Mole Removal

What is a mole?

Moles are benign, non-cancerous skin growths (pigmented lesions) that often appear as small, dark brown spots caused by clusters of pigment-forming cells or melanocytes. Most people have ten to forty moles that develop during childhood and adolescence and may change their appearance or fade over time.  

What are the four types of moles, what do they look like, and where can they manifest?

The four types of moles are Congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi (commonly called atypical moles), acquired nevi, and spitz nevi. 

Congenital nevi are a pigmented birthmark that appears at birth or during the baby’s first twelve months. 

Dysplastic nevi are abnormally shaped moles that have been judged as non-cancerous by a trained doctor. 

Acquired nevi are clumps of melanocytes that originate in childhood but usually manifest at thirty to forty years of age.

Spitz nevus is a rare skin mole that typically develops in younger people and children. Spitz nevi are also non-cancerous moles despite their appearance. 

A common mole generally appears as a small growth on the skin, usually pink, tan, or brown, and has a distinct edge.

Moles can appear all over your skin. You may develop multiple moles on your face or even places not generally exposed to sunlight.

How is a mole removed?

Mole surgery is incredibly straightforward and usually occurs while you are under a local anaesthetic. 

Firstly, our expert surgeons carefully disinfect the operating area around the mole before using a surgical drape to maintain a sterile environment. 

After which, the procedure involves an oval cut around the mole before being sent to a lab. Depending on the cut, the surgeon may choose to close the wound with stitching before wrapping it in a compression cloth to prevent any infection.

What is recovery like after mole removal?

The mole surgery is a minor cut and won’t require you to stay overnight at our clinic. Additionally, you will be able to return to work the day after your surgery. 

However, you may experience soreness and pain after the procedure, in which you can opt to use painkiller medication like Paracetamol.

Generally, full recovery should not take longer than two to three weeks.

After a few days, your doctor will request follow-up assessments and assess the wound. 

Still, it’s better to contact the surgeon immediately if you notice any uncommon or irregular symptoms like swelling, bleeding, or redness. The results from the lab exam will be sent out to you by the consultant or GP.