Let’s now talk about the different ways there are to remove moles.  There are at least five different ways to go about mole removal and most of these will be offered by a dermatologist or surgeon.

• Incision with stitches
• Incision with cauterization
• Shaving
• Laser mole removal
• Natural remedies

Now on to the details!

Incision with stitches

This is the most common method of removing moles and involves the surgeon cutting out the mole and a small part of the surrounding area with the wound then being stitched up and left to heal.  This method has a tendency to leave a mole removal scar but it will fade with time.  My wife has had a number of moles surgically removed through mole removal surgery and the eventual outcome is fine.  If your mole has been identified as cancerous incision with stitches is method they will use to remove it.

Incision with cauterization

This method burns the mole off close to the skin.  Cauterization has the added benefit of stopping bleeding and preventing infection.  In fact cauterization used to be extremely popular before the invention and creation of antibiotics.  The main benefit is that there is a less likely chance of scarring, which for many people is desirable especially for facial mole removal.

Shaving

This method uses a knife to shave the mole off in layers back to the skin whilst at the same time cauterizing the wound.  This option is only recommended for benign moles as moles are not just above the skin but under it.  By shaving you are not removing the part of the mole that is under the skin so it could grow back and if it is cancerous you have not removed it.

Laser mole removal

Probably not the most effective method of mole removal and is only used in a very small number of cases.  This is due to the fact that the laser light can only penetrate the skin to a certain depth so for large or raised moles it is ineffective.  It usually results in the least scarring though so as the technology improves I can see more and more people using this option.  Lasers are also used in tattoo removal and work by breaking down the tattoo ink which the body then absorbs.

Natural remedies

The last method attempts to use natural remedies to remove your moles, which I believe is a bit hit and miss.  So what are some natural remedies?  Will here are some ideas I have read on the internet: the juice of various fruits applied to the mole, crushed garlic, baking powder and castor oil to name just a few.  There are a few shonky people out there who sell ebooks promising to show you natural ways to remove moles but don’t buy them!  Let’s be honest, if your mole is in any way cancerous do you want to be mucking around with some natural remedy not knowing if it is working and perhaps wasting time and allowing the cancer to spread?  I wouldn’t!

Summary

So as we can see there are lots of different ways to have your mole removed.  You will need to consult your local doctor or dermatologist to see which mole removal procedure is best suited for your needs.  You don’t need plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery.  If you are unsure whether you need to even have your mole removed check out my post Should I consider mole removal or is my mole normal?

In a previous post I talked about five different ways of mole removal.  Go and have a read if you don’t know what options are available to you then come back here, I promise I’ll wait for you.  OK, so you are all clued up on the different options available when considering mole removal?  Now I would like to talk about the risks involved when having a mole removal procedure performed on you.

The risks associated with removing moles are generally the same as any risk you might have when a surgical procedure is performed on you.  Removal of moles is considered rather low risk but it should be noted that no surgical procedure is 100% risk free so keep that in mind.

Infection

Our skin is a natural barrier to infection and anytime it is opened we are at risk of getting an infection.  So if you have your mole removed through an incision there is a small chance you could get an infection.  It’s also why you should take care of the area after surgery by changing dressings and washing according to your doctors instructions.

Wounds or scarring

When you have a mole removed most of the time you are going to end up with a mole removal scar especially if an incision is made.  This may sound hard to believe but a lot of people don’t realise that this is likely to occur and receive a rude shock after the operation.  The good news is the scar will fade with time.  If you are having a mole removed in an area that you don’t want scarring, such as your face, you should consult with your doctor or dermatologist as to the best non-scarring options available to you such as laser mole removal.

Bleeding

There is going to be a small amount of bleeding when your mole is removed, this is unavoidable.  The risk here is if you lose too much blood and is more of an issue for larger surgical procedures and a blood transfusion may be necessary if too much blood is lost.  You shouldn’t have any real issues here so I wouldn’t be too concerned about the risks associated with bleeding.

 Anesthesia complications

It’s pretty uncommon but there can be serious complications arising from the anesthesia process.  The most common problem is if you are allergic to the anesthesia drug which could spark an allergic reaction.  Other issues are with the way the breathing tube is inserted into your throat which could result in breathing food or fluid into your lungs, there is a chance you could also experience an increased heart rate or elevated blood pressure during the operation.  These issues are all associated with a general anesthesia and thankfully you will most likely be only having a local anesthetic.  A local anesthetic is only applied to the region of your mole therefore reducing the risks of complications.

Summary

So as you can see there are a few risks associated with mole removal surgery; however, they are fairly low.  The biggest risk is really if you will be happy with the amount of scarring that occurs.  As always if you have any concerns about the risks of removing moles you should talk to your doctor or dermatologist.

Melanoma is the the most aggressive of all skin cancers and the most dangerous.  If left untreated it can cause serious sickness or in extreme cases, death.  Now the good news is that melanoma is not very common and is easily detectable and treatable by mole removal surgery.  There are some simple warnings signs that you can keep an eye out for.  You can read about these warning signs in a previous post ‘Should I consider mole removal or is my mole normal?‘ and pay particular attention to the acronym ABCD.

What puts me at risk?

There are several things that can increase your chances of melanoma and they can generally be grouped into five categories: sun exposure, skin type, number of moles, genetics and a weakened immune system.  If you have a combination of these categories it increases the chances that you will have to have a mole removal procedure.

Sun exposure

One of the biggest contributors to skin cancer is exposure to the sun’s UV rays.  The affects of UV radiation are most severe at midday when the sun is at it’s brightest.  Here is something that is interesting although a little scary!  If you have severe sunburn as a child it increases your risk of skin cancer later in life.  This is a good enough reason for me to cover up my little boy when we are out in the sun.

Skin type

Fair skinned people are at a higher risk as their skin burns easily and generally these people will also have blond or red hair and blue eyes.  Having a lot of freckles can increase your risk as well because people with freckles burn easily also.  Now if you have darker skin it is unwise to think you can’t get skin cancer because this is just not true!

Number of moles

If you have a large number of moles you are at higher risk.  With such a larger number of moles there is more chance that one of them could become cancerous.  I’ve mentioned this previously but where you live can affect how many moles you will have.  If you live in places with a lot of sun, like Australia, you are going to naturally have a larger number of moles.  A good rule of thumb is between 25 - 40 moles is fine.

Genetics

If anyone in your immediate family; father, mother, siblings, children, has had melanoma it increases your chances by up to 50% compared to a person who has had no family history.  If you’ve ever had melanoma previously it also increases your risk of getting it again which can be quite devastating.  Just when you think you have beaten it you may have to go through it all again not to mention that fact that you’ll probably end up with another mole removal scar.

A weakened immune system

People with weakened immune systems are at a greater risk.  This could be due to certain types of drugs that are being taken to treat cancer or due to viruses such as HIV/AIDS.

Summary

There are several factors that increase your odds of getting melanoma.  If you have any of the conditions mentioned above you should consult your local doctor or see a dermatologist and ask them about removing moles.  It is always better to be safe than sorry!