Mole Removal - recommendations please

[sacrecoeur0712]

Hi,

Long time lurker here posting for the first time. I have a mole on my face which over the years has become more prominent. I've lived with it for many years but it's gradually becoming more fleshy and stands proud (it used to be quite flat), and in my late 30's I want to have it removed if it can be done without serious scarring. I'd like to talk to a surgeon about having it removed but I don't know where to start - has anyone had a facial mole removed, can you recommend a surgeon? Or even what I should search for on google? I'd rather pay for a top person because it's in a very prominent place and I'm worried about a scar looking worse than the mole.

Thanks in advance!

[beckymad1x]

My mum had a mole removed in the top right hand corner of her lip, you would never even know she had a mole as they've put the scar where her 'laugh lines' are!!

She got referred by a doctor to a good surgeon and she was pretty much healed within 2 weeks to a month!

Where is your mole OP? Have you also had it checked by a doctor? As moles that get bigger and become more prominent need to be checked!

[polyhymnia]

Definitely go through your GP who can refer you to a dermatologist who can check it out.

[sacrecoeur0712]

Thanks for your reply. It's on my forehead pretty low down so it's very obvious - I've asked a doctor about it in the past and he was pretty relaxed, - plus you can't miss it when talking to me, so I'm sure if there was cause for alarm my GP would have mentioned it. I really think it's a cosmetic issue.

[sacrecoeur0712]

I will speak to my GP about it, thanks.

[Appuskidu]

I’m interested in this-does anyone know how much it costs to have a facial mole removed? Do you have to go through your GP first?

[PerfectlyDone]

See your GP and get referred to a plastic surgeon.

Or contact a private hospital near you and ask for an appointment with a plastic surgeon.

Whatever you do make sure your removed mole gets sent to histology and looked at by a pathologist.
Do NOT get this kind of thing done by a beauty clinic.

The cost privately can be several hundred pounds: initial consultation, excision biopsy, histology, whatever after care might be required.
If it is a difficult site (near the nose or eye or similar) and a more complicated reconstruction is required for a good cosmetic result it can become quite costly. Most private hospital will give a complete cost up front so you know what you are getting in to.

[sacrecoeur0712]

I don't mind paying for it if I know it's being done by a proper plastic surgeon. I'm worried about being referred to someone who's not very good! I wouldn't dream of going near a beauty place for this kind of thing. I suppose it's the fear of scarring that's prevented me from finding out about having it removed until now.

[MsMalcontent]

I've got a mole on my upper lip that I really hate. I looked into having it removed but was put off because I've heard they are likely to grow back. If that's not the case please put me right because I'd love to have it gone!

[Freshprincess]

I had one removed from the side of my nose. There is a tiny scar, but you wouldn't notice it if you didn't know it was there. took 10 days for it to heal.
I had mine done on the NHS, I went to my GP initially as it changed colour and grew in size over a relatively short period of time. Fortunately nothing sinister.

[Tantpoke]

My very kind GP who can do minor surgeries took out a mole on my chin on the bottom of my jaw years ago which turned out to be a lot deeper than he thought and sent it off for a biopsy (knowing that it was just a mole) but it meant it was free and didnt come under cosmetic surgery.
Mine has never grown back, he had to put in a couple of stitches after with it being so deep. There was no scar because it was only 5mm across.

[Time40]

I want this done too. I've been putting it off for so long - worried about ending up with a surgeon who isn't very good.

[WhatCanIDoNowPlease]

Definitely following this.

[pimlicolife]

Gps will no longer usually refer on for removal of a mole that doesn't look suspicious because it's deemed cosmetic so not now something the NHS will cover.

I have had a facial mole removed by Cosmedics at the city of London clinic and highly recommend the dr I used.

[viques]

I've had several removed, one on the NHS, which was on the side of my nose and the local was the most painful injection I have ever had, but the stitching was done under supervision by the most amazing student who did the tiniest ever stitches. The others were done privately , absolutely no scarring, though everyone thought I had been in some bizarre accident, he said to have the stitches out after four days to minimise chance of scars and it seems to have worked. There were tiny red lines for a week or two but I can't even remember where they were now. no grow back either.

