Methods of Mole Removal: From Excision to Laser Treatment
Moles are raised bumps on the skin that can appear anytime and anywhere on your body. Oftentimes, they are harmless, and you may opt to leave them alone. But if you’d prefer to have them removed for cosmetic reasons, several options are available. This article will discuss the pros and cons of the various types offered.
Suppose you’d like to remove benign moles for aesthetic reasons. In that case, advances in laser technology have opened a whole new chapter in mole management. Rest assured, with over 15 years of clinical experience at Bella Plastic Surgery, our approach with Laser technology offers patients safe, effective options for removing their unwanted mole(s).
What Are the Different Types of Mole Removal?
The most appropriate mole removal method depends on the mole’s location, size and whether it’s cancerous. Before we decide on any option for mole removal at Bella Plastic Surgery, it’s mandatory that you first undergo skin cancer testing. Let’s look at the most common methods of mole removal.
Laser Mole Removal
Laser Mole Removal is a fast and effective procedure with a lower risk of scarring than surgical removal. The entire treatment typically takes a few minutes, and you can be in and out of the clinic in under 30 minutes. What’s more, laser technology can remove your mole in a single treatment. Plus, most people won’t require additional sessions to address deep-lying pigmentation, which may occur in some cases.
After a Laser Mole Removal session, you may have some redness and swelling around the area for up to a week, and a temporary scab may form. This usually resolves in another week or two, and you’ll find that others can hardly locate where the mole used to be. Some scarring may occur, but that’s usually only a shade lighter than your skin colour. However, there is still a risk of excessive scarring, infection and changes in skin colour, although these are rare complications.
After your benign mole removal treatment, you may be given a cream to apply to the skin three to four times daily. We also offer LED treatments for accelerated healing. You’ll also receive instructions for post-procedure care and a follow-up appointment date six weeks after your treatment.
Please note that laser mole removal is NOT suitable for cancerous moles because the treatment ablates the mole, making it impossible to send the tissue to a lab for skin cancer testing.
Surgical Excision
Surgical Mole Excision is suitable for large moles, especially when skin cancer is suspected. It’s typically a minor procedure that can be performed in the doctor’s office within an hour. To start, the surgeon will apply local anaesthesia around the area where the mole is situated. He’ll then carefully cut away the mole and some surrounding skin with a scalpel. The skin is then closed with sutures. Then, your mole will be sent to a pathology lab for cancer testing.
There is a slightly higher risk of abnormal scarring with surgical excision of moles compared to laser treatment. Still, most people heal from their scars well. Other complications include minor bleeding, wound infection and pain.
Punch Biopsy
A Punch Biopsy procedure is named after the instrument, which is pen-shaped with a sharp, circular edge to cut deeply (punch) into the skin and remove a small core of the mole. The skin tissue taken is usually minimal because the standard punch biopsy size is two to eight millimetres. A Punch Biopsy is also suitable for suspicious moles, and the skin sample can be sent to a pathology lab for testing.
A Punch Biopsy is done in the doctor’s office in under 15 minutes. First, they’ll apply a numbing agent to the skin to reduce pain. After the skin sample is taken, you may get one or two stitches to close the skin, depending on the sample size. Next, they’ll clean the area with an alcohol swab, apply antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a bandage.
You may experience some pain, redness and swelling at the biopsy site, but that shouldn’t be worrisome. Most wounds will scar very nicely, but there’s still some risk of abnormal scarring.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy uses extreme cold of liquid nitrogen (around minus 196 degrees Celsius) to destroy moles. This treatment is often ineffective in removing the mole and can lead to further scarring. Cryotherapy involves a local anaesthetic applied to the affected area to minimise any discomfort. Next, liquid nitrogen is applied over the mole using a cryoprobe or a cotton swab. Initially, you may experience some discomfort due to the extreme cold, but this usually subsides quickly. After this step, you can go home.
After your treatment, the area treated may become red, swollen and blistered, but this is a normal reaction to the freezing effect of liquid nitrogen. Before long, you’ll notice a scab form that should fall off in a few days, leaving you with normal skin.
Cryotherapy is quick, only needing a few minutes per mole. There is no bleeding and only minimal scarring sometimes. However, this procedure is NOT suitable for suspicious moles that may be cancerous.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency Ablation applies high-frequency radio waves to generate heat and remove mole tissue. This technique is not as precise as laser and often simply ‘melts’ the mole — and in doing so, can result in the mole not being entirely removed and pore scarring.
Radiofrequency Ablation is unsuitable for suspected cancerous moles, so getting your mole checked before the procedure is essential.
Is It Safe to Remove Moles at Home?
No, it’s never safe to remove moles at home. You run a risk of bleeding, infection and abnormal scarring. Moreover, you’ll probably not remove the entire mole because you’re not trained to do so. Lastly, moles need cancer testing, and you’re potentially delaying a diagnosis of skin cancer if you attempt to remove them at home.
Do Mole Removal Creams Work?
No, mole removal creams don’t work. Even if they do appear to work, they’re not recommended because this is another way of removing moles at home. As mentioned earlier, you run a risk of incomplete mole removal, infection, and a delayed skin cancer diagnosis.