Best Mohs Surgeons in NYC - Expert Skin Cancer Treatment with Dr. Ron Shelton
When you’re searching for the Best Mohs Surgeons in NYC, you’re really looking for three things: the highest cure rates, the smallest possible scar, and a surgeon who can guide you confidently from diagnosis through reconstruction. Dr. Ron Shelton is one of the most experienced Mohs surgeons in New York City, having been recruited by The Mount Sinai Medical Center to create their Mohs Micrographic Surgery division in 1993. Dr. Shelton now offers meticulous skin cancer removal and tailored reconstruction in a modern Midtown practice called The Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York (LSSC). Dr. Shelton is doubly board-certified in both Dermatology and Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery.
What is Mohs surgery—and why it’s the gold standard
Mohs micrographic surgery is a specialized, tissue-sparing technique in which Dr. Shelton removes skin cancer stage by stage and examines 100% of the surgical margins under a microscope during your visit. This method delivers the highest cure rates (up to ~99% for many basal and squamous cell carcinomas) while preserving as much healthy skin as possible—especially vital for cosmetically sensitive areas like the nose, eyelids, lips, and ears.
Unlike traditional excision, which samples margins, Mohs evaluates the entire edge of the removed tissue in real time. If any cancer remains, Dr. Shelton maps precisely where it is and removes just that area, keeping the final defect as small as possible. Read more >>
Why patients choose Dr. Ron Shelton in NYC
- Depth of experience you can trust. Dr. Shelton has advanced fellowship training in Mohs micrographic surgery and reconstruction, and is a member of the American College of Mohs Surgery. This background supports both oncologic precision and aesthetically thoughtful repairs.
- Focused on biopsy-confirmed skin cancers. Once you’ve had a biopsy and referral, Dr. Shelton’s practice is streamlined to treat skin cancers efficiently, provide clear expectations, and coordinate reconstruction as needed. Watch the procedure.
- Results you can see. Dr. Shelton’s official website features Mohs reconstruction before-and-after photographs that reflect careful planning and nuanced technique. (Individual results vary.)
What to expect on the day of Mohs
- Consultation & mapping: Dr. Shelton reviews your biopsy, examines the site, and plans the first stage.
- Stage-by-stage removal: Cancerous tissue is removed with a narrow margin and processed on-site. You’ll wait comfortably while the specimen is analyzed microscopically. If residual cancer remains, only that mapped area is re-excised. This repeats until margins are clear.
- Reconstruction: Once clear, Dr. Shelton discusses the best closure—linear repair, flap, graft, or natural healing—prioritizing both function and appearance. The practice provides scar-care guidance and, when appropriate, options like lasers to optimize the final result over time.
Benefits of choosing Mohs at a glance
- Highest cure rates for many BCCs and SCCs
- Maximal tissue preservation and typically smaller final wounds/scars
- Same-day margin clearance
- Thoughtful reconstruction tailored to the anatomic site and your goals
Common questions patients ask
Is Mohs right for every skin cancer?
Mohs is particularly suited to cancers on the face (nose, eyelids, lips, ears), recurrent tumors, and those with ill-defined borders. Your biopsy and clinical exam guide the recommendation.
How does Mohs compare with radiation or standard excision?
For many non-melanoma skin cancers, Mohs offers the highest chance of cure with the least removal of healthy skin, which often translates to better cosmetic outcomes—especially important in high-visibility areas.
Will I have a scar?
Any surgery leaves a scar, but Mohs limits its size by conserving healthy tissue. Dr. Shelton performs meticulous closures and may suggest options like laser resurfacing or scar-care protocols to further refine healing over time.
Do I need a referral or a biopsy first?
Yes. Dr. Shelton treats biopsy-confirmed skin cancers referred by your physician. If you suspect a lesion, schedule a skin check with your dermatologist; once a biopsy confirms cancer, you can go ahead with your Mohs consultation with Dr. Shelton.
Signs it’s time to see a dermatologist (and then a Mohs specialist)
If you notice a non-healing spot, pearly bump, scaly patch, or changing lesion, see a dermatologist for evaluation and potential biopsy. Confirmed cancers—especially on the face or in cosmetically/functionally critical locations—are strong candidates for Mohs micrographic surgery with a fellowship-trained surgeon.
Why Dr. Shelton’s name stands out when you’re searching for the “Best Mohs Surgeons in NYC”
- Expert, fellowship-trained care in a leading Manhattan dermatologic surgery setting
- Streamlined Mohs workflow from biopsy-confirmed diagnosis to definitive treatment and reconstruction
- Thoughtful post-op support and access to advanced technologies to optimize healing and scars
Take the next step
If your physician has referred you for Mohs after a positive biopsy, call (212) 593-1818 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Shelton and discuss the most effective, tissue-sparing approach to your skin cancer.
- Address: 317 East 34th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10016
Your choice of surgeon matters. For patients seeking the Best Mohs Surgeons in NYC, experience, precision, and aesthetic judgment are non-negotiable—and that’s exactly what you’ll find with Dr. Ron Shelton.