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If you’re considering having a mole removed in Melbourne, read on.
Many of us have moles somewhere on our bodies. Some people are born with them, while others develop them as they reach adulthood.
They’re irritating when caught on clothing, interrupt shaving and brushing, and can be cosmetically bothersome – especially facial moles.
It’s normal to be concerned about a mole or lesion before getting it checked out, especially one you’ve just noticed.
ON THIS PAGE
- When to get a mole checked
- How to tell if a mole is cancerous
- Can a GP remove a mole?
- Cosmetic mole removals
- Mole removal treatment options
- What to expect with the procedure
- How much does it cost to remove a mole or lesion?
- About Dr Zack Bukhari
As a GP with specialised dermatology training, the best part of my job is regularly putting patients’ minds at ease.
In my experience, the vast majority of moles are harmless – if they’re actually moles in the first place.
Non-cancerous age spots, seborrhoeic keratoses, skin tags, epidermoid and sebaceous cysts, warts, and angiomas are all benign lesions often mistaken for moles.
No matter what you call it, it’s best to have it looked at if you’re concerned.
We can also discuss your options for removing the lesion.
Then again, if a mole you’ve had forever causes you no bother and isn’t changing, bleeding, or becoming itchy, just leave it be.
Take a leaf from Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Portman, or Jake Gyllenhaal’s book and embrace your beauty spots!
When Should You Get a Mole Checked?
It’s a great idea to have a GP take a look at a mole or lesion if you notice any of the following:
- Variations in size, shape, or colour
- It starts to bleed or get crusty
- It becomes painful or itchy
You should also have any new moles or unusual spots reviewed.
Generally, moles should remain stable in the short to medium term.
A long-existing mole may gradually fade as you age. Some pregnant people notice their moles getting darker. Both are pretty normal and expected.
My overall advice is to trust your instincts. If you feel something isn’t right, seeking medical advice from your GP is vital.
Strong evidence exists that patients with significant concerns about skin lesions are regularly correct.
How Can You Tell if a Mole Is Cancerous?
An experienced skin doctor can usually tell if a mole or lesion is suspicious by looking at it with a magnifying dermatascope.
This polarised light lets us see what’s happening under your skin’s surface, allowing us to detect issues that aren’t otherwise visible.
The skin cancers we’re most concerned about are melanomas. In addition, I’ll aim to rule out non-lethal basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).
Some slightly irregular moles and lesions also need to be monitored instead of removed.
If you’re particularly anxious about a mole or lesion we’d usually just monitor, I can look at removing it.
Can a GP Remove a Mole?
Yes, GPs well-practised in minor surgical procedures can successfully remove moles, cysts, and lesions in the clinic, often saving you an expensive visit to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
I usually biopsy all lesions that appear to be either cancerous or at high risk of cancer. Moles are always entirely removed when looking for cancer cells.
If cancer cells are present, I typically arrange a further excision in the clinic or refer you to a specialist to have the surrounding tissue removed.
The aim is to minimise the risk of a dangerous mole or lesion returning.
In the rare event that I encounter a mole or lesion that requires a second opinion, I’ll refer you to a specialist for further investigation and treatment.
Cosmetic Mole Removals
If we find no concerns about skin cancer and you still wish to have a mole removed due to its appearance, I can certainly assist you.
Following a skin check, I’m more than happy to discuss removing a mole or lesion that bothers you cosmetically.
However, this depends on the mole’s size, location, and associated risks of the procedure, which I’ll go through with you at the time.
As I want the best for my patients, if I believe you’d be better served by a more complex procedure performed by a plastic surgeon, I’ll refer you to one of the few I recommend.
Mole Removal Treatment Options
I use various treatment methods to remove moles and lesions, with the main three being:
- Surgical excisions
- Shave excisions
- Cryotherapy
Surgical excisions
I fully excise all concerning moles, meaning I’ll surgically remove them.
Depending on the mole’s size, the excision can be done with a small punch biopsy or by cutting around the mole in an ellipse shape.
The aim here is to remove a section of skin with clear margins for analysis under a microscope to detect cancer cells.
We’ll get the results in a few days, and if we confirm cancer in the outer edges, we’ll then remove a larger area of skin.
Skin cancer doctors refrain from excising a larger area initially, as most lesions aren’t cancerous, and we don’t want you to have an unnecessarily large scar if we can avoid it.
Once I’ve completed the excision procedure, you’ll receive a few stitches, be bandaged, and be free to go about your day.
Shave excisions
Shave excisions are a good technique for more superficial lesions, including BCCs and SCCs.
For this technique, after administering a local anaesthetic, I’ll use a blade to shave off a sample of the lesion for us to get a diagnosis. I’ll then stop the bleeding with a solution that helps the blood clot.
The sample is sent to the lab for analysis, which helps us determine if the lesion is cancerous, requires a wider excision, or can be left alone.
The shave excision site will heal like a small graze.
In the long term, you may notice a light patch where the mole or lesion was removed.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy means ‘cold therapy’.
I use liquid nitrogen at −196 °C to freeze off moles, viral warts, seborrheic keratoses, and superficial skin cancers such as BCCs and SCCs.
This technique is safe and effective.
Cryotherapy procedures are more uncomfortable than painful. Treatment can cause a strange physical sensation for people new to the method.
Removing some lesions, such as warts, may require repeated treatments over a period of weeks.
It’s typical for patients to experience any of these symptoms after cryotherapy:
- Scarring (especially for deep freezing of superficial skin cancers).
- Immediate swelling and redness
- Blistering
- Scabbing
What to Expect from a Mole Removal Procedure
At your initial appointment, I’ll examine the mole or lesion and conduct a full-body scan to check for other, less obvious spots.
We’re then in an excellent position to devise the treatment plan together.
I’ll arrange a time for you to return to the clinic for a relatively simple procedure to remove any moles.
Using the Surgical Excision treatment method as an example, you can expect the following from your procedure appointment:
- One of our practice nurses will take you to our specialised treatment room and make sure you’re comfortable.
- I’ll clean the area around the mole or lesion and administer a local anaesthetic to numb it, and use a neutralising solution to take the sting out of the injection.
- I’ll then mark the section of skin to be removed and excise the mole or lesion.
- We’ll stitch the excision, apply a bandage, and give you clear at-home care instructions.
My focus throughout the procedure is on making sure that we have an appropriate sample to exclude cancer.
The type of mole or lesion and the removal technique used impact scarring and recovery time.
You can expect some discomfort at the site, but this will significantly improve over a few days. As with any procedure, bleeding, infection, and scarring are risks.
I’ll see you again in a week or two to remove the stitches, depending on their location, and make sure everything is healing nicely.
How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Mole or Lesion?
The costs for Medicare cardholders vary based on the type of mole or lesion they’re having removed, the procedure method required, and the length of each procedure.
After tailoring the most suitable treatment and procedure for you, I’ll explain all the costs and your options before we proceed.
Dr Zack Bukhari is a local GP at Doctors of South Melbourne.
Zack has a special interest and extensive experience in skin health.
He has also completed dermatological training across a range of skin conditions and cancer detection practices.
You can make an appointment online with Zack or call us on (03) 8579 6838.
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