The average adult will have around 30 moles during their life time. They’re common, most are completely harmless and don’t relate to skin cancer, but there are certain cases where it’s best to have a mole removed.

This can be for medical purposes or purely cosmetic reasons, but it’s important you think carefully about mole removal and seek advice from an expert before undergoing surgery.

Why you might consider facial mole removal
Most moles are completely harmless, but if you’ve spotted one on your skin recently that looks suspicious to your eyes or has changed in appearance, it’s best to seek professional advice.

Removal of such moles is advisable if you notice any of the following:

• a change in colour;
• an increase in size;
• inflammation or oozing;
• an irregular shape; or
• a size that is greater than 7mm.
  
  

Chances are, even with some of the signs above, your mole will not be cancerous, but if you’ve noticed any of them and are concerned, it’s always advisable to get a medical opinion.

Cosmetic facial mole removal
Having a mole removed for cosmetic reasons is entirely a personal choice, and one that can only be made by you, but people often have moles removed if they’re in a prominent place or somewhere that is prone to catching on clothing and bleeding.

If a mole is large or hairy, you might find that removal is desirable, too. Such removals aren’t covered under the NHS, which is why you would need to seek the services of a private clinic.

Before cosmetic facial mole removal, the mole will be assessed by a skin specialist who can look for signs of skin cancer and check whether or not it is advisable to remove the mole. Once it has been deemed safe, the removal can take place.

How moles are removed
You may not be aware that there are a number of options for mole removal, and the right one for you will be assessed by your skin consultant.

There are three common ways to undertake facial mole removal:

1. Shave removal: Moles that protrude from the surface of the skin can sometimes be shaved under local anaesthetic and within minutes. This leaves a flat wound that heals relatively quickly and without leaving a scar.
2. Laser removal: If your mole is non-cancerous and you’d like it removed for cosmetic reasons, laser removal is often the best route forward. This destroys the dark pigment that makes up the mole, and typically achieves a great cosmetic outcome.
3. Freezing or cryotherapy: This technique uses liquid nitrogen to freeze your facial mole to make it drop off. This avoids the need for surgery and although it might leave a small blister, you’ll find it’ll probably heal quickly.

Contact us today
If you’d like to speak to our friendly, experienced team about facial mole removal, contact us today to book your consultation.