Any dermatologists in the house? Mole shaving vs. excision

[Brandyb]

If so, I need advice! 🙏

I was referred to a private hospital by the NHS to have a mole removed (it's benign, but sticks out a lot and gets caught on things). (I guess they are outsourcing due to waiting lists.)

Very strangely, when I went to the private hospital for the initial appointment, the consultant said he was a colon surgeon and he didn't know why I'd been referred to him! But he then added that he could do the mole removal as it was a simple excision procedure.

I'm now in the process of waiting for the surgery, but what troubles me is that the previous NHS dermatologist who referred me specifically said the mole would be "shaved," which I think is different from it being cut out/excised?

I don't know whether to demand a second opinion or just to go along with a colon specialist doing this surgery! The mole is annoying and I'd like it removed but of course I don't want it to be done in a way that is suboptimal.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!

You need a referral to a dermatologist not a colon specialist, get back to the referring NHS dermatologist and you don't need to demand a second opinion, they may have made a mistake. You can Google the colon surgeon and see if he also carries out minor skin surgery.

Where is it? If it was somewhere it wouldn’t be seen I’d probably just whip it out but if it was on my face then no. I’m surprised a colon surgeon is offering to just whip it off, is it cancerous? that’ll involve digging it out and stitches etc. I’d go back to the dermatologist I think, unless I was absolutely desperate.

Thank you both for the advice. The mole is benign and on my trunk. The colon specialist said he was surprised that I'd ended up in his caseload but that "my father used to do skin surgery" and he'd know what to do. He even drew me a little diagram of the planned incision!
But I think you're right, I'll go back to my GP tomorrow and get a new dermatology referral. There's nothing urgent here.
Thanks again

And yes it would involve stitches