It’s important to get moles checked by a doctor experienced in examining moles using a dermatoscope. Moles and melanomas (a potentially dangerous skin cancer) can easily be confused by the untrained eye. We offer mole assessment with dermoscopy as part of our service.
Once a mole has been confirmed to be benign, it is then a matter of patient choice as to whether it is treated. The NHS will not offer removal for cosmetic reasons; we are pleased to be able to offer the option of treatment for those who would like it.
If a mole appears to be high-risk for cancer, we do not offer treatment, but support urgent referral back to NHS cancer specialists.
Shave Excision
We are able to remove most raised moles using a surgical technique known as shave excision, which usually gives excellent cosmetic results.
We start by injecting a small amount of local anaesthetic under the mole using a very fine needle. We then use a sharp instrument to shave away the mole flush with the skin. Finally, we use the Hyfrecator to gently cauterise the underlying tissue and seal any blood vessels. A waterproof dressing is applied to the site. A scab will form over the site, which will drop away after a week or two to leave a pink patch of skin. This will fade over a few months, perhaps leaving a faint scar, although this often is barely visible.
Elliptical Excision
Occasionally we may remove moles using an excision biopsy technique. This involves cutting away an ellipse of skin around the mole, and closing it with stitches. This technique is used either for flat moles, or high-risk raised moles. The site will be covered with a waterproof dressing and needs to be kept dry for five days. This procedure will result in a linear scar, which usually fades to a thin white line.
All moles which we remove are sent for histology at additional cost. This involves the tissue being sent to a specialist laboratory and checked for any cancerous cells. While it is possible to rule out cancer by examination with the dermatoscope in most cases, it is also possible to be caught out, and this is not an area where we are prepared to cut corners. If a cancer is inadvertently removed, we can arrange immediate referral to NHS cancer specialists.
Both of the techniques which we offer allow full laboratory analysis of the tissue which has been removed. Treatments such as freezing (cryotherapy) or burning (with a laser or hyfrecator) destroy the tissue and histology is not possible. We advise caution of any technique which does not allow this vital safety step.
You will leave with a waterproof dressing on the wound, and a spare dressing in case it needs changing. We advise taking some paracetamol to counteract any pain which you may experience when the local anaesthetic wears off after four hours or so.
It is normal to form a scab at the excision site, which usually drops away after around two weeks to leave a pink scar, which should fade to skin colour over a few months.
We remain available for any advice or follow-up which is required: all patients leave with our emergency contact details, including an out of hours emergency phone line.
We will write to you with the results of your histology, usually within two weeks.
The cost of a consultation is £100. Unlike some clinics, we do not bundle this in with the cost of mole removal, as we believe it is important to offer our patients a no-pressure, personalised consultation with our experienced doctor. As the cost of the consultation has been paid in full, there is never any pressure or expectation for patients to have a procedure, when sometimes, reassurance or advice is all that is needed.
The cost of a shave excision is £250. Subsequent shave excisions (during the same visit) are charged at £100.
Histology (lab analysis of the mole we have removed) is charged at £95 per sample. We pass this cost straight on from our laboratory partners with no markup.
