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Original poster

Has anyone had a mole removed?

27 replies

mistressploppy · 09/04/2010 20:57

I'm thinking of having a small mole removed from my face - it sticks out a bit and makes me look witchy.

Has anyone had this done? Does it leave a scar? Was it worth it?

OP posts:

OrmRenewed · 09/04/2010 21:00

I did. About 6 weeks ago. I don't know for sure if it has left a mark as it was on my back. But DH reckons you can hardly see it. I wouldn't have bothered if it hasn't been under my bra strap and kept getting irritated.

It was very quick and easy and they sent it away for a test to see if it was malignant.

See what your GP says.

Original poster

mistressploppy · 09/04/2010 21:03

Yeah, it's purely vanity in my case, but I probably do need a full "mole patrol" with the GP as I've got loads.

Where did you go to have it lopped off?

OP posts:

OrmRenewed · 09/04/2010 21:04

My GP surgery. Got an appointment in about 10 days from seeing my doctor.

katiepotatie · 09/04/2010 21:11

I had one removed from under my breast (bra irritating it and making it bleed) was done in the skin clinic at our local hospital, took about 15 mins, small scar, but you can't see it so it doesn't bother me.

pointydog · 09/04/2010 21:25

my friend's teenage dd had a large, unsightly mole removed from her face recently. Yes, it left a scar but the scar is much much less noticeable than the mole so she is ahppy.

You need to disucss it with a consultant natch. That is what really my friend and dd to make a decision.

5inthebed · 09/04/2010 21:27

I have a couple removed every year. I'm very moley. I've had a few removed at the local GP's, but now they have changed their policy and I had to go to a plastic surgery clinic to have the last three removed. Had quite an unpleasant encounter with the plastic surgeons crotch at one point, but they healed lovely

No real scars from them, depends on how they are removed really.

Original poster

mistressploppy · 09/04/2010 21:29

Thanks, moley chums!

OP posts:

Pancakeflipper · 09/04/2010 21:30

I have. Had several. First one I was in tears with fear when I got to the Dr's surgery. Bloody wimp - the injection to numb it stung a little. And it was over quickly.

I can feel my scars - worst one had 6 stitches in. But you'd have to know to be able to spot them. Certainly less noticeable than a mole.

Tillyscoutsmum · 09/04/2010 21:32

I've had a few removed as well. They did leave scars but they gradually fade and have pretty much disappeared after a few years.

WickedWench · 09/04/2010 21:57

Yes, I had a large mole on my cheek that I had removed. I have a slight scar but it is much, much less noticable than my old moley friend and has faded considerably.

It was considered too large for my GP to do in the surgery - moles can have deep roots apparently - so I had it done at the hospital under a local anaesthetic.

What I wasn't expecting though was to have to wear one of those backless gown thingies and walk in to a fully kitted out operating theatre with all the medical staff wearing full theatre scrubs and masks and have to wear an eye mask due to the brightness of the great big surgical light thing. A very nice junior doctor who was observing held my hand all the way through cos the blood pressure monitor on my finger was beeping rather rapidly! Lord help me if I ever need real surgery.

Don't regret it for a moment though. It was quick, painless apart from the initial local which stung a bit and healed very quickly. I've had a couple of others done at the GP's and it was very straightforward. Get it done, it's worth it!

Rindercella · 09/04/2010 22:05

Agree, definitely worth getting it done. I had 3 (well 1 mole and 2 little bumps) removed from my face about 3 years ago. GP referred me to a skin specialist at the local hospital. I got there, he examined me and did them there and then. Just LA and a razor blade were used. No scarring at all.

spiderlight · 09/04/2010 22:11

I did, many years ago - there is a scar but it's not really noticeable at all and the surgeon positioned it so that it follows the natural contour of my chin. Definitely less obvious than a raised mole with three stiff ginger hairs in it that I had to trim every morning - the mole itself didn't bother me at all, but as soon as it sprouted hair, it had to go!

Original poster

mistressploppy · 09/04/2010 22:12

Oh cool, that sounds fine. I can't be arsed with a big song and dance. Just want rid of my SJP mole

OP posts:

nannynick · 09/04/2010 22:13

I've been wondering about this for some time as have a mole on my face (which the children like to point out on occasion).

Do GP's not mind people making an appointment for this kind of thing... I consider it to be a cosmetic thing really, though I do realise that some moles may could be a sign of cancer. Does the mole have to hurt for the GP to say that it can be removed... or is it good enough just to make an appointment and ask that a particular mole is considered for removal due to it being pointed at by children on occasion?

