Large, dark, raised, unsightly moles may result in anything from simple inconvenience to emotional distress in adults and children.

Mole removal—by laser or other type of surgery—provides a solution to people who want to improve their appearance and reduce associated health risks.

• Remove precancerous moles to avoid serious health risks.
• Remove protruding moles that get in the way of shaving.
• Reduce skin irritation caused by moles rubbing against clothing or jewelry.
• Gain smoother, clearer skin.
• Enhance appearance and improve self-esteem.

Most moles are removed using a combination of surgery and laser to achieve the best cosmetic result. Local anesthetic is used to ensure that the procedure is painless.

Shave Excision

The most common way to remove protruding moles. Using a DermaBlade^®, the physician shaves off the mole parallel to the surface of the skin. This leaves a small, superficial wound that is then cauterized with a laser to stop bleeding and tidy the wound. The process takes about 20 minutes. No stitches are needed and healing takes about 1 to 2 weeks.

Elliptical (Fusiform) Excision

A deep excision that removes the mole completely. Dr. Geroulis may use this procedure on moles that are suspicious or where the cosmetic result is likely to be better than with a shave excision. To ensure that the scar is as narrow and short as possible, an elliptical excision is made that results in a scar parallel to present skin creases. A bipolar cautery (electrical current) is used to stop bleeding. The resulting wound requires stitches (dissolvable or non-dissolvable, depending on the site of removal).

Laser

Although scarring is not an issue with this technique, it is not used for treating deep moles.

Dr. Geroulis will recommend the method of mole removal most appropriate for you.

After removal, most moles are sent to pathology for analysis. This takes place at a specialized laboratory using a high-powered microscope to detect abnormal cells. Although most moles can look normal to the naked eye, precancerous cells may occasionally be found deeper in the skin.