Laser mole removal aftercare

What to expect after treatment

Ablative mole removal

There may be bleeding from very small spots and redness or bruising around the mole removal site. Over the next 1-2 days, a thin crust will develop over the top of the wound. It will separate from the wound over the next 1-2 weeks, leaving a pink mark. This will gradually fade over the following weeks, together with any bruising.

Non-ablative mole removal

Non-ablative procedures don’t damage the skin surface. this type of procedure may be used if you are highly prone to scarring. After a non-ablative procedure, your mole may appear darker or lighter for a few days. Over the following weeks, you should be able to see how much of the original mole pigmentation remains after your treatment. It’s possible that you might not see much change after your first treatment, as we usually prefer to treat gently at first to reduce the risk of skin injury and scarring.

By 4-6 weeks after your initial treatment, it will be possible for your doctor to examine the mole to decide if further mole removal treatment is required.

How to manage the wound

This information applies following ablative mole removal procedures.

1 day later

Keep the wound covered and dry.

It’s unlikely that you’ll need pain relief, but paracetamol, naproxen or ibuprofen should be sufficient.

If the area becomes red, sore or sensitive to touch, apply a cool compress or ice pack (a bag of frozen vegetables, covered in clean plastic wrap, works well if you don’t have an ice pack). If redness and sensitivity continue for more than 12 hours, contact us.

2-3 days later

If there is a dressing over the wound, leave it there and keep the wound dry for two days. Avoid heavy exercise and sweating for 2 days following treatment.

In many cases, we offer a session or course of LED light therapy to further assist the early stages of wound healing. A course of LED light treatments usually consists of 2 further visits to the clinic at 2-day intervals.

If the mole was removed from your face and you have a history of cold sores, your doctor may have prescribed anti-viral medication such as famciclovir. You may need to continue taking it for 3 days after your procedure.

4-6 weeks later

After removing the dressing, clean the area daily using a gentle cleanser such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, Daily Facial Cleanser or CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser.

Don’t pick at or peel the crust over the wound. This increases the risk of scarring.

Apply a tiny amount of Epicyn gel in a thin film to cover the wound twice daily. After it’s dried, you can apply sunscreen or make-up. For best results, we recommend that you continue twice-daily Epicyn for 2-3 months after your procedure.

Avoid direct sunlight on the treated area for at least two weeks after treatment. When going outside, wear clothing that covers the wound or a broad-brimmed hat. If you can’t cover the wound with clothing, use a Band-Aid or SPF 50 sunscreen.

Don’t use any topical products that will irritate or dry the wound. This includes:

• AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C, tretinoin, Retin-A or other retinoids or other cosmeceuticals.
• Antiseptics such as iodine, Savlon, Dettol or tea tree oil. These products can be toxic to new skin cells.
• Vitamin E cream. Vitamin E commonly causes irritation to healing skin.
• Fragrances, essential oils, toners and alcohol-based products.
• Soaps.

Pathology results

If your doctor performed a biopsy procedure, pathology results should be available within seven days. You’ll receive a text message and or email when your results are available.

If the result shows that further treatment is required, your doctor will call with the results. You will also receive your results in writing.

If you aren’t covered by Medicare, the pathology laboratory will contact you to arrange payment for processing the biopsy. We can’t provide an accurate quote for the amount; it’s commonly $250‑$300 for each specimen examined.

Your next appointment

Return to the clinic after 4-6 weeks. Your doctor will examine the mole removal area to decide what further treatment may be required.

Depending on the appearance of your mole, you may require the following treatment:

• If the mole appears to have resolved: Non‑ablative fractional laser treatment to reduce the risk of future scarring.
• If the mole has not been completely removed: Further mole removal laser treatment.
• If a scar is starting to develop: Laser scar