An e-consultation and subsequent assessment is an opportunity to assess your skin and suitability for treatment and type of procedure. If a skin cancer is suspected, then we may refer you back through the NHS skin cancer pathway for a multidisciplinary approach.
The procedures are relatively quick. Shave excision, Laser. PlexR Plus and Radiowave surgery take 10-20 minutes including local anaesthetic. A full surgical excision (minor operation) takes from 20-40 minutes depending on the nature of the lesion.
Recovery for shave excision, PlexR plus, Laser and Radiosurgery is very quick. You will be able to return to activities straight away but will be left with a small wound requiring application of ointment for several days. A small scab will form which will shed several days after. A full surgical excision will require suture removal after 7-14 days and we advise to avoid exercise during this time. Dr. Shrivastva tends to avoid using dissolvable sutures in the face to reduce scarring.
All mole removals will often leave a scar, especially immediately after the area has healed. Scars tend to improve over 12-18 months. Shave excision, PlexR and Radiosurgery tend to leave less scarring and is often barely noticeable after a few weeks. However, some lesions need to be fully excised if they are deep (many moles, cysts and lipomas). By following proper aftercare advice scarring can be kept to a minimum.
Most mole removal procedures are intended to be a permanent solution, but there are times when a mole can return. Shave excision is extremely effective at eliminating the appearance of a mole, but if the base is not removed these can return. It is always better to be conservative with treatment to minimise scarring, and remove more tissue later, as you can always take more away, but cannot put it back. If lesions are not shaved deep enough, pigment can return in the scar (recurrent naevus phenomenon). For this reason, shave techniques and PlexR are not used for pigmented naevi as this can affect histology later, and cause problems for the dermatologist pathologist. For larger pigmented moles or deep lesions, full excision is the most reliable technique for permanent removal.
Minor surgical procedures for mole removal involve only the superficial layers of the skin so the risk of nerve damage is very low.
Ultimately mole removal is not essential, and only if it is irritating or cosmetically unacceptable; one person’s imperfection may be another’s insecurity. Any individual can have the procedure performed as long as there is no severe medical condition preventing such an elective procedure.