The Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center
Mole Removal
Cincinnati - Dayton - Ohio
Call 513.984.4700
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Mole Removal

With the increased focus on skin cancer, many patients show concern about moles. Generally, moles that increase in size, change color, have irregular rather than regular edges, associated with bleeding---should be examined by an expert.

There are three ways to remove the moles:

• Destruction-
  laser, liquid nitrogen, electrocautery
• Shave Excision-
  a special razor is used to remove only the mole itself. The skin heals in gradually.
• Full Excision-
  the mole and adjacent skin are removed and sutures are place to approximate
  skin edges.

Not all moles need to be removed. The moles that are suspicious for cancer, irritated by clothing, are unsightly should be removed. Benefits, risks, and alternatives of each procedure to remove moles can be discussed during your consultation.

Who should treat your facial moles---a family physician, dermatologist, or plastic surgeon? Each physician is influence by his/her training. The plastic surgeon typically is more concerned with the cosmetic result by virtue of their training. Moles come in many varieties—which should be removed is best determined during a consultation.

Typically, moles that are darkly pigmented, bleed, irritate clothing, are irregular, or increase in size should be removed. Pathologic confirmation with a hospital lab is the only means to determine whether the mole is malignant (cancer) or benign (non-cancer).

Moles can be either shave excised or excised. The difference is the following:

1. Shave Excision---a special surgical blade is used to slice or cut just the mole itself. If the mole is flat or has deeper roots in the skin, removal may leave an indentation. With this technique, the skin heals from the edges. This may take
several weeks.

2. Full Excision---the mole and adjacent skin are removed with a portion of the underlying subcutaneous tissue. The skin edges are then sutured to approximate the skin. This technique leaves a surgical incision line which the surgeon tries to make as small as possible.

3. Destruction---Electrocautery, laser, and freezing with liquid nitrogen can be utilized to remove the mole. With this technique an indentation at the site is still possible. No specimen is available, however, to send to the lab.

We advise patients who seek improvement at the surgical or biopsy site to consider micropeels, laser resurfacing, or chemical peels after adequate time for healing has occurred.