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Mole Removal

Moles are generally benign lesions that you may want to remove for cosmetic reasons. They may interfere with the wearing of eyeglasses, jewellery or possibly bleed when shaving. If a mole is suspicious, meaning it has changed in colour, or shape or is bleeding spontaneously, you should see your family physician or Dermatologist for signs of malignancy. Moles come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. The most appropriate removal technique often depends upon the type, colour and location of the mole itself. Skin tags are often flesh coloured and are a result of the repeated rubbing of skin. These benign skin lesions can appear where clothing rubs the skin (ex. underarms).

Details of Procedure

Moles an be removed using a variety of methods. Most moles respond well to a procedure called a shave technique where a small amount of local anaesthetic is injected and then the mole is simply shaved off. There are no sutures required as an application of aluminum chloride will immediately stop any bleeding. If the shave is performed on the face or on an area of your body that is exposed to sunlight, it should be kept covered with a band-aid to avoid hyper-pigmentation. In approximately 5-7 days, once the area has healed, sunscreen should be applied during sun exposure. Some moles respond well to excision only and in that case sutures would be required. If the mole is on the face, the sutures would stay in for 5-7 days or on the body for 10-14 days. Laser is generally not used in the treatment of moles. Freckles can sometimes be removed with laser, but these are not true moles. Patients should expect to be in the office anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Post Treatment Care

Patients can wash the area with a mild soap and water daily. Polysporin should also be used twice daily for approximately 5 days. Although the use of band-aids is not necessary, they can be used if the removal site is in an area of irritation.

Possible Risks

There is a risk of scarring when removing skin tags or moles. Any discolouration should fade over time and can be reduced by applying a topical silicone gel for scars. Dermatix-C is available in the Skin Spa if you require. Dr. Sapra should also be notified if you have ever experienced keloid scarring in the past. There is also a minimal risk of infection, which also can be significantly reduced by proper daily care of the removal site and by following patient instructions.