour, the right surgeon, and reconstruction on the same day.
Mohs is offered too rarely for the tumours that need it and, occasionally, offered where a simple excision would have done. We only recommend it where it actually improves the outcome.
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Not every tumour needs Mohs
A small, well-defined BCC on the cheek is safely dealt with by standard excision. Mohs is for higher-risk tumours where it changes the answer.
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The right stage count is unpredictable
Most tumours clear in 1–2 stages, some need 3–4. We book a full day and price accordingly.
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Reconstruction planned, not improvised
A defect after Mohs is often larger than expected. The closure plan - flap, graft, or staged repair - is discussed before, not decided in the corridor.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery - what happens, in order.
One team from first message through the procedure, results and follow-up.
- 01
Before
You send biopsy and photographs
Confirmed histology and close-up photographs of the tumour and surrounding skin.
- 02
Before
We confirm Mohs is the right choice
Within one working day: whether Mohs meaningfully improves your outcome compared with standard excision, and which surgeon to book.
- 03
Before
Pre-op review and consent
Photographs, drawn-out reconstruction options, expected number of stages, anaesthetic plan and cost.
- 04
On the day
Stage 1 excision
Local anaesthetic, saucer-shaped excision with a small clinical margin. Wound dressed while the specimen is processed.
- 05
On the day
Frozen-section review and further stages
20–90 minute waits between stages while the Mohs surgeon reviews sections. Further layers only where tumour remains.
- 06
On the day
Reconstruction
Once margins are clear - primary closure, local flap, full-thickness graft, or handover for staged repair. Home the same day in almost every case.
- 07
After
Suture removal and long-term review
Sutures out at 5–14 days. Six-week scar review, six-month photo review, annual surveillance where indicated.
When it helps
When Mohs is the right operation.
The tumours and sites where margin-controlled excision improves cure rate and preserves tissue - plus what does not need Mohs.
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Facial H-zone BCC
Central face, eyelids, nose, lips, ears - high recurrence risk with standard excision. Mohs is preferred.
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Ill-defined tumours
Where clinical borders are unclear, standard excision underestimates spread. Mohs traces subclinical extension.
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Recurrent skin cancer
Previously treated tumour re-growing at the same site - Mohs cure rate at five years is around 94% versus 60–70% for standard re-excision.
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Aggressive histological subtypes
Morphoeic/sclerosing BCC, infiltrative BCC, and moderately or poorly differentiated SCC - subclinical spread is common.
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Immunosuppressed patients
Transplant recipients and long-term immunosuppression - where multiple, aggressive tumours are common and margin control matters.
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Cosmetically sensitive sites
Where tissue preservation improves the reconstructive outcome - nose, eyelid, lip, ear.
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Selected lentigo maligna
With a slow-Mohs or staged margin-controlled protocol using paraffin sections.
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Not for
Small, well-defined nodular BCC on cheek or forehead - standard excision is faster, cheaper and cosmetically equivalent.
Options
Mohs stages and reconstruction options.
What each Mohs stage involves, and what reconstructions typically follow - from same-day primary closure to referred staged repair.
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Standard Mohs (frozen section)
Same-day fresh-tissue frozen sections. The default for BCC and SCC.
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Slow Mohs / staged margin-controlled excision
Paraffin-section review over 24–72 hours. Used for lentigo maligna and some pigmented lesions.
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Same-day primary closure
For small defects - closed in the Mohs suite once margins are clear.
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Local flap reconstruction
Advancement, rotation, transposition (rhomboid, bilobed) - chosen after the defect is defined.
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Full-thickness skin graft
Skin harvested from post-auricular or upper-eyelid donor. Preferred where flaps would distort a free margin.
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Staged reconstruction
Paramedian forehead flap for large nasal defects, or Abbe/Estlander for lip defects - over two or three operations.
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Combined oculoplastic Mohs
For eyelid tumours - Mohs surgeon excises, oculoplastic surgeon reconstructs in the same theatre.
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Referral for granulation healing
For selected small defects, healing by secondary intention gives an excellent scar without operation.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of consultants, we picked them.
Consultants across London and the major UK cities. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinician in our network.
