Shaving

When a mole is determined to be non-threatening, doctors often opt to use a shaving procedure to remove it.  This involves shaving the mole down until it is flush with the surrounding skin.  While moles appear to be quite dark, they are actually just exceptionally tightly packed clumps of cells.  This gives them a dark appearance.  After shaving, the area will look much like the skin around it.

Laser Treatment

Laser treatment involves focusing a small beam of light onto the mole.  The light is absorbed by the pigment cells, which then break up.  The body carries away and slowly absorbs the pigment cells, resulting in no scarring but a perfectly normal patch of skin.  This method typically takes about three sessions.

Excision

Excision is typically done when a mole is very large or is suspect.  If the doctors think that the mole or surrounding issue may be cancerous or precancerous, excision will likely be recommended.  With excision, the mole and surrounding tissue will be surgically removed, typically removing all precancerous or cancerous cells and reducing the risk of any growths spreading or recurring in the area.

The method of mole removal that is right for you depends both on your mole and on the doctor you choose.  Different doctors or cosmetic surgeons prefer different procedures for mole removal.  While typically considered cosmetic in nature, many insurance companies allow coverage for mole removal in certain circumstances.  It is advised to discuss this with your doctor to see if your mole removal may be covered by your insurance as a preventative measure.

You know you have a mole if you have a small cluster of dark brown cells gathered in an area of your body, typically on the face, arms, chest or back.  They vary in shape and size.  Moles grow when skin cells clump together rather than spreading out across the skin; they are your skin’s natural colour but appear dark because of the clumping.

Moles can darken when exposed to the sun or during pregnancy.  Some people are born with moles and others develop them over the course of a lifetime.

Why You Should Remove Moles

A raised mole could be more than unsightly.  On the face, it gets in the way of the razor, and on the body, clothing could rub against it causing considerable discomfort.  Removing a mole allows you to have smooth, clear skin.

Depending on the location of the mole, removing it could raise your self esteem.  We pay so much attention to our appearances nowadays, and when a mole can’t be recast into a “beauty spot” it could affect the sufferer’s self-perception.  For women, makeup application is improved.

It is always a possibility a mole could turn cancerous, so consult your doctor and have it removed to reduce that possibility.  A mole exhibiting signs of mutation should definitely be removed as soon as possible.  Moles become cancerous because of sun exposure or continued irritation.  Removal does not completely eliminate the risk of developing melanoma on that spot, but it makes a significant difference.

Clinical Procedures for Mole Removal

Flat moles are quickly and easily removed with laser surgery.  A successful surgery performed by a talented, qualified practitioner will not usually leave a scar or mark.  Raised moles are not generally removed through laser surgery, as the light waves from the laser can not penetrate into the tissue deeply enough.

Raised moles are best removed through excision.  The mole and surrounding skin are removed along with a portion of the underlying subcutaneous tissue.  A few stitches bring the edges of the wound back together.  A skilled surgeon can minimize scarring, which will depend upon the size of the area removed.  Unfortunately, mole cells could be left behind with the excision procedure, causing another mole to grow in the same spot.  Reduce the possibility of this happening by working with a qualified cosmetic surgeon.

If you are running short on fig stems and castor oil in the pantry, do contact your doctor to find safe and easy alternatives to rubbing food on your moles.  A qualified cosmetic surgeon can use clinical procedures to safely remove those unsightly brown spots.