Mole assessment
Is your mole benign or cancerous?
The vast majority of moles are harmless and occur when cells called melanocytes grow in clusters or clumps in the skin. However, a mole that is growing or changing in shape, colour or texture can be a sign of malignant melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer. Keeping an eye on your moles and getting advice from a qualified doctor if you notice a change that concerns you, is essential.
All patients interested in Riverbanks’ mole removal treatments will require an assessment by a Riverbanks doctor, who will take a look at the mole. After that, we can discuss options for removal.
3 options for mole removal
Procedure
Riverbanks can remove moles and skin tags in any of the following ways:
Freezing
Your doctor will apply a small amount of super-cold liquid nitrogen to the mole, freezing the cells so that the mole withers and falls off.
Minor surgery
We can perform a shave excision or elliptical excision of your mole. Shaving involves removing the top portion of the mole so that it’s flush with the surrounding skin. Elliptical excision is a deeper cut to remove the entire mole, both above and below the skin, and may require stitches. We will send any surgically removed mole to be examined under a microscope, to make sure that it’s benign.
Laser treatment
You and your doctor might decide to remove your mole with a laser instead of a scalpel. As lasers seal blood vessels and evaporate the tissues they remove, there’s no need for cutting or stitches, reducing the risk of unsightly scarring even further.
Benefits
Doctor-administered and tailored to you
At Riverbanks you’ll only be offered treatments that are right for you. Whatever mole removal method we recommend, you can be assured that it will be the best fit for your cosmetic needs, the nature of the mole and your overall health and wellness. Your mole removal treatment plan will be devised and administered by a qualified doctor with many years’ experience removing moles, warts, skin tags and other pigmented lesions. Your treatment will reduce the appearance of your moles and in many cases eradicate them completely.
Results
How will I feel?
At Riverbanks, we pride ourselves on making you feel comfortable, relaxed and able to ask questions at any stage. Your mole removal will be carried out under local anaesthetic, which means you shouldn’t feel anything. Following a shave or elliptical excision, a small and barely noticeable scar usually results. For your peace of mind, we send all surgically removed moles to a laboratory to be examined for signs of cancer. Freezing might result in a small blister that will heal on its own. Laser treatments result in a scab that will fall off within 2 weeks, leaving some slight redness that will disappear in time. With all treatments you will receive comprehensive aftercare, wound care advice and further appointments as necessary. Post-treatment you will be left with a clearer, smoother and more even complexion, and boosted confidence.
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Riverbanks' Expertise
You're in good hands
Our first priority is your overall health and wellbeing. That is why the most important part of your mole removal treatment is the initial mole check. We will assess and diagnose if your mole is suitable for removal and if we are concerned about the appearance of a mole, we will encourage you to talk to your GP before we go any further. Riverbanks founder Dr Ravi Jain has extensive experience treating moles, cysts, warts, blood spots, skin tags and other skin lesions and will make sure all of your questions and concerns are addressed.
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Treatment Questions
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What is the treatment used for? add_circleOur mole removal treatments are designed to reduce the appearance of moles and other pigmented skin lesions, or remove them completely.
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How long do the results last? add_circleIn most cases results are permanent. There is a very small chance that your mole might regrow, in the event that a few mole cells remain in the skin. If this happens, we’ll book you in for another treatment.
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Is the treatment painful? add_circleA laser treatment is described as feeling like you’ve been flicked with an elastic band. Freezing could cause the treatment area to sting, burn and, in some cases, itch. With minor surgery, the treatment area will be numbed with local anaesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel anything.
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When will I see results? add_circleAfter freezing, the mole should fall off about 10-14 days later. After a laser treatment, a scab forms and falls off in 2 weeks, leaving residual redness that will disappear in time. After a shave excision, healing occurs in 7-10 days. After an elliptical excision, the area will feel a bit tight and sore for 1-3 days (simple paracetamol or ibuprofen should help). Stitches are normally removed after about a week. Over the next few weeks, the wound will heal and, in time, a small and barely noticeable scar will form.
What now?
Your expert consultation
We're here to listen, understand and reassure. We always make sure our treatments are suitable for our patients and that our patients are suitable for our treatments. Before you book a treatment with us, we ask that you book a free, non-committal virtual consultation with our doctor or skin therapist so that we can discuss your condition and evaluate your medical history before inviting you for an in-clinic consultation.
You can book a virtual consultation on our booking page or by downloading our app. We look forward to virtually meeting you soon.