Mole (the skin type, not the animal type) removal

[legalseagull]

Posting on behalf of DH -

I have a big mole behind my ear. Always had it, and now decided to have it off. Not a big issue, but it gets nicked by the barber occasionally, and i don't want to risk it getting sunburnt.

I'm weighing up having it cut-off and stitches, or cryotherapy, where it is frozen, scabs, and bits fall off. Will need that once a month for four months, apparently.

Has anyone done the latter? Would prefer to read some real world experiences rather than Dr Google.

Has he seen a dermatologist yet? If not I would do. If you have private medical use that. I would use stitches and at least it’s done! I’ve had many moles removed but all have been cauterised.

I had 2 moles removed from my back on the advice of the anaesthetist who put my epidural line in when I had DS1 25 years ago. My GP cut them out a few months later but doubt they would do it now. It was very quick, painless and I had a couple of small stitches to close afterwards.
There were 2 tiny scars that have faded to nothing.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

It depends what kind of "mole". You need to have it looked at. If it is a "mole/mole", it will need cutting out with stitches. If it is an SK it can be frozen off, or lasered off, but you only need it done once, not four times. I had a success with regular tea tree oil on an SK behind my ear. Went all crispy and fell off.... Very satisfying.

I have no suggestions, but wanted to congratulate you on a brilliant op

😁

thanks. Hes seen a private dermatologist, who recommending the freezing - although I suspect that’s because it’s what she wants to gets paid for! I just can’t see how it works and how it wouldn’t be more painful and take longer.

@HostaCentralim not sure what an SK is. It’s a large raised mole. She’s said it can be frozen but would take several sessions.
ive told him to just get it cut off but he’s reluctant

I've had 2 bcc removed,a thing I thought was a mole which then got bigger, changed shape and colour, and a keratin horn in the middle of my neck.. a big brown crusty thing on my cheek, which went darker in summer, neighbour had one removed huge scar temple to jaw,hers was a Lentigo.. first BC removed NHS hospital, surgical and glued. Keratin horn OPD liquid nitrogen, X1. Crusty thing seborrheic keratosis frozen,1 treatment,no scar.. After impossibility of getting GP appointment (for something else) I went to a private dermatologist,had the bcc removed, the arm "thing" turned out to be a wart, frozen,1 treatment. It was painful at the time. The bcc was on my chest and was very painful for several weeks.. when you say big, how big? The thing on my cheek was the size of my little thumb nail.

SK skin cancer. BCC basal cell carcinoma, not too deep. Never heard of them being frozen off. They take a margin of 1 inch either side,to make sure of removing everything,then it goes off to pathology for testing.

I’ve had loads of moles removed by my private dermatologist over the years. Non-concerning cosmetic ones were just shaved off and cauterised. Anything which looked suspicious was cut out and stitched, and sent off for pathology.

Repeat sessions of freezing sounds like a lot of hassle to me. And I’m guessing there will be no sample available to check for malignancy.

I’ve had cryotherapy - had a large mole just below my eyebrow. Took about 6 sessions to get rid of it.

SK isn't skin cancer it's seborrheic keratosis - warty moley benign growths that can be frozen or shaved off.

I have had several cut off as I have/ had melanoma. It is not at all painful so I would recommend this route. Very quick, bit of local anaesthetic and you are done.

PuppyLuck, so sorry I was thinking of solar keratosis.. my late father had this,it was sorted with cream over a long period of time

I'd go for the surgery. It's not really any worse and it's gone in one go with only one healing.

I had one removed with a lot of the surrounding area as it was dodgy so the hole was quite deep. I had two stitches in it which came out after a week and it healed up fully a couple of days after. I was still attending college fine that week and only took a couple of paracetamol on days I'd been using that arm heavily.

Mine was done by my GP but I'm aware that was unusual, he just happened to have the right training for it.

My DH had a mole/medium sized skin tag on his ear removed with one treatment of cryotherapy at my local salon. He had been to the GP to see about getting it removed, the GP said it would come off if we regularly applied Vaseline. It didn’t!

The salon has a trained beautician and offer the service. One 5 minute session. Two months later
there is no evidence of it having been there at
all. We paid about £50.

Obviously get it checked by a professional first.

To add, DH was told he might need follow up session/s but didn’t. He is so pleased! It was a little bit smaller than a half penny piece, for those old enough to know.

Same - about the size of a thumb nail and probably 3mm high

I’m going to show him these responses thank you. The dermatologist and GP don’t think there’s any concerns about it being cancerous. I think he just just have it off in one go.

God, 6 sessions is a right faff.

It was a big, very fleshy mole!!