[sacrecoeur0712]

@Pimlicolife I was looking at Cosmedics online yesterday so I'm glad to hear you've used them - would you mind PMing me the name of the doctor who did yours?
Mine's about 7-8 mm across so I wouldn't feel comfortable about my GP doing it.

[EnidAlexandraRollins]

I had a really big mole removed from under my lower lip by Angelica Kavouni in London. I am still duper happy with the results 7 years later - there is no scarring. It cost around £200 BUT it was done in a follow-up for another procedure I had so no idea if that was a large discount. I would highly recommend her though.

[sacrecoeur0712]

Thanks @EnidAlexandraRollins, googling now.

[pimlicolife]

@sacrecoeur0712 it was Dr Ross Perry. I had exactly the same concerns as you and did a lot of googling before choosing him. If you look online you'll see he's well known and has a good reputation.

I went for the initial consultation and was comfortable with him so had the removal done there and then. There were no stitches involved as the mole is sliced off and then the skin is cauterised. It's useful to know that you have what looks like almost a small graze on the place where the mole's removed for about a week I think it was afterwards. For that reason I had it done on a week where I wasn't at work. But that's just because I hate people being nosey so I didn't want anyone asking about it. Otherwise it's fine.

I wish I'd got mine removed years before really because it had always bothered me.

Please excuse any typos as I've got my 7 month old wriggling in my lap!

[Minus1]

I’ve had several removed from my face and neck. My gp recommended a few surgeons and then I went privately (rang the local spire.) Excellent results with minimal scarring. Well worth it and never heard of them growing back!

[Minus1]

Oh yes my gp did some too on the nhs but they were on my body not my face.

[sacrecoeur0712]

@pimlicolife that's really helpful, thanks. Will deffo check him out. I too don't really want people asking about it (I'm a bit embarrassed about having it removed purely for cosmetic reasons) so I'd like to get it done at the start of a school holiday so I can hole up at home while it heals!

[sacrecoeur0712]

@Minus1 reassuring to hear of minimal scarring. When I asked a GP before he just said I don't know anyone I can recommend (it was a locum so maybe that's why he didn't know).

[PaperRockMissile]

Gps will no longer usually refer on for removal of a mole that doesn't look suspicious because it's deemed cosmetic so not now something the NHS will cover.

OP says "but it's gradually becoming more fleshy and stands proud (it used to be quite flat),"

This to me sounds like a mole that is suspcious - I think an indicator of a need to get a mole checked out is any changes. OP apart from the cosmetic side, I think you should get it looked at by a dr (Whether that is your GP o privately) asap and agree with PP that this is not for a beauty clinic. You need to have it biopsied.


www.cancer.org/cancer/melanoma-skin-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html says this:


The most important warning sign of melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color. Another important sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin (known as the ugly duckling sign). If you have one of these warning signs, have your skin checked by a doctor.

The ABCDE rule is another guide to the usual signs of melanoma. Be on the lookout and tell your doctor about spots that have any of the following features:

A is for Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
B is for Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
C is for Color: The color is not the same all over and may include different shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
D is for Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch – the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
E is for Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color.

[pimlicolife]

@PaperRockMissile the private clinic I used sent the mole off for biopsy and testing. I think they all do as standard.

[sacrecoeur0712]

@PaperRockMissile I think you're right to advise me to get it looked at so I will also see my GP about getting it checked by a dermatologist. However, the changes I'm talking about have been gradual and over a number of years. This will be quite identifying butI'll explain anyway - it's centred between my eyebrows and I think part of the reason it is standing out more is because I'm developing vertical '11' lines between my brows and it's in the middle of that, so as I'm losing skin elasticity it's standing away.
I've booked a clinic appointment today based on one of recommendations upthread and they do send away for testing once removed. Booking a GP appointment too though.