Arizona Mohs SurgeryAnir Dhir MD, FACMS

Comprehensive Skin Cancer Care

Quality, Experience, and Compassion

 

Mohs micrographic surgery specialist Mohs micrographic surgery specialist

Who We Are

Arizona Mohs Surgery, PLLC, is a dermatology practice dedicated to the comprehensive evaluation and treatment of skin cancer.

Dr. Anir Dhir specializes in Mohs micrographic surgery and the most advanced and elegant reconstructive techniques. He treats biopsy-proven skin cancers and also performs skin cancer screenings, biopsies, and non-surgical treatments.  The Arizona Mohs Surgery team is committed to providing the highest quality care in a modern, compassionate, and comfortable environment. Our experienced staff looks forward to taking great care of you.

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What Is Mohs Surgery?

The most advanced treatment for skin cancer

What types of skin cancers are treated with Mohs surgery?

Mohs surgery is generally reserved for skin cancers occurring in more cosmetically and functionally critical areas such as the face, ears, scalp, neck, hands, feet, and shins. Larger and more aggressive cancers in non-facial locations, as well as “recurrent’ tumors (those that have failed other therapies) are also appropriate candidates for Mohs surgery. Mohs surgery is also the best approach for skin cancers that are poorly defined, arise in a scar, grow rapidly, or occur in a patient with a compromised immune system. Mohs surgery is generally not needed for thin, small cancers in non-critical locations because these can be successfully managed with simpler techniques.  Dr. Dhir is happy to assist patients with cancers qualifying for Mohs surgery, simpler excision, or non-surgical therapies.

What is the difference between Mohs surgery and other frozen sections?

In Mohs surgery, one physician functions as both surgeon and pathologist. If a physician removes a skin cancer and sends the specimen to another lab or pathologist for analysis, he or she is not performing Mohs surgery for two reasons:

  1. a single physician is not correlating the clinical and microscopic pictures for maximum accuracy, and
  2. only a small portion of the margins is examined instead of 100% of the true 3-D circumferential margin as with Mohs surgery.
Am I in good hands?

Absolutely.  Unlike many physicians performing Mohs surgery in Tucson, Dr. Dhir completed a dedicated and prestigious American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) accredited fellowship prior to entering private practice.  He was then the single busiest Mohs surgeon in Kentucky for many years prior to opening Arizona Mohs Surgery. He has performed over 38,000 Mohs procedures with a cure rate over 99.5% and an infection rate of only 0.2%. He is a nationally recognized expert in both Mohs surgery and facial reconstruction.

How long will it take?

Most patients spend 2 to 4 hours with us. Much of that is “downtime” where you rest comfortably while waiting on our team to prepare frozen Mohs sections and read the slides to ensure clear surgical margins. We encourage patients to bring reading materials to pass the time, and we also provide Wi-Fi access so that you may watch a movie or surf the internet on your own laptop computer, phone, or iPad. Please note that surgeries for larger, neglected, aggressive, recurrent, or mid-facial cancers may take longer, particularly if multiple stages are needed to clear the tumor and/or more advanced reconstruction is needed.

The majority of wound closures are performed in our office. Occasionally, we may need to utilize an outside surgical specialist to perform the post-Mohs reconstruction if the tumor turns out to be larger, deeper, or more complex than initially anticipated. If an outside surgical specialist is needed, the reconstruction may take place on the same day or on subsequent days. Please note that it is safe to delay the reconstruction, and that it’s possible that hospitalization may be needed for extensive reconstructions.

Do you perform Mohs surgery for melanoma?

The majority of Mohs surgeons and dermatopathologists believe that permanent (formalin-fixed) tissue sections allow more accurate margin analysis for melanoma than Mohs frozen sections, even if additional MART-1 immunostaining is done. This is not an issue for basal and squamous cell carcinomas, where frozen sections are universally accepted and allow more efficient, same day analysis. Therefore, we follow current NCCN surgical margin guidelines which state "the gold standard for histologic assessment of excised melanoma is use of permanent sections". Our specimens are evaluated within 24 - 48 hours by a board-certified dermatopathologist. NCCN guidelines also suggest that the surgeon consider delaying closure of melanoma excisions until margin analysis has been completed if a flap or graft may be required. This means that some melanoma surgeries may require 2 or more visits to ensure maximum accuracy.

What procedures and technology do you utilize to reduce the risk of Covid transmission?

Arizona Mohs Surgery is committed to providing the safest environment for both patients and staff. For decades, surgical facilities have been at the forefront of fastidious infection control practices due to challenges such as Hepatitis and HIV. To combat newer airborne diseases such as Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2), we employ Global Plasma Solution’s NPBI air purification technology. This state-of-the-art system is utilized by prestigious medical institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, as well as Google, Harvard University, and the White House. Pathogen reduction testing results may be viewed here. Our six procedure rooms eliminate the typical “recovery room” utilized by many Mohs practices, where patients are placed in a communal setting while waiting on slides to be processed by the lab.

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Meet Doctor Dhir

Photo of Doctor Anir Dhir

Anir Dhir, MD, FACMS

Anir Dhir, M.D., is a fellowship-trained Mohs micrographic surgeon who is dedicated to excellence.  Since 1999, Dr. Dhir has performed over 38,000 Mohs surgeries with a cure rate of over 99.5%. He is a Life Member of the American College of Mohs Surgery and has been repeatedly elected by his colleagues to Best Doctors in America.

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See What Our Clients Are Saying

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Dr. Dhir and Jackie, I am blessed to have you be my Mohs team!  Thank you!

—DF
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We just wanted to say thank you - not only for your professionalism and expert care - but for your compassion. I've never been blessed with a more competent physician and as you know, we've seen our share. There will be a special place in heaven for you but just know for now that there are people that owe your their life - but you already have our hearts! Bless you Doc! We love you!

—PJ and JJ
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I feel that my surgery experience was much more pleasant than I had expected because of your expertise along with your gentle, caring nature. You can't know how much that unexpected phone call meant to me.  Comments from family and friends have been that they cannot believe that it has been only a week since the surgery when they saw my forehead. I think they consider you a magician, too!! I hope I never need this type of surgery again but will not be concerned. Thank you.

—GC
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I just wanted to let you know how much your kindness touched my heart. Thank you!

—NS
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Thank you so much for being so nice to me and for doing such a great job during my surgery!  Sorry I cried, but I was scared beyond words. I appreciate your professionalism and expertise!

—DK
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The care that you and your staff showed me when I had my nose surgery was phenomenal. I have never been to a doctor’s office that showed so much compassion for his patient and your staff was fantastic, too!

—ML
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All I can is - Wow!  I know some nice doctors and offices, but you and yours in beyond compare.  From the minute you arrive, you are enveloped in an atmosphere of TOTAL care.

—JM
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Dr. Dhir, Erika, & Lindsay, The surgery site on my forehead healed quickly, with no aches, pain, or scarring.  You did great.  :-)  Your "fun" attitude makes my visits a breeze.  Thanks Much!!

—TK
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Thank you, Lindsay, for the warm welcome.  Thank you Blanca and Dr. Dhir for your professionalism and skills, and everyone else involved.

—BG