Mole removal offers a solution for individuals seeking to remove unwanted moles from their body. This procedure can be performed using various methods; a mole can be shaved off, surgically removed, or removed through laser treatment.

Length:  About 15 minutes to 1 hour.

Results:  Permanent

Procedure:  The type of removal method depends on the condition of the mole, and is determined during your consultation. Shave excision is typically used to treat protruding moles; after the skin is numbed with a local anesthetic, the mole above the surface of the skin is removed with a scalpel. If the mole is flat or if melanoma is suspected, excision biopsy is necessary. Through this method, the doctor removes the full depth of the mole and the wound is sutured. Because lasers seal blood vessels and evaporate the tissues they remove, the need for cutting and sutures is eliminated when undergoing laser treatment. (Coarse hair that sometimes grows in a mole can only be removed permanently with excision of the whole mole.)

Anesthesia:  Local

Patient Status:  Office visit.

Recovery:  No downtime.

Side Effects:  Skin irritation, different degrees of scarring.