WickedWench · 09/04/2010 22:35

I guess it depends on your GP. If they do minor surgery chances are they might well agree to remove it themselves if you aren't happy with it. If they don't do minor surgery and have to refer you to a hospital it's possible you could find yourself at the bottom of a long waiting list if it's just for cosmetic purposes.

They seem to be more than happy to remove moles if the patient isn't happy about them though so I'd suggest you make an appointment.

My mole didn't hurt but had started to get bigger which is why I went to the GP. The tests they did on it after it was removed showed there was nothing wrong with it though which was a relief.

purplepeony · 09/04/2010 22:37

yes but I went to a plastic surgeon- I'm fussy.

small mole just below lower lipline- so he had to be careful to preserve the lipline. it was about 2mm across- tiny.

Had local anaesthetic and then 3 stitiches that were in for 7 days.

Tiny red scar which faded within a couple of weeks- now 1 yr on you can see nothing at all.

purplepeony · 09/04/2010 22:42

If it's purely cosmetic you will prob have to wait for a while if you want a plastic surgeon- but for anything facial I would not let GP near- my GP removed a mole on my leg once and it scared- prob not his fault but wasn't taking chances with my face.

I was covered by insurance BUT had used up my annual allowance so I paid- cost me £500- sounds a lot but it was getting me down and used to look worse when I used lippie etc as it made it more obvious.

these people have clincs nationwide. www.sk;n.co.uk

purplepeony · 09/04/2010 22:43

www.sknclinics.co.uk

jellybeans · 09/04/2010 22:48

yes i did, not on face though, needed 2 stitches. Was painful after due to position on the body. No regrets, yes it has scarred but it looks fine, just a white line. I hated it and worried about cancer etc as it was irregular. So glad had it removed.

Nemain · 09/04/2010 22:54

I know lots have reassured you already but thought I'd still add my input

I had a large mole removed from my cheek/jaw by my ear about 6 months ago.

I had it done in my GP surgery by an attending Consultant under local anaesthetic. It was burnt off.

DS found it highly interesting and amusing to say the least, but for me it was fine until he had to get the deep roots. That stung and I actually flinched a bit, and I am good with pain. Luckily it was less than a second and that was the last of it.

The smell was a bit bad, but other than that, I'd do it again if I needed to (mine was changing colour and shape so had to go. Shame as I liked my 'beauty spot'!)

It was sore for about 2 weeks, and red for about 7 weeks. Only now, 6 months down the line has it faded. If you look you can obviously see that it has scarred but to just normally look at my face you'd not know.

Good luck with it and it'll be fine. Just as long as you don't expect instant dermatological miracles

WickedWench · 09/04/2010 22:57

The level of scarring also depends where the mole is. I wanted two moles removed, the big monster on my cheek and another one which was - and still is - on the outer edge of my upper lip.

The consultant plastic surgeon who removed the mole on my cheek - who is very highly regarded and does lots of private work and wonderful NHS reconstructive plastic surgery - wasn't happy to do it because of the risk of scarring in that area that he felt would be far more noticable than the mole itself.

He said 'it never did Marylin Monroe or Madonna any harm having a mole there and if you were paying me I still wouldn't do it' so I've still got mine lol. Not that I look anything like MM or Madonna!

purplepeony · 09/04/2010 23:05

WW- did you have the cheek mole removed or not? you said he removed it then said he wouldn't

Just asking as my mole was on the lower edge of my lower lip and my surgeon did a brill job- you couldn't see a thing after 2-3 weeks and I had 3 stitches.

Nemain · 09/04/2010 23:09

WW - I wish they has forewarned me about that! They told me that there should be no scar and any marking would fade eventually.

6 Months later, as I said, not totally obvious, but there!

Mind you, I had to have mine removed as it was changing shape and colour and was a flag for malignancy

WickedWench · 09/04/2010 23:19

I had the mole on my cheek removed as it was getting bigger so there wasn't really any choice about that. I had it done about ten years ago and still have a very faint but visible 'if you catch me in the right light' scar. For the first six months or so I did look like Action Man - without the eagle eyes and crew cut lol.

I still have a smallish mole (about 3mm diameter) on my upper lip that I had asked to be removed at the same time as they did the mole on my cheek. It was the upper lip mole that the plastic surgeon wouldn't do due to potential scarring. I guess the potential there must be worse than lower lips for scarring cos he was adamant that it just wasn't worth it.

Pancakeflipper · 09/04/2010 23:23

Nannynick - some surgeries do a minor ops surgery will remove skin tags and harmless moles for a fee.

Mine have been removed in case they were dodgy so no charge for that. But I have developed a yucky huge skin tag on back of my neck and they quoted £70 for it to be removed.

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