Mole removal for cosmetic reasons

[HarrietMarriet]

My teen DS has two big raised moles on his cheek which he feels self conscious about. He has lots more too but these two are bigger and I understand why he doesn’t like them. Has anyone had moles removed for cosmetic purposes and what was the result like? I’ve had a few removed by the NHS because of suspected cancer (all benign) and have been left with small scars. He wouldn’t do it until he was older.

I haven't done this but a friend did. The problem is scarring. Even if he scars well (I do) the wound could take a year or more to get to the point that it is less obvious. My friend had one on her cheek and one on her upper chest removed and while the scars have now completely gone, for a good 2 years she was possibly even more self conscious than with the moles.

So I'd consider discussing with a plastic surgeon rather than a dermatologist. Not sure if that's possible but the point being that someone who specialises in attempting to minimise impact is probably helpful.

I had a large one removed about 20 years ago. I was left with a very small scar but the scar is pretty much invisible whereas the mole made me look like a witch.

DS (then 10) had a couple of moles removed at the same time - he was very self conscious about them. It made a massive difference to his confidence and you'd never know they'd been there.

If he does have it done, have a dermatologist or plastic surgeon do it. You don't want a GP having a go. Both my husband and my son got gashes on their faces as young children. My husband was sewn up by the local GP and my son was worked on by a plastic surgeon. My son's scar is almost invisible. My husband's scar looks like it was sewn up by a GP. A dermatologist or plastic surgeon will try to work with the planes of the face so that any scar is less obtrusive. I have seen plastic surgeons work on moles that was absolutely undetectable but it really depends on how your skin scars.

I'd get them done privately if I could. I have seen some documentary on the NHS and I was left aghast at the level of care. They were treating a woman with a recurrent skin cancer and they just excised a hunk and slapped on a skin graft with no indications that they had clear margins let alone MOHS surgery. If they are removed, make sure they are sent to a pathologist for examination to make sure they are benign.

Pigment can be lasered out of moles. The downside is that if they become cancerous you don't have any warning from pigment changes. (Sorry, I am assuming you are white.) That might not be a major concern in the UK though it is in my country. My own son has a mole on his face and we have been told it would leave more of a scar to remove it but it's not a terribly big mole. We wouldn't consider the removal of pigment living in the skin cancer capital of the world and having very pale skin.

Thanks all - this is really helpful. Yes, we would definitely go private for cosmetic reasons and I don’t expect the NHS to fund something not medical. I will wait until he next brings it up.
Interesting about the pigment - that does seem risky especially as there is skin cancer in our family.

I've had several raised ones removed by my gp and have minimum scarring, a friends son had one removed from his forehead, privately and has minimum scarring too.

I was told that if the mole is raised then there's no cancer risk, it's only the flat ones that need watching 🤷‍♀️

I had a couple of large raised moles removed when I was a teenager, they were on my neck and very visible with my hair up. I had it done by a plastic surgeon (in his consultation room, was very quick). The scars are almost completely invisible, I only see them when I look closely (and because I know they are there). It made a big difference to my self confidence.

I had a mole removed from my face at a private clinic (recommended by my GP) about 9 years ago.
Although the scar is visible up close, it really doesn't bother me whereas the large mole really made me quite self conscious.
It cost about £800 to get it removed but it was well worth the money.

Thanks. I hadn’t thought to ask the GP for a recommendation so will try that when the time comes. Xx

Yes, I paid for dd to have two removed privately, it didn’t cost much and really improved her self confidence. Both were sent off for analysis which I think was £160 extra but worth it for peace of mind.

I used a local plastic surgeon.

I have one on my upper lip (Cindy Crawford style, the resemblance stops there) that I enquired about removing, but it isn't raised a lot and the dermatologist said there would be a visible scar as a result. So I stuck with the mole. The more raised they are, the less visible the scar is.

We did get some electrolysis of the hairs growing out of the mole on my son's cheek. This made shaving easier and also made the mole less noticeable - maybe shrank it a little bit. The mole had been checked by a dermatologist beforehand who okayed us doing this.

I had a mole on my cheek removed five years ago by a plastic surgeon. It wasn’t purely for cosmetic reasons, my dermatologist said it had changed shape slightly and he thought it best to have it removed.

I assumed there’d be a small scar, but there’s nothing really visible now, they did an excellent job.

Did it in Portugal. Private but with insurance was quite cheap. Laser. Wasn't exactly cosmetic, they were rubbing on my bra and hurting.

With laser it was super quick and there is barely a scar. Sometimes it takes me a while to find it

Ask your GP for recommendations.
I had two removed by a plastic surgeon at a local SK:N clinic a few years back. Great aftercare (early stitch removal to prevent track marks), they recommended silicone lotion for it etc.
Scar took ages to fade though as would be expected.

Moles go really deep into the skin, that’s why you can scar. It’s better to get it done young though as you heal so much better.

skinsurgeryclinic.co.uk/treatments/mole-removal/
I had moles removed using laser treatment here. Minimal scarring and I was really pleased with the result. Under £500 for 3. It is fine for non- suspicious moles as there is nothing left for histology. It was very quick but slightly unpleasant. It was done by a Dr.
They give you an aftercare kit as you have to use a product to keep the area moist after removal. It's like a graze and I did follow the after care religiously.

@vjg13 that looks exactly what we are after - I’ll have a look for something locally down south. Thanks.

I've had loads removed. If you have private medical insurance and the moles are bleeding or you catch them then you can often get them removed on that.
Or find a dermatologist at your local private hospital and they will talk through prices of removal.
Mine don't scar just go a bit white. My son had one removed and has gone a bit red but was told to but a cream on it. Seeing as my son hasn't done it, he can't be that worried about the scar!

On the other thread a poster mentions Zenith cosmetic clinic which has clinics in London and Nottingham.