Mole removal

Most moles are harmless and do not need to be removed. Some are removed because they are suspicious; others because they catch on clothing or jewellery, are nicked while shaving, or because someone simply does not want them.

Me Clinic offers mole removal at our Malvern East clinic, performed by cosmetic doctors and plastic surgeons under local anaesthetic.

Read this before choosing a removal method

There is one thing that matters more than anything else on this page.

A mole that has not been assessed should not be destroyed by laser, freezing or radiofrequency. Those methods vaporise or destroy the tissue, which means there is nothing left to send to pathology. If that lesion was an early melanoma, the diagnosis is lost, and the cancer can continue to develop under skin that looks treated.

The correct sequence is:

Assessment first. Every lesion is examined before any decision about how to remove it.
Anything suspicious is excised surgically and sent for histopathology - the tissue is examined under a microscope by a pathologist. This is the only way to know what a lesion actually was.
Only lesions confidently assessed as benign are candidates for the destructive, lower-scarring methods.

If any practitioner offers to laser off a mole you have not had properly assessed, that is the moment to ask why.

Types of moles

Moles (melanocytic naevi) are common and are found anywhere on the skin, most often on areas exposed to the sun.

Common naevi - pink, tan or brown, usually flat or rounded, symmetrical, with a regular edge, and generally smaller than about 5 to 6 mm. Some begin as a flat mark and lighten and soften over years. Some grow hairs.
Congenital naevi - present at birth. Large congenital naevi carry a higher lifetime melanoma risk and warrant ongoing monitoring.
Atypical (dysplastic) naevi - larger, often over 6 mm, slightly asymmetrical, and made up of several shades of pinkish brown that differ from one another. They occur most often on the chest and back. Having a number of them is a marker of increased melanoma risk and a reason for regular skin checks, whether or not any individual one turns out to be a problem.

Moles are not contagious and usually do not hurt, itch or bleed. If one does, have it looked at.

How to check your moles: ABCDE

A mole's appearance can change over time. Check your own moles periodically, or have someone check the areas you cannot see. Have a mole assessed if it shows any of these:

A - Asymmetry. One half does not match the other.
B - Border. The edge is blurred, notched or irregular.
C - Colour. More than one colour, or uneven colour through the lesion.
D - Diameter. Larger than about 6 mm - roughly a pencil eraser. Melanomas can be smaller than this, so size alone is not reassuring.
E - Elevation or Evolution. The mole becomes raised, or changes in any way over time.

Change is the most important single sign. A mole that is different from how it was six months ago, or different from your other moles, warrants assessment regardless of whether it ticks the other letters. So does any spot that bleeds, itches persistently, or does not heal.

Who should have regular skin checks

Australia has among the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. A regular skin check is worth having if:

You have fair skin, or skin that burns easily
You have many moles
You have atypical moles
You or your family have a history of melanoma or other skin cancer
You have had significant sun exposure or sunburn, particularly in childhood

Skin checks and skin cancer management sit alongside cosmetic mole removal but are a different service - see skin cancer and mole removal and skin cancers.

Removal methods

Each is suited to different lesions. Which is appropriate is decided after examination.

Surgical excision

The lesion is cut out completely under local anaesthetic and the wound closed with sutures. This is the method used for anything suspicious, because it removes the whole lesion intact and provides tissue for pathology. It leaves a permanent scar - that is the trade for a diagnosis. See mole removal surgery and surgical excision.

Radiofrequency (electrosurgery)

High-frequency energy removes raised moles, lumps and scaly lesions without a scalpel incision or stitches. Healing is generally quick with limited bruising or swelling. Suited to raised, benign lesions. See electrosurgery RF treatments.

Aura laser

Laser light absorbed by pigment reduces the colour of a flat pigmented lesion. Suited to flat, benign pigmented lesions only. See laser mole removal.

Cryotherapy

Liquid nitrogen freezes the lesion, which then dies and falls away. Used predominantly for warts, skin tags and other benign growths, including some seborrhoeic keratoses. See cryotherapy.

Scarring - an honest statement

Every method of removing a mole leaves some mark. Excision leaves a permanent line scar. Radiofrequency and laser often leave a flat pale or slightly discoloured patch that fades over months, but can leave a visible mark, and pigment change can persist.

We cannot guarantee a specific result or that scarring will be minimal. How you scar depends on your skin, the site, the size and depth of the lesion, and how you heal. See mole removal and scarring.

Before, during and after

Before: the method is decided at your initial consultation after the lesion is examined. Local anaesthetic is generally used; you are awake throughout.

During: most removals are walk-in, walk-out procedures at our Malvern East clinic. You are told what is happening as it happens.

After: the area may feel tender and look discoloured. Aftercare generally involves an ointment to keep the site moist and a dressing for a few days. Keep the area clean, change the dressing as instructed, do not pick a scab - let it separate on its own - and avoid sun exposure for a few weeks, using sunscreen when outdoors afterwards. Your practitioner may recommend antibacterial or healing products.

Most people return to work and normal activities immediately.

Risks

Scarring, which is permanent with excision and possible with any method
Changes in pigmentation at the site - lighter or darker - which may persist
Infection
Bleeding
Delayed healing or wound separation
Keloid or hypertrophic scarring in people prone to it
Incomplete removal, requiring a further procedure
Recurrence of a pigmented lesion at the site, which can make later assessment harder
Allergic reaction to local anaesthetic or dressings
Missed diagnosis where a lesion is destroyed rather than excised and examined

Please read our information on the risks and complications of cosmetic surgery before proceeding.

Cost and Medicare

There is no standard price - cost depends on the number of lesions and the method used, and is quoted at consultation. As at September 2024 and including GST, a mole removal consultation with a Cosmetic Doctor is $150.

Where a lesion is removed for a medical reason rather than a cosmetic one, a Medicare rebate may be available; MBS item 45060 covers skin cancer removal with reconstruction. Purely cosmetic removal is not covered. See mole removal cost.

Booking

Me Clinic is at 4 Burke Road, Malvern East VIC 3145. Phone 1300 852 050 or (03) 9569 3511, or use the online consultation form.

See the mole removal guide, skin cancer and mole removal, cosmetic mole removal, skin tags, or all skin services.

Individual results may vary. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.