Surgical treatment of moles and scars

Surgical treatment is suitable for patients whose doctor recommended removal of a high-risk or suspicious mole during a mole check, and also for those who find a mole bothersome – for example, it catches on clothing or they consider it aesthetically distracting. The second group comprises people with older, larger or unsightly scars from surgery or injuries for whom laser treatment alone is not enough. The doctor always decides whether the procedure is suitable at a personal consultation.

For moles, this means excision – cutting out the mole with a small margin of surrounding healthy skin and then stitching the wound. The removed tissue is sent for histological examination, which determines the nature of the mole. For scars, the surgeon abrades or excises the scar and carefully re-sutures it so that the new scar is narrower and less noticeable. The result for scars can then be refined with a vascular laser. Older scars usually improve less markedly than fresh ones.

Minor skin surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia, so you remain conscious throughout and feel no pain. The doctor disinfects and numbs the treated area, then removes the mole or scar and closes the wound with stitches. Wherever possible, the incision follows the natural skin lines so that it heals as well as possible. The length of the procedure depends on the size and location of the treated area, and the doctor will specify it at the consultation.

Surgical treatment follows on from mole examination with a digital microcamera and complements laser scar treatment. This allows the doctor to choose a combination of methods for each patient that suits the nature, age and location of the skin finding.