Mole Removal- How to Know What to Expect If You Want Them Removed

There are several reasons you may be looking at mole removal to improve your appearance or to prevent future health risks. Most moles are not a significant health risk, but they should be watched for any signs of change.

What exactly are moles?

When melanocytes, a type of skin cell, begin to grow in clusters a mole is formed. The coloration of the mole is darker because the melanocytes are the cells that produce the pigments in our natural skin tones. Moles typically are small, raised and have smooth, well defined edges. They are uniformly colored and usually if a person has more than one mole they are all similar in size, shape and color.

There are 3 general types of moles based on shape and appearance.  If a mole is flat and dark it is called a junctional nevus, if a mole is raised and dark or pigmented, it is called a compound nevus, if a mole is raised and flesh colored, it is called an intradermal nevus.

You may have been born with a mole which is called a congenital nevus, or more typically, they developed in the first 20 years of life. Exposure to the sun and even genetics may play a role in their development.  One of the side effects of tanning beds is that the UV rays can stimulate the appearance of moles, however this has a risk of increasing the risk of cancerous moles known as melanoma.

Moles continue to appear throughout adulthood and there is a saying you can have “40 moles by the time you are 40”.

Mole Removal Procedures

Mole removal involves one of two surgical procedures. The most common way to have a mole removed is to have a dermatologist surgically remove the mole by creating an incision around the outer edge and cutting it out. This will entirely remove the mole. Depending on the size and depth of the mole and its location, the doctor will stitch the incision on the surface or use deep sutures that will later dissolve. This is generally discussed during your consultation.

The second mole removal procedure involves removing the mole layer by layer by using a surgical blade to shave off the surface of the mole. With this procedure, the mole is not completely removed below the surface of the skin but will reduce the size and height of the mole. After the procedure, the wound is either cauterized or a solution is placed on the wound to stop any bleeding.

Lasers are not usually used for mole removal because they cannot penetrate deep enough into the skin to effectively remove the mole.

What to expect during and after the mole removal procedure

Both types of mole removal procedures are performed in the dermatologist’s office with a local anesthetic or “freezing”. The wound will be bandaged and you will be given instructions on how to care for the area to promote healing and prevent infection.

After-care instructions will include how to keep the wound clean, applying topical antibiotic cream and changing the dressing or bandage.

If there is some concern that the mole may be pre-cancerous or malignant, the doctor will obtain a tissue sample or biopsy during the mole removal procedure that will be sent to the lab for analysis by a pathologist.

A follow-up visit is not always necessary depending on the method used to remove your mole. If you have external stitches you may need to book an appointment to have the sutures removed. Facial stitches are generally removed in 3 to5days to prevent scarring. Stitches in other areas may be removed anywhere from 10 to14 days depending on the location, type of sutures used and your doctor’s preferences.

Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra associated with raised brown growths on the face, neck, or body is another type of growth that is sometimes called a mole.  However, these lesions are different from moles because they are just present on the surface and are not composed of nevus cells.  They are more common in Asians and African Americans and can be readily removed by gently cauterizing the lesions with electrical current and allowing them to fall off in a week or so.

If anything unusual has been revealed in the pathology report the doctor will call you to book a follow-up appointment to discuss the findings and investigate further.