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Skin Mole Removal Methods
There are varied reasons why people seek for moles removal, many people choose to have their skin moles removed for aesthetic or medical reasons or they dislike the mole’s appearance.
For people who have cancerous moles, surgery is the only effective methods of removal.
And for those who want their moles to be removed for cosmetic reason, surgical, laser and natural mole removal are usually good options.
If you would to get mole removed by the doctor, moles can be removed by one of these following methods
- Excision/Cutting – This involves cutting with or without stitches.
- Freezing – Moles that are non-cancerous and haven’t grown to the deeper layers of skin can be frozen off using liquid nitrogen. This may leave a small blister on the skin but is a relatively simple outpatient procedure
- Shave removal – It’s basically the use of a scalpel blade to remove a mole.
- Surgical excision – This is done for large moles or deeper moles.
Laser excision has been tried for moles but it’s not the method of choice. This is because for deep moles, laser lights can’t penetrate deep enough. Additionally, there is no tissue remain for pathological examination.
Normally dermatologists choose excision with or without stitches. This is dependent on the desired cosmetic outcome and the depth of the mole.
Procedure for mole removal.
- Cleanse the affected area. Alcohol, Betadine or another suitable material is used cleanse the area to be treated. The ointment depends on the surgeon’s preference.
- Numb the area with an anesthetic such as lidocaine. This takes little time to accomplish. Most surgeons allow up to 10 minutes after numbing to let blood flow to the area to reduce.
- Place a sterile drape over the affected area. This depends on the size of mole and the removal method. This procedure doesn’t have to be done in a sterile surrounding.
Steps to follow during mole removal.
This depends on the removal method being used as stipulated below. Importantly, this should be done by a specialist to avoid future complications.
Procedure for removal by shaving without stitches.
- Use a scalpel to shave the mole slightly below the skin level.
- Place an appropriate solution on the area to stop bleeding. Alternatively, an electrical instrument will burn and dry the area.
- Cover the wound with a bandage.
- Get instruction and tips on how to care for your wound. Avoid any contamination. Leave the office and wait for wound recovery.
Procedure for removal by shaving with stitches.
This method is used to remove moles located in cosmetically sensitive areas where optimal scar is called for.
- Mark out the mole, clean the affected area and numb it.
- Use a scalpel to cut the mole and its border. Border size relies on surgeon’s concern for the mole being removed. For instance, a cancerous mole calls for removal of a larger area. This ensures complete removal of the mole.
- Place stitches on the surface or deep inside the skin. Placement of stitches depend on depth of the mole. Stitches placed on the upper surface of the skin don’t get absorbed and are removed after some time, the later are absorbable and don’t get removed.
Procedure after mole removal.
Home care procedures.
- Apply a layer of petroleum jelly and bandage the wound.
- Clean the wound frequently with either hydrogen peroxide or sterilized water.
- After cleaning the wound, apply some Vaseline and bandage.
- Repeat this daily until the wound is completely healed.
Misconception about healing.
- Some people believe that for quicker healing of wounds it need to be left open to the air. Studies disapprove this. Wounds tends to heal faster with bandages and antibiotic salve.
- Vitamin E is believed to accelerate scar healing. However, scars are worse with Vitamin E.
Steps after Mole Removal.
These wholly depends on the type of removal employed.
Simple mole removals don’t necessitate frequent office visits. However, this depends on the type or mole.
For lab results, communicate with your doctor to find out whether according to the pathologists there are unusual features that require keen attention.
Stitch removal requires a strict follow up. This depends on stitched areas and type of suture used. Normally, facial sutures are removed shortly after surgery while stitches elsewhere get removed from eight to 21 days depending on surgeon’s preference.
To prevent future infections, avoid getting the area dirty as this may contaminate and slow recovery to the affected area. Also avoid any stress and strain to the area.
Seeking additional medical care.
There are various signs of infection that require medical attention. These are:
- Excessive bleeding and production of foul smelling fluid from the wound.
- High temperatures of 100 F in adults and 101 F in children.
- Severe and unending pain.
- Avoid using aspiring after surgery as it increases bleeding. Seek medical advice before using them if it’s a must.
- Avoid blood thinner medication since they slow down the healing rate. These are any medications that deter effective blood clotting. Seek appropriate recommendations prior to usage of any such medication.
Risks associated with Mole Removal.
Generally, risks of mole removal methods range from infection to anesthetic allergy and nerve damage. The latter is rare. Prevention is better than cure. That being the case, it’s wise to choose a dermatologist with necessary skills and experience for these removals. This lowers the risk related to the mole removal procedure. Risks depend on the area being treated and the removal method employed. The most common and unavoidable outcome of mole removal is a scar. Don’t rush to remove moles for cosmetic purposes, instead, seek a surgeon’s advice on the type of expected scar before deciding whether to remove it or not.
Prevention of moles.
Thousand moles are extracted daily. However, according to dermatologists, awareness about your body and any changes in its moles is of paramount importance. Additionally, the need to avoid scorching sun rays can’t be understated. Whenever you go for a checkup, it’s vital to have a full body mole screening than ignore some other parts, especially those that could be hard to inspect regularly.
Read more about Should moles be removed?