Cosmetic mole removal

Moles, like skin tags and warts, are generally harmless and of no medical concern. Cosmetic mole removal means removing a mole that has been assessed as benign, because you would rather not have it.

That is a legitimate reason, and it does not need to be dressed up as anything else.

One thing to be clear about first

Cosmetic mole removal does not reduce your risk of skin cancer.

You may see that claim made. It is not correct, and it matters:

Most melanomas arise in new lesions, not in existing moles. Removing the moles you have does not prevent new ones forming.
Removing a benign mole removes a benign mole. Nothing more.
Where a lesion genuinely is or might be a cancer, the correct treatment is excision with pathology, not cosmetic removal - see skin cancer and mole removal.

What actually reduces skin cancer risk is sun protection, and what actually catches skin cancer early is regular skin checks. Neither is a cosmetic procedure.

Reasons people have moles removed cosmetically

They do not want the mole, particularly on the face or another visible area
The mole catches on clothing or jewellery
It gets nicked while shaving
It has become raised or changed in appearance with age - though a mole that has changed should be assessed before it is removed, not simply removed

Types of mole

Common naevi - pink, tan or brown, with a distinct edge, usually symmetrical.
Congenital naevi - present at birth. Large congenital naevi carry a higher lifetime melanoma risk and warrant monitoring.
Atypical (dysplastic) naevi - larger and irregularly shaped, often with uneven colour or a darker centre. Having a number of them is a marker of increased melanoma risk and a reason for regular skin checks.

Different types suit different removal methods, and some are not candidates for cosmetic removal at all.

Are you a candidate?

The essential requirement is that the lesion has been assessed and judged benign. Every mole is examined before any decision about method is made.

Where there is any doubt, the lesion is excised and sent for pathology instead. That produces a scar, and it produces a diagnosis - and a diagnosis is worth more than a better cosmetic result on a lesion nobody has identified.

A practitioner should be willing to tell you that a particular mole is better left alone, or better dealt with surgically than cosmetically.

The methods

Radiofrequency (electrosurgery) - high-frequency energy removes raised moles, lumps and scaly lesions without a scalpel incision or stitches. Quick healing, generally little bruising or swelling.
Aura laser - light absorbed by pigment reduces the colour of a flat pigmented lesion.
Cryotherapy - liquid nitrogen freezes the lesion, which dies and falls away. Used mainly for warts, skin tags and some seborrhoeic keratoses.
Surgical excision - the lesion is cut out and the wound closed. The method for anything suspicious.

The first three destroy the tissue, which is why they are only used on lesions already assessed as benign.

Scarring

Every method of removing a mole leaves some mark. Non-incisional methods often leave a flat patch that lightens toward your normal skin tone over months, but pigment change can persist and a visible mark is possible. Excision always leaves a scar.

No result can be guaranteed. How you scar depends on your skin, the site, the size of the lesion and how you heal. See mole removal and scarring.

Aftercare

Do not touch or rub the treated skin
A scab will form and separate naturally - do not pick it
Avoid sun exposure and exfoliation for around two weeks
Use any recommended healing products until healing is complete
Apply sunscreen whenever outdoors - a healing site pigments easily in the sun

Risks

Scarring; changes in pigmentation at the site which may persist; infection; bleeding; delayed healing; keloid or hypertrophic scarring in those prone to it; incomplete removal; recurrence of a pigmented lesion at the site, which can make later assessment harder; altered sensation; allergic reaction to local anaesthetic or dressings; and, where a lesion is destroyed rather than excised and examined, a missed diagnosis.

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

Cost

Cosmetic mole removal is not covered by Medicare. Cost depends on the number of lesions, the method and the site, and is quoted at consultation. As at September 2024 and including GST, a mole removal consultation with a Cosmetic Doctor is $150. 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 mole removal, skin cancer and mole removal, mole removal guide, 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.