Skin Lesion, Cyst and Mole Removal

Moles are harmless skin growths that vary in colour from pink flesh tones to dark brown or black.

It is very important to note that if you have a mole that changes in colour or size, or starts to bleed, it is really important to get it checked by a Doctor.

What are they?

• Moles are harmless skin growths.
• Moles can appear at any time in your life.
• Children and teenagers tend to develop flat brown moles.
• From the 20’s onwards we tend to develop domed clear or pink moles.
• These tend to enlarge with age and become hairy with time.
• Moles are normally quite harmless but can be unsightly, particularly if they are on the face.
• Cysts are blocked skin ducts.
• They produce firm swellings beneath the skin.
• They can become infected and require treatment with anti-biotics.
• Skin cysts tend to enlarge slowly with time.

Important

• Changes in colour or size, or bleeding should be checked by a Doctor at the first opportunity.
• Changes to look out for include:
  
  • Change in shape
  • Change in colour
  • Growth
  • Bleeding
  • Change in sensation, discomfort etc…

What is involved in removing a skin lesion?

• Your Surgeon will examine the lesion carefully in order to determine the best method of treatment.
• Moles that are considered healthy are often removed using a short wave diathermy or curettage.
• This treatment takes only a few minutes and leaves a small scar which will fade with time.
• Suspicious moles are removed surgically and are sent to the lab for testing.
• The results of this analysis are normally available within 1 week of your surgery.
• We will contact you to let you know the results and inform your GP.

Your results

• Our Surgeons will use the latest techniques to make any scarring as faint as possible.
• One treated your mole or cyst is unlikely to grow back.
• Generally moles and cysts enlarge with time whereas facial scarring produced by removing the lesions improves with time.
• Larger lesions require more extensive surgery to remove them.
• It is best to have any facial moles or cysts removed before they become too large.