Surgical Excision of Moles

What are moles and how can you distinguish between benign and malignant moles? 

Moles (nevi) are common skin changes that result from the accumulation of melanocytes. They can vary in appearance, shape, color, size and may appear anywhere on the body. Some moles are present at birth, but most develop and change over the course of a person’s life, which is a normal occurrence. They are usually benign growths, although some may become malignant.

A healthy mole has a regular shape, clear and well-defined borders, a smooth surface, and is light to dark brown in color, usually no larger than 6 millimeters and without any symptoms (such as pain, bleeding, pigmentation, etc.). A suspicious, potentially malignant mole is often asymmetrical, it has an irregular shape with rounded or jagged edges, varies in color or has mixed shades, is generally larger than 6 millimeters and tends to change in shape, size, color or thickness, often accompanied by symptoms such as itching, pain, discharge or bleeding.

During a dermatoscopic examination, a dermatologist will examine the moles on the entire body and scalp to assess which moles are normal, which need regular monitoring and which should be surgically removed and sent for histopathological analysis due to suspicion of malignancy. Dermatoscopy is completely painless and allows for easy differentiation between healthy and suspicious, potentially dangerous moles, as well as the diagnosis of melanoma.

What is surgical excision of a mole and when is it necessary to remove a mole? 

Excision is a minor surgical procedure in which a surgeon removes an altered skin lesion - in this case a suspicious mole or a mole that is problematic for aesthetic or practical reasons (such as being located in an inconvenient area of the body). The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, which is administered to the area where the excision is carried out. The removed mole is then sent for histopathological examination (PHD) to determine the exact nature of the skin lesion and to establish a final diagnosis (ranging from benign changes to malignant skin conditions).

Mole removal is recommended for anyone who has experienced trauma to a mole in any way, as well as when there are changes in the mole’s size, color, border shape or if it begins to bleed. Special attention is given to moles located in prominent or high-friction areas of the body such as skin folds, pressure points or spots where clothing frequently rubs or causes irritation.

What does the preparation for mole removal look like? 

It is not necessary to be fasting on the day of the procedure. Two to three days before and after the surgical procedure, medications that "thin" the blood (such as Andol and similar) should not be taken and it is important to consult your general practitioner about this. All necessary information will be provided during the consultation at our clinic.

How is surgical excision of a mole performed? 

When treating moles and other skin lesions the location of the lesion is very important, as different areas of the body require specific treatment approaches. For this reason it is crucial that these surgical procedures are performed by a skilled and qualified surgeon.

The procedure is painless due to the use of local anesthesia, meaning the area is numbed. During the removal of a mole or other skin lesion the excised tissue is sent for laboratory and histopathological analysis based on the surgeon’s assessment.

Using a scalpel the surgeon removes the problematic skin lesion, such as a suspicious mole or a potential skin cancer like melanoma. The procedure itself is completely painless due to the local anesthesia applied to the area being treated. After the excision removed tissue is sent for histopathological analysis and the wound is closed with sutures and covered with a sterile dressing. Wound must be kept dry and a follow-up appointment is scheduled for dressing changes. Suture removal is usually planned 8 to 12 days after the procedure.

What does recovery after mole removal look like and how long does it last?

The postoperative recovery period usually lasts about one to two weeks, depending on the size, type and location of the removed lesion. After the procedure, which typically takes around 30 minutes to one hour, the patient can go home and is advised to rest for the remainder of the day. All additional instructions and advice are provided by the surgeon before and/or after the procedure. Once the stitches are removed the treated area should be regularly treated with scar-reducing creams for several weeks or even months.

It is essential to follow all the doctor's instructions given during the consultation and especially those related to avoiding intense physical activity until the stitches are removed. In order to promote optimal wound healing and minimize scarring it is important to start and consistently continue scar treatment with appropriate products as recommended by the surgeon.