Moles are sometimes referred to as “beauty marks” and while some wear them well - think Cindy Crawford - there are others who find their moles ugly, unsightly and just plain horrendous. There are various types of moles that can appear anywhere on the body or face, from cute, tiny moles, to the raised moles with the awful hairs growing out of it. Whichever kind you have, there are ways to go about ridding yourself of them.

Many people are born with moles or end up developing them over time. Also called “nevi”, moles can be hereditary or even caused by sun exposure. Some people associate moles with melanoma but that is not always the case. However, moles that have changed in size or shape over time should be looked at by a doctor in order to rule out skin cancer as a possibility.

There are currently two ways to remove a mole: excision with or without stitches. Excisions without stitches may or may not require cauterization, which is when an electrical instrument is used to burn/seal the wound shut after the mole has been removed. There are laser methods but these typically don’t penetrate deeply enough to get the job done. The surgeon you choose will carefully examine your mole to determine which procedure will work best. This depends on the shape, size, and how deep the mole is in the skin. On the day of your mole removal surgery, the area will be prepared by cleaning it with either alcohol or a different type of medical cleaning solution. The area is then numbed using an anesthetic.

Excision without stitches is the simplest of the mole removal methods. Using a scalpel, the surgeon shaves the mole off, sometimes going slightly below the skin level. From there, the area will either be cauterized (burned) to seal the wound or a solution may be placed over the area to stop any bleeding that may occur. Afterwards, a topical antibiotic is applied to the wound and covered with a bandage. After getting post-care instructions, you are free to leave.

Excisions that require stitches work the same way as the process above, except after the mole has been removed, the surgeon will place either deep stitches or surface stitches to the wound. Deep stitches absorb into the skin and do not have to be removed, while surface stitches are removed at a later date and time.

Caring for the area after mole removal involves cleaning the wound once to twice a day and applying an antibiotic salve and bandage. Changing the bandage frequently and keeping the wound clean are essential in the healing process.

The risks involved with mole removal range from infection to nerve damage. The best way to avoid these risks is to choose a surgeon or dermatologist who specializes in this type of surgery. The most common risk with mole removal is scarring. Depending on your skin’s ability to heal, this type of scar can fade over time. Talk to your doctor to find out the best methods and/or products that can help your skin heal faster.

The cost for mole removal varies but the typical price range is $125-150.

Related Articles
	Atypical Moles It is a skin disorder which is characterized by the presence of many mole like tumors. Most of the people have ten to twenty moles on their body. People suffering from this disorder have more than hundred moles which are unusual in size and structure. The size, location and coloring of these moles   ...Read more		Moles It is an abnormal collection of pigment cells which are present within the skin. The cells are called melanocytes. Moles are quite common and most of the people are born with it and others develop it during their lives. They are usually circular or oval in shape and are not very large. Moles are   ...Read more