Facial mole - keep it or have a scar?

[buckingfrolicks]

I am now at an age when my large, dark, and very visible mole is no longer simply part of 'my face' but is making me feel increasingly self conscious.

It's between nose and lip, and is the classic 'witches' mole'.

Regardless of how I could have it removed, I'll be left with a scar in the same place. I don't wear make up. There's no point putting makeup on my mole in any case, but I would be willing to dab some concealer etc on a flat scar,

Anyone had to make this choice? I feel like it's ageing my face which has enough ageing problems to contend with without this!

[Fuzzballs]

I vote fr getting rid. You clearly aren't comfortable with it and a scar isn't a huge deal in my book. Go for it

[Behooven]

The scars left are tiny.

[FadedRed]

Go for it, it's obviously bothering you and a scar would be much easier to disguise if that was even necessary.

[raisin3cookies]

I got rid of a mole on my face, sort of at a diagonal from the corner of my mouth right on my jawline. The scar isn't noticeable, and I never wear makeup. The plastic surgeons who do this sort of work are amazing - and my surgery was 15+ years ago so I'm sure methods have improved light years since then!

The only slight issue is a small pulling/tightening of the skin from mouth to scar on one side, but I am literally the only one who notices it and even then I barely notice. I don't care and prefer that to the honking great mole that sprouted hairs on my teenaged face!

[vanillabeauty]

My little boy had a skin tag removed from just in front of his ear by the plastic surgery team. The scar is so small, and as previous posters have said the skills are amazing.

[dun1urkin]

I've had 2 x facial moles removed fairly recently. The scars are already pretty minimal. Really pleased I did it.

[Warmworm]

My dh had a mole removed from his forehead and wished he did it years ago. Scar is tiny and much less noticeable than the mole.

[MozzchopsThirty]

I had a facial mole removed

My scar is tiny and barely noticeable.

No regrets at all

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

Where did you all have your moles removed? I am really considering getting mine removed. Does it cost a fortune?

[Letseatgrandma]

Did those who had facial moles removed go privately? I presume you can't get it done on the nhs? Was it expensive?

I've got one that seems to be getting bigger/sticking out more. I'd love to have it removed but presumed it would be costly.

[ChipInTheSugar]

I've just booked to have one removed - same place, between nose and lip. Mine's not a mole, but an intradermal naevus. I'm paying to go privately. Initial consultation is £130, clinic fee is £150 and consultant fee is £230. This is for removal of up to 6 naevi, so I will probably have another on my cheek taken off, and another developing one off the end of my nose. Sound glamorous don't I?! I feel like Nanny McPhee in reverse

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

How have you chosen the place to go? Recommendations from others?

[Methenyouplus4]

I had a large one removed from neck and back on NHS (though think I was lucky as not sure they normally do them). One on back was simply because it really protruded and caught on bra clasp which made it a bloody mess, one on neck was because it was threatening to look like a second head.

At first I really regretted removing one on my neck, even though it had been unsightly, it felt like part of 'me'. Plus, I was left with a very obvious, angry red lump which I felt was even worse than the mole.

Then, odd as it sounds, about a year later I suddenly realised there was no scar left at all! I hadn't even bothered with oil/cream or whatever and it had just faded into nothing.

Up to you but I wouldn't be worried about scar, though maybe avoid just before attending any big ish events e.g. weddings.

[MozzchopsThirty]

Mine was done by my GP on nhs

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

If you do get rid of it pls do remember that the scar will take up to 2 yrs to settle & fade properly. In the interim it will be reasonably obvious

[ilovetosleep]

I have had 3 facial moles removed and am conteplating two more. I paid a bloody fortune for some guy at the Cromwell bupa hospital and wasn't that impressed really so I would choose differently next time. He used a shaving technique then cortorised the wound afterwards rather than cutting and stitching. One has grown back, he said at the time he wasn't sure if he had got the root but the anaesthetic wasn't working and I was in pain with the cortorisation so he had to stop, and the other bigger one (both on chin diagonal line from corner of mouth) has not grown back but has a scar that is quite visible - like a little disc of shallower skin if that makes sense, and a thick black hair grows from the middle that I have to pluck every week or so when it poles through and there is always a little black dot where the hair comes from. I'm just as self conscious of that as I was the mole. The ones I am considering getting removed were ok at the time and I didn't want to completely change the look of my face, but they are both growing quite big now and have gone from fairly flat to a bit wobbly which bothers me. dS2 has scratched it and drawn blood on on more than one occasion while stroking me adoringly during long breastfeeds!! Anyway, my point is the scars aren't always invisible but I'd still do it again - definitely get a reccomendation from someone who was happy with the results.

[buckingfrolicks]

wow thank you every body - that's a resounding 'go for it'.
Someday, you're right, and I guess it's the interim period that I'm anxious about. But that too will pass...

off to look at options (and find out what on earth a intradermal naevus is, if it isn't a mole!)

May post photos later ...

[bertiebow]

Get rid of it. I have had three small ones removed (just a shave removal, so not v expensive) about 3 years ago. One has left a faint mark the size of the base of the mole, the others have left no scars at all.

[Minx82]

Can anyone recommend a surgeon who is London or Kent based?

[amitha]

Yes get rid if it, you wont regret it. I had three big ones in my brow and i was so self conscious. Went back and forward about removal/scarring etc for ages then just went for it. Privately was £260 for the three of them. Was 3 yrs ago now and you can hardly notice the scars. Wasn't half as bad as i thought in terms of the fresh scar/recovery, as soon as it healed over i used concealer until the redness went and it was barely noticeable.

[thenightsky]

My GP removed my 2 facial moles. The scars are so tiny that I can only see them in my 10x magnifying mirror.

[cowssheephens]

Can anyone recommend a plastic surgeon in South Wales?

[Mrsmorton]

Whatever you do, when you have a scar (after stitches out) wear sunscreen wear sunscreen wear sunscreen.

Without it the scar will darken significantly.

I would have the mole removed as a decent scar won't draw the eye like a mole would. Surgeons are really clever people (although I don't like the sound of the shaving method with poor anaesthetic described by pp).

[Mrsmorton]

Your GP can refer you privately, that's how I had my tonsil out btw... I like to think they know the right person and that person won't be selling BOGOF deals on Groupon (unethical and highly questionable practice IMO).

[Mrsmorton]

I did have both tonsils out btw