Mark on my cheek - advice please?

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I have this mark on my cheek. It never used to be so big and I'm feeling really self-conscious about it these days. Just wondered if anyone had any advice on how to disguise? Am I silly to worry about it? In my head these things are always really noticeable but maybe it's not that bad in reality. Otoh I do think it's kind of hard to miss! It looks horrible and I'm worried about it growing, my gp took a look and said it was nothing to worry about but just from a vanity point of view, it's really bothering me.

Something I have learnt over the years is that GPs are shit at derm stuff. ( I discovered this when I spent 4 months in foot pain because my doctor didn't know what a verruca looked like )
Get thee to a dermatologist if you're bothered by it - it's hard to tell on my phone but it looks raised? A dermatologist will be able to tell you if they can remove it- something that size should only leave a tiny scar, which will be easier to cover than a mole, no?

Thanks. I'd like to get it removed but because it's spread so much I'm worried a scar would be quite noticeable. I'll get an appointment with a dermatologist though.

I went to a private dermatologist for something similar. He removed it and I have no scar at all. It was a pock mark for a week then disappeared.

How much did it cost? I think I'd really like it removed actually but I'm on quite a tight budget.

It was about £120 for a consultation and he said he could remove it that same morning and the procedure was another £200 ish.

So it was expensive but my GP had told me it was skin cancer and I didn't want to wait to have it removed. It turned out not to be so I paid for the reassurance really as I would still be on the nhs waiting list now 8 months later, still thinking it was cancer.

my friend had a similar thing removed from his face by gp...i think that used a dry ice method but could be wrong. i havent noticed any scar. why not go back to gp and ask if and how it can be removed?

and its not vain. just very reasonable

So potentially £300 or so? . I really wish you could get things like this done on the NHS. The GP I saw said it would be considered cosmetic and I do understand given the state of funding that they can't afford to offer cosmetic procedures, but it's really making me self-conscious, I hate it. It itches too. And it would presumably only take about 10 minutes. I've probably got it out of proportion but I'm feeling really ugly with this on my face.

My gp also does minor surgery to remove moles and blemishes in an afternoon clinic and I had five removed (not on my face though.) There was nothing wrong with them so it was cosmetic really although they were quite unsightly.

I also know a beauty therapist who does Botox and she has recently had training on removing skin blemishes. She would probably be cheaper than a private dermatologist.

Maybe ask around for recommendations in your area.

If it's growing and it's itchy I'd go back for another opinion. Is there a GP at your practice who specialises in dermatology? I have one at my practice I always insist on seeing with any suspect moles.

Yes! I've just remembered there is a GP there who's good on derm stuff and does the odd hospital clinic. I'm going to make an appointment with him. Thanks for jogging my memory. Really hoping he may be able to remove it.

DP had a similar mark on his forehead. It grew as well and became itchy. Dermatologist said it was - actually I don't remember now- but some sort of warty thing that he froze off and it fell off after a week or so, leaving no scar. I was surprised it was a wart as it was flat-ish. Ask a doctor if it's that sort of thing? I'm sure freezing it can't be very expensive.

So the general consensus is I'm not being silly to want it removed?
And it should be possible to do that without leaving a crater behind?
I think if I have to pay, I'll put it on credit card tbh which is probably really bad but it's bothering me too much and I'm worried about leaving it, I'm sure it's more grown in the last year and I don't want the sodding thing taking over my face.

Grown more, not more grown!

Such a good thread as I have a few of these too.

Not being silly

If it has grown and is itchy and you are worried about a scar being bigger now than before then getting it seen to soon is a good idea - peace of mind is priceless

Please go back to your gp,I had a basal cell carcinoma removed that my gp missed. You need to emphasise that it's grown and it's itchy. A dermatologist can then give you a proper diagnosis. If it's nothing sinister then you might just have to bite the bullet and pay to have it removed privately.

I had a similar mole on my face that the GP told me was definitely not cancerous, asked to be referred and the consultant agreed definitely nothing in it that could have changed as it wasn't that type of mole. So I had it removed privately, think it cost about £250 in total and there is barely a mark there now.

Even if you need to put it on your credit card it's worth removing for your self esteem. If it makes you feel horrible then it'll be worth every penny.

Did it start as a small mark? My daughter had something similar under her eye . It turned out to be a cyst , she had it removed by a plastic surgeon and it's hardly noticeable now .