Mole Removal Surgery
One way to get rid of moles is to have them surgically removed. The surgical removal of a mole can be done by either a dermatologist or a cosmetic surgeon.
There are a few questions that you need to get the answers to, before opting for surgery:
-The level of experience the surgeon has with removing moles
-The total cost of the mole removal surgery, including anesthesia, hospital fee etc
-The technique that will be applied to remove the mole(s)
-If the mole will be removed completely, or just in part
-The expected level of scarring after the wound is healed
Once you have the answers to these questions, you can decide if you want to proceed or not. You may want to opt for a cheaper option like mole removal at home.
A typical mole removal surgery will go like this:
First, the mole itself and the area around it will be cleaned and disinfected. After that, an anesthetic will be applied to numb the skin.
The surgeon will use a scalpel to cut out the mole and some of the surrounding healthy skin. How much skin is removed, and how deep the cut will be, depends on the type of mole, and if the surgeon deems it to be dangerous.
After that, the wound needs to be stitched up. This can be done with either stitches that are placed deep within the skin (and dissolve over time) or with stitches on the surface of the skin, that will have to be removed on a later occasion.
There is also a method that doesn't involve stitches. The surgeon will then use the scalpel to cut off (or "shave") the mole and make it even with the surrounding skin. After that, an electrical instrument will be used to cauterize (burn or freeze) the area to stop it from bleeding. Antibiotics are applied to prevent infection.
The downside of the "shaving" method is that it will often leave traces of the mole in the skin, and it may grow back.
The level of discomfort that you will experience afterwards, depends on the method that is used, and how deep the cut has been. There will be some scarring, also depending on the method.
Since most medical insurance providers do not cover the cost of a cosmetic surgery, it's important that you are informed about the price up front. A typical mole removal surgery will cost $125 to $150 per mole.
Our conclusion: Surgically removing a mole is the best (and only) option if the mole is cancerous. However, if you just want to remove one or more moles to improve your looks, then the fairly big chance of scarring and the high price may be important downsides to this method.
If you want to move forward and schedule a surgery, you can find a dermatologist in your area using the tool on the American Academy of Dermatology website.