What Moles Can Be Removed?

All simple moles or pigmented marks can be removed. The exact technique employed is decided in discussion with you and by assessing how suspicious the lesion is. The most minor surgical procedure is a shave excision, where raised moles are removed down to the normal skin contour. If moles are suspicious on examination, then either a biopsy or a removal with histology analysis would be recommended.

What happens on the day?

The procedure is performed with local anaesthetic under sterile conditions. The anaesthetic injection is a short pinch and then the area will be numb for a few hours. Once the mole is carefully removed, stitches may or may not be required, depending on the type of procedure. Dressings and post-operative advice will be provided.

Recovery

Aside from the dressings and wound advice, you can go back to normal activities after the procedure. The dressings will be minor and skin-coloured. Sometimes, only an ointment is used to keep the wound moist as it is healing. For the commonest type of procedure (a shave excision), the scab will be present for 5-7 days. When it falls off eventually, there will be some pinkness of the new underlying skin that persists for a few weeks. The eventual expected appearance will be discussed at the consultation and genetics of healing have a big part to play in this outcome.