Mohs Surgery in Bangor, Maine
Northern Maine Skin Cancer Center is home to the northernmost board-certified Mohs surgeon in Maine — Dr. Faith Whalen, MD, FACMS, FAAD, who has performed over 15,000 Mohs procedures.
Mohs micrographic surgery is the gold standard treatment for many skin cancers, offering up to a 99% cure rate. It is especially effective for cancers on cosmetically sensitive areas such as the face, nose, ears, and hands — where preserving healthy tissue matters most.
Most cases are performed entirely in-office, with surgery and reconstruction completed the same day.
WHY CHOOSE mohs surgery?
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The highest cure rate of any skin cancer treatment, with real-time margin analysis to confirm clear margins before you leave.
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Mohs removes only the cancerous tissue, layer by layer, preserving as much healthy skin as possible — critical for surgeries on the face and other visible areas.
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The tumor is analyzed on-site while you wait, so your surgeon can confirm clear margins before reconstruction begins.
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No hospital stay required. Surgery and reconstruction are completed at our Bangor, Maine clinic in a single visit.
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Dr. Whalen is trained in both cancer removal and reconstruction. In most cases, complex repairs including skin flaps and grafts are performed the same day by your surgeon.
What To Expect
Before Your procedure
Your provider will review your biopsy results, confirm the diagnosis, and walk you through the procedure, risks, benefits, and aftercare. If you haven't had a biopsy yet, we'll evaluate the area and determine next steps at your consultation. New to the practice? Learn about scheduling a skin cancer consultation with our dermatology team.
During surgery
Mohs surgery is performed under local anesthesia. Your surgeon removes a thin layer of tissue and examines it under a microscope on-site. If cancer cells remain at the margins, another layer is removed — this process repeats until margins are clear. The number of stages varies case by case.
Recovery & Aftercare
Plan to be with us for most of the morning or afternoon — occasionally up to 5–6 hours depending on stages needed. We provide all wound care materials for the first 48 hours. Most patients return to light activity within a couple of days, with full healing over several weeks.
After your procedure: Care Videos
Most patients will have small adhesive wound closure strips placed over their incision beneath the pressure bandage. In most cases, no additional wound care supplies are needed after surgery.
We do not recommend purchasing wound care supplies before your procedure. If your surgery requires any special dressings or additional supplies after your procedure, our team will discuss this with you on the day of surgery and provide you with specific instructions before you leave the office.
Schedule a
mohs Surgery Consultation
If you have been diagnosed with a skin cancer—Mohs surgery may be the right option for you.
Call us today at 207.802.0853 to discuss your options, or email us at schedule@northernmainescc.com
Serving patients in Bangor, Orono, Brewer, Old Town, and throughout northern Maine.