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BSDS-listed Mohs surgeons who have completed a formal Mohs fellowship
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On-site Mohs laboratory with same-day frozen-section processing
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Oculoplastic and facial plastic surgical partners for complex reconstructions
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Photographic follow-up and audited five-year recurrence outcomes
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Mohs is a long day, not a big operation. Almost all cases are under local anaesthetic with reconstruction the same afternoon. The variables are stage count and closure complexity.
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Mohs is safe, but a long day
Almost all cases are under local anaesthetic with home discharge the same evening. Plan the day, not the operation.
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Bleeding and haematoma
Under 2% and usually settled with pressure. Blood thinners are reviewed but rarely stopped.
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Wound infection
Under 2% with clean technique.
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Numbness
Small patches of altered sensation are normal for months. Nerves regrow slowly.
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Cure rates
Primary BCC: 99% five-year cure with Mohs versus 90% with standard excision. Recurrent BCC: 94% vs 60–70%. SCC: 97% vs 92%.
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Stage count is unpredictable
Most tumours clear in 1–2 stages. Around 10% need three or more. The Mohs day is booked for the maximum, not the minimum.
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Reconstruction complications
Flap and graft complications are the same as for standard excision - partial failure 1–3%, revision uncommon.
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Positive margins are vanishingly rare
The whole point of Mohs is 100% margin assessment. Positive margins after the final stage should not happen.
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New tumours are separate events
A recurrence at the same site is different from a new tumour on adjacent skin. Annual surveillance addresses both.
Reading your notes
Your notes in four parts. Read the last one first.
The letter you receive from the consultant keeps to the same shape.
- 01 Diagnosis
Tumour type and prior treatment
The histology, prior treatments, and reason Mohs was chosen.
- 02 Mohs stages
Layers and mapping
Number of stages, final defect size, and confirmation of clear margins.
- 03 Reconstruction
Closure technique
Primary closure, named flap or graft, donor site, and any staged plan.
- 04 Impression
Follow-up and surveillance
Read this first: cure rate for your tumour, when to be seen again, and long-term skin surveillance advice.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Mohs surgery is covered by most UK insurers for approved indications (facial H-zone, recurrent tumours, aggressive histology). We check pre-authorisation and stage cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about Mohs surgery.
Quick answers on how it works, the day itself, reconstruction, cost and cure rates.
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How is Mohs different from standard excision?
In standard excision, the surgeon takes a fixed margin and sends the whole specimen for delayed histology; you learn about margins days later. In Mohs, thin layers are taken, mapped to the patient, and read at the microscope by the surgeon that day. Further layers are only taken where tumour remains. The result is 100% margin assessment, higher cure rates and the smallest possible defect.
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How long will Mohs take?
Plan for 3–6 hours. Excision is quick; the waits between stages while the frozen sections are processed and read take time. Most tumours clear in 1–2 stages, but around 10% need three or more.
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Will I be awake?
Yes. Mohs is done under local anaesthetic. You will feel the initial injection then very little else. You can read, listen to music, or eat between stages.
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When will the wound be closed?
Almost always the same day, once margins are clear. Occasionally, a large defect on the nose or eyelid is reconstructed the next morning under sedation with a specialist partner.
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How good are the cure rates?
For primary BCC on the face, Mohs offers around 99% five-year cure versus about 90% for standard excision. For recurrent BCC the gap widens - 94% vs 60–70%. For SCC, Mohs offers around 97% vs 92%.
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How much does private Mohs surgery cost in the UK?
Roughly £2,800–£4,500 for a single stage with primary closure, £3,500–£6,500 for 1–3 stages with a local flap, £5,500–£9,500 for complex multi-stage cases with grafts, and £6,500–£12,000 for combined Mohs and oculoplastic work. Each additional Mohs stage is £450–£800.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Mohs surgery (overview)
The classic Mohs page.
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Skin cancer - facial skin removal
Standard excision on the face.
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Skin cancer removal + eyelid reconstruction
Combined oculoplastic pathway.
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Skin grafts
Full and split-thickness grafts.
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Skin lesion excision
Benign and pre-malignant lesion removal.
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All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more