SERVICES
EXCISION OF COMMON MOLES
What is the excision of moles?
Moles are common skin growths which appear as small, dark brown spots and are caused by clusters of pigmented cells. They appear during childhood and adolescence and may change in appearance or fade away over time.
Acquired moles, also known as common moles are moles that appear on your skin which develop later in life. Most acquired moles develop between the ages of 10 and 30 years. A family predisposition to moles, sun exposure and tanning all increase the risk of developing more moles. Signs and symptoms of moles include:
- Moles may develop anywhere on the body including the nails, palms and soles.
- They may be raised or flat.
- Colour may vary from pink to brown and may be darker in people with darker skin tones.
- Moles may be benign (non-cancerous) and are generally small.
How are moles treated?
Most of the acquired moles are harmless and may be left alone. They may be removed for the following reasons:
- To exclude cancer
- If the mole is irritated by clothes
- Cosmetic reasons: the mole is unsightly
Dr Ndongeni may recommend mole excisions such as:
- Excision or cutting
Dr Ndongeni will apply local anaesthesia on the mole and cut out the mole and surrounding skin using a scalpel or surgical scissors. Stitches may be required if mole cells were growing underneath the top layer of the skin. - Electrosurgical destruction or cauterisation
Electrosurgery, also known as cauterisation is a procedure where Dr Ndongeni will use a probe with a high-frequency electric current to destroy or remove moles. - Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a procedure where Dr Ndongeni will remove the moles by spraying liquid nitrogen on the moles to freeze them. - What can you expect after the procedure?
Recovery differs according to the procedure that was done. - Excision or cutting
After the procedure, you may be tender for approximately 2 hours. You may feel pain in the treated area. Dr Ndongeni will prescribe pain medication and antibiotics to relieve pain and prevent infections. The scar may be red and swollen but will clear and heal in a few months. - Electrosurgical destruction or cauterisation
After the procedure, there won't be any need for stitches. Healing may take 2-4 weeks and may take longer if a large area of tissue was treated. - Cryotherapy
After the procedure, Dr Ndongeni will dress the treated area. You may experience some blisters which will evolve into a scab. The scab will fall off after 5-10 days, and new skin will be revealed.
Although you may feel some pressure, the anaesthesia should keep you comfortable and without pain.
A mole excision typically takes less than ten minutes to complete.
Expect a mole removal scar to heal in two to three weeks in most cases.
