Mole removal how long does it take

Most treated sites heal completely in less than a month, although a larger or deeper incision could take weeks to heal. After this time, you should continue to protect the area from the sun and may wish to explore scar fading treatments.

However, the vast majority of our patients find that any scar created by removal fades naturally over the first year as the skin heals. Once your final results are visible, you should see no evidence of your mole. This treatment option is safe and effective for most patients regardless of age, skin type, or skin tone. Male and female patients have benefitted from quick, painless removal on any part of the body with zero downtime and easy, straightforward recovery time. If you have questions about your candidacy, one of our doctors can help you determine whether this treatment is right for you during your initial consultation.

Is there mole removal near me? If you are living in Wolcott, CT, contact the experts at Advanced Dermatology Center to schedule an initial consultation today! We look forward to serving you!

Mobile Request Buttons Contact Us. What Is Mole Removal? Benefits While one of the main benefits of mole removal is aesthetic, our main concern is always your long-term health. Asymmetry Look at your mole.

Border Most normal moles have a clear, regularly shaped border. Color Your mole should not include different colors or different shades of the same color. Diameter In general, concerning moles grow to a size of 6mm or larger.

Evolving Any mole that changes over time should be examined by your doctor. What Should I Expect? Treatment On the day of your appointment, we recommend not wearing any makeup if the target area is on your face or neck.

Recovery You may notice some mild tenderness in the treated area for the first days after your mole removal. Minimizing Scarring Removing a mole, especially a cancerous or pre-cancerous mole that can require a deeper excision, comes with the possibility of scarring.

Your doctor will typically perform a skin biopsy by using a tool similar to a razor to shave off the mole, using a circular device to remove a section of the mole, or using a scalpel to remove the whole thing, the Mayo Clinic says.

What are some clear signs you should ask your dermatologist whether or not a mole needs a biopsy? If your mole is asymmetrical , has an irregular border , contains different colors , has a diameter larger than a pencil eraser, or is evolving in some way, you should mention it to your doctor.

As for a mole removal, clearly the goal is to excise the entire thing. If experts have already determined the mole is cancerous, your doctor may also cut out some of the skin around it, the Mayo Clinic says. The area will be measured, mapped, and sometimes photographed before your doctor does the actual removal, Samantha B.

Conrad, M. Your doctor will also explain what, exactly, they plan to do during the procedure and answer any questions you may have, she says. Then, your doctor will clean the surface of your skin, usually with an alcohol pad, and inject the area with local anesthesia like lidocaine, Dr. Lipoff says. The feathering helps minimize the appearance of the excision by blending the edges of the wound with the surrounding skin. Stitches are not needed after a shave excision. The mole is usually examined under a microscope afterwards to check for signs of skin cancer.

You should never try mole removal yourself. The risks of infection and bad scarring are too great. And if the mole was cancerous, you may leave cancer cells behind. Sometimes, however, scarring can be abnormal, resulting in large, raised scars. A hypertrophic scar occurs when the body makes too much collagen during the healing process. Hypertrophic scarring is more common with serious burns or other significant skin injuries, but can result from any wound.

An abnormal overgrowth of scar tissue, and one more common in darker skinned people, is known as a keloid scar. Keloid scars tend to be much larger than hypertrophic scars. They may need laser treatments, corticosteroid injections, or other treatments to reduce their size or stop their growth. Unlike hypertrophic scars, keloids grow and extend beyond the boundary of the originally wounded skin area.

Healing time after a mole removal depends on the individual. Young people tend to heal faster than older adults. And, not surprisingly, a larger incision will take longer to close up than a smaller one. In general, expect a mole removal scar to take at least two to three weeks to heal. Some methods to reduce scarring should be started once the wound is healed.

But initial care for the wound is essential for preventing infection and giving you the best chance at minimal scarring. Taking steps to avoid a noticeable scar, or at least reduce the size of a scar, may be done with a variety of treatments and preventive measures. Before trying any of these strategies, check with your doctor first.

A fresh wound is more likely to darken and become discolored if exposed regularly to UV light. Although this sounds intimidating, it is a simple minute procedure where the mole is removed using a special device or free-hand cutting after a quick numbing injection.

Stitches will be applied to close the wound. A small linear scar will be left, usually around the same length as the original mole. The advantage of this method is that recurrence is extremely rare. After mole removal, the treated area will be a little pink and sore for a week.

You will be provided with an antiseptic solution to clean the wound and an antibiotic ointment to apply.