Mole removal

What is mole removal?

Mole removal takes away a mole, a small coloured spot on the skin, either because there's a concern about your health or because you'd like it removed for cosmetic reasons.

What conditions does mole removal treat?

The vast majority of moles are harmless and don't need treating. Moles are usually only removed for medical reasons if there's a concern they might indicate melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

Signs worth getting checked include:

• a mole that looks different in size, shape or colour compared with before
• uneven or blurry edges, or more than one shade of colour within the mole
• a mole that's painful, itchy, bleeding, crusty or inflamed
• a mole wider across than a standard pencil eraser
• any mark on the skin that looks new or out of the ordinary and has stuck around for several weeks without clearing up

Some people also choose to have harmless moles removed for cosmetic reasons, for example if a mole knocks their confidence, or catches on clothing or jewellery.

What are the benefits of mole removal?

Removing a mole that turns out to be melanoma gives the best chance of successful treatment when it's caught early.

For cosmetic removal, many people feel more confident afterwards, or find everyday life more comfortable if the mole was previously catching on clothing.

Are there different methods of mole removal?

• laser removal, using pulses of light to gradually break apart the mole's pigment; best suited to small moles, particularly on the face, since it carries less risk of scarring, though it usually takes more than one session to fully clear the mole
• shave removal, where a mole that sits proud of the skin is shaved off with a scalpel under local anaesthetic
• excision, where the mole is cut away together with a slim edge of surrounding skin, then usually stitched; this is the method used when the mole needs testing for cancer, and tends to suit larger moles, or ones where regrowth is more of a concern
• cryotherapy, which freezes the mole using liquid nitrogen; the area scabs over, and the scab, along with the mole, falls off after around a month

What happens before mole removal?

A consultation with a doctor or dermatologist comes first. They'll examine your mole, decide whether a sample needs testing, and talk you through the recommended treatment, likely outcome, and any risks.

If your GP or specialist suspects a mole could be melanoma, you should be referred to see a specialist urgently.

What happens during mole removal?

1. The area around the mole is cleaned and numbed with a local anaesthetic injection.
2. The mole is then removed using the chosen method: laser light, a scalpel for shave removal, surgical excision with a border of surrounding skin, or freezing with liquid nitrogen.
3. If stitches are needed, these are put in to close the wound.
4. If testing has been recommended, the removed tissue is sent to a laboratory to be checked under a microscope.

A mole removal appointment, consultation included, generally takes about half an hour from start to finish.

What does recovery look like?

A small mark or scar is often left where the mole was, which usually fades over time. Shave removal may leave a small pink mark, while excision leaves a scar where the stitches were.

With laser removal, more than one session is often needed to fully clear the mole.

With cryotherapy, the treated area scabs over, and the scab, along with the mole, usually falls off after around a month.

If a tissue sample was sent for testing, it can take some time for results to come back; your doctor will explain how and when you'll receive them.

What are the risks and complications?

Possible risks of mole removal include:

• a small scar or mark where the mole was, which usually fades over time
• a small chance of the mole growing back, since a few cells may remain in the skin; a further treatment can usually be arranged if this happens
• general risks that apply to any minor skin procedure, such as infection or bleeding