SKIN LESION, CYST & 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.