Daughter wants Mole on face removed - help !

[minimees]

My daughter (17) has a nasty dark brown mole on her face which she absolutely hates and wants it’s removed.
We have been to the doctors who have said it’s not a dangerous mole it’s more unsightly more then anything and it’s getting bigger and darker as she’s getting older.
The NHS won’t remove it as it’s cosmetic but she adamant she wants it removed.
mate has tried hiding it with makeup but it doesn’t cover it.
Can anybody recommend somewhere where I could take her for a consultation? I don’t mind paying but because it’s her face want to make sure they know what they are doing and will do a good job.

Twenty odd years ago when I was a teenager I just told my doctor that it had changed shape and was painful. Got it whipped off within weeks on the NHS! 😳

I went to a private skin doctor at the Spire hospital and he removed several moles from my face there and then. I have had many moles removed over the years and some of them were cut out and I had 5 or 6 stitches and some were ‘shaved’ off. The scars are minimal and much better than a dark mole.

Just a reminder you are looking for an aesthetic plastic surgeon, not a cosmetic surgeon or a 'skin Dr'.

I would look up an NHS surgeon and then see if they do private work and where they do it.

The surgeon I named and linked to is a consultant plastic surgeon in the NHS.

I would be wary of these kind of places. I know someone who did a one day training course to botox people's faces and lips, not on your belly sunshine!!!

Would your GP recommend someone

I started using my home ipl to remove the dark hairs that had started to emerge from a mole on my face and it removed the pigmentation of the mole too. A month later I still have a little lump there but it's freckle coloured now rather than mole coloured. Could you try that to start with?

@minimees

The right person for this will be someone who is registered with BAAPS.

An example would be this Dr:

https://baaps.org.uk/patients/surgeons/e556debc-8638-40fd-a5cd-7823efc0b6f8

Hi I am following this post as my 14 year old son has a prominent mole on his face. He has always had it but it is growing with him and he is starting to become very self conscious. He has asked to explore options for removal. GP has referred to dermatologist however we fear they will refuse to remove it as cosmetic. I have contacted Nuffield Hospital however the clinics near us do not do u/16’s. Should we not give up and search further afield?

This is the clinic my friend was referred to by the NHS in Bristol for facial moles.
https://58queensquare.com/

She was told if it hadn't been NHS would cost c£800- 1000 (varies depending on what it is, whether you want samples tested for skin cancer etc).

@EmmaC620

I think that the fact that he is 14 and has asked you to explore the options open to him is really important.

The ideal solution will be if the local referral to an NHS dermatologist comes through very quickly and it is agreed that the mole should be removed before school starts in September. Having said that, it may take a while. I'm not sure whether you have an appointment date already.

Another possibility for you could be to make enquiries of the dermatology department at Great Ormond Street with a view to making a private appointment with one of the GOSH Consultants for an opinion on the way forward.

https://www.gosh.com.kw/conditions/dermatology

Dr Munnelly at the Chiltern medical clinic . He has clinics in Reading and Goring. I've been going to him for years. I haven't had a mole removed but other cosmetic stuff. I recommended my friend to go there for her mole removal and she had hers done and is delighted with it.

Yes we had hoped we could have had it done in the school holidays but totally understand there will be many priority cases ahead of him. We will look at GOSH. Thank you

I got mine done for 600 euro. It was weird as the nurse who took my details before the procedure had a much bigger mole on her face. Wish id done it sooner!

I researched and found a private skin clinic locally to me who just do a small number of different procedures so they do that day in day out rather than one who offers all sorts of skin condition treatments. They are all registered plastic surgeons with specialty in one or two types of procedures so you are matched to the one who covers your requirement.

My mole removal was just £395 and their prices were on their website. My mole was also on my face in a very prominent position and you can only see a tiny white scar when I tan.

I need to sort this for my DS. Anybody recommend a dermatologist or plastic surgeon in the Greater Manchester area?

How old is he?

If this is too far away, ask them if they know a professional more local to you. Mr Google is very helpful.

https://theclinicaesthetics.com/mole-removal-in-hereford/#:~:text=You%20can%20get%20your%20mole%20removed%20privately%20in%20Hereford&text=All%20you%20need%20is%20a,mole%2C%20lesion%20or%20skin%20tag.I’m

I got one on my face removed about 6 months ago. I paid for a private plastic surgeon. My doctor recommended it due to it being in such a visible place (between mouth and nose). I had a tiny scar at first but it was better than the mole. Now that has also faded and it is virtually invisible. I am so much happier without the mole, should have done it years ago.

@TheSquareMile he is just 18. Thought it would be easier to sort once an adult.

@space99

Tim Clayton seems to be well regarded and is in the Manchester area.

https://dermexpert.co.uk/

As others have said, it is important to realise there may be a scar and be prepared for that. I was always discouraged from removal for this reason, and I wish I hadn't been although I couldn't afford it anyway, but it is important to really think about that aspect.

I had one removed by plexr at a beauty aesthetics place. Much cheaper and for about six months it looked like a slightly red spot easily covered by makeup and then has disappeared now. Good luck!

It’s her face! Not somewhere that can be covered up if the procedure is botched.

Make sure you use a reputable cosmetic/plastic surgeon.

No anyone can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon, you need a plastic surgeon.