Facial mole removal

Moles on the face are the ones people most often want removed, and the ones where the decision about how to remove them matters most - because the result is permanently visible.

Facial mole removal at Me Clinic is performed under local anaesthetic at our Malvern East clinic.

Assessment comes first, here as everywhere

The face is a high-sun-exposure area, which means it is also a common site for skin cancers. Every lesion is examined before any decision about method.

Laser, cryotherapy and radiofrequency destroy the tissue. If a lesion were an early melanoma or a basal cell carcinoma, destroying it leaves nothing for a pathologist and no way to know it was there. Anything suspicious is excised and sent for testing instead - see skin cancer and mole removal.

This matters more on the face than anywhere, because the cosmetic pressure to choose the lower-scarring method is strongest exactly where the diagnostic stakes are highest.

What makes facial skin different

It generally heals well. The face has a rich blood supply, and facial wounds typically heal faster and scar better than wounds on the chest, shoulders or back.
Scars are visible. A scar that would be unremarkable on a shoulder is a different proposition on a cheek or a lip.
Placement matters. A scar aligned with a natural crease or the border of a facial feature is far less noticeable than one cutting across it. This is part of surgical planning, not luck.
Some sites are unforgiving. Lesions on the eyelid, the nostril rim, the lip border and the ear need particular care - removal there can distort the feature if not planned properly.
Pigment change shows. A lighter or darker patch left at the site is more obvious on the face, and facial skin pigments readily in the sun while healing.

The methods used on the face

Radiofrequency (electrosurgery)

Commonly used for raised benign facial moles. High-frequency energy removes the lesion without a scalpel incision or stitches, and seals small vessels as it goes. Healing is generally quick with limited bruising or swelling. The site may feel hot or sunburnt for a day or two.

Laser

Used for flat benign pigmented lesions. Light absorbed by pigment reduces the colour of the lesion. No incision.

Surgical excision

The method for anything suspicious, and for lesions unsuited to the above. The lesion is removed whole and the wound closed with fine sutures. On the face, closure technique and scar placement are the things that determine how the result looks in a year.

See laser mole removal and mole removal surgery for detail on each.

Scarring on the face

Every method leaves some mark. Non-incisional methods often leave a flat patch that lightens toward your normal tone over months; excision leaves a fine line scar that fades but does not disappear.

What you can influence:

Sun protection. More important on the face than anywhere. A healing facial scar exposed to sun can pigment permanently. Use sunscreen on the site for months.
Not picking the scab.
Following wound care instructions.
Scar treatments - silicone gel and massage - once the wound is closed, where your practitioner advises them.

See mole removal and scarring.

Questions worth asking

Is this lesion being assessed before it is removed, and how?
Is anything going to pathology? If not, why not?
Which method is proposed, and why that one for this lesion?
Where exactly will the scar sit, and which way will it run?
Can I see a comparable case at a similar site?
What happens if the result is not what I wanted?

Aftercare

Keep the site clean and follow the dressing instructions
Do not touch, rub or pick the area - let a scab separate on its own
Avoid sun exposure for a few weeks, then use sunscreen on the site
Avoid exfoliation and active skincare on the area until healed
Where non-dissolvable sutures were used, attend the removal appointment

Most people return to work and normal activities immediately, though a facial dressing is visible and worth planning around.

Risks

Scarring - permanent with excision, possible with any method
Changes in pigmentation at the site, which may persist and are more visible on the face
Infection
Bleeding
Delayed healing or wound separation
Keloid or hypertrophic scarring in those prone to it
Distortion of a nearby feature where a lesion sits at an eyelid, nostril, lip border or ear
Numbness or altered sensation
Incomplete removal, requiring further treatment
Recurrence of the lesion
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

Cost depends on the number of lesions, the method and the site - facial sites needing careful closure take longer. As at September 2024 and including GST, a mole removal consultation with a Cosmetic Doctor is $150.

Cosmetic removal is not covered by Medicare; medically indicated removal may attract a rebate. 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, mole removal guide, cosmetic mole removal, face procedures, 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.