Stafford Skincare

providing specialist dermatology care

Surgical Removal of Benign Moles, Skin Tags and Warty Growths

Moles, Skin Tags and Warty Growths are extremely common on the face and other parts of the body. Although most of these skin growths are benign (harmless), some people find them cosmetically embarrassing or they can cause problems when shaving, applying make-up or by catching on clothes.

This section gives examples of the more common benign skin growths, and the available treatments. If you are interested in having a skin growth removed, you may wish to send a photograph of the skin growth to Dr Anne Ward, to see how easy it would be to remove the skin growth. Click on the link at the bottom of the page.

Moles (Benign Intradermal Naevus)
Benign Intradermal Naevi are moles that are usually raised, flesh-coloured or brown, and found on the face. Some people find them cosmetically embarrassing or they can catch when shaving. Mole removal is a simple procedure. Firstly, a local anaesthetic is injected in to the skin to numb the area. The mole is then sliced off level with the skin, usually leaving a slight pale round scar. Stitches are not necessary and any small bleeding points are stopped with Cautery. The whole procedure takes about 20 minutes. This technique is called “Shave Biopsy” and is also used to remove Skin Tags and some Warty Growths.

benign mole on chin

Pigmented Naevi
Moles that are brown, or moles that are changing, usually need to be removed by “Elliptical Excision”. A scalpel blade is used to cut into the deeper layers of the skin, after the area has been numbed. The wound is then closed with stitches, leaving a linear scar. The procedure takes about 30 minutes.

Always report a “Changing” mole to your GP – look out especially for changes in Size, Shape or Colour. Other features of a changing mole may include bleeding, itching, oozing or inflammation.

skin tags on the lower neck

Seborrhoeic Warts
Seborrhoeic Warts are extremely common, and are found especially on the back, but also on the face. They have a rough surface and may vary in colour from light brown to almost black. They usually start to appear in middle age, and can often be itchy. There are a variety of treatments available such as Cryotherapy (freezing) or Curettage and Cautery (scraping). Sometimes a pale scar develops at the site of treatment.

multiple seborrhoeic warts on the back

Viral Warts
Viral Warts are usually found on the hands and feet, and tend to affect younger people. In general, it’s usually best to try over-the-counter wart paints for several months first. If this doesn’t help then Cryotherapy (freezing) can be tried, but usually needs several treatments. As Cryotherapy can be painful, especially on the hands and feet, it is not usually recommended for young children.

Click Here if you would like to use our tele-dermatology service.

 

FAQS

Q. What are the reasons for removing a mole?
A. Moles can be removed for 2 reasons:
For cosmetic reasons – if the mole is cosmetically embarrassing or catching when shaving.
If the mole is suspicious – a mole that is changing in shape, size or colour or if it itches or bleeds.

Q. What happens after the mole is removed?
A. It is usually best to send the mole for histological examination to ensure that there are no abnormal cells present in the deeper layers of the skin.

Q. Will there be a scar after mole removal?
A. All surgical procedures result in a scar of some sort. For shave biopsy the scar is usually slightly pale and round. For elliptical excisions the scar is linear. Rarely, some patients can develop a thickened, raised scar (hypertrophic or keloid scar) after treatment.

Q. Are there any other risks with skin surgery?
A. With small skin surgical procedures, the risks are usually minimal, but some people may develop a wound infection, bleeding or scarring after surgery.

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© K.A.Ward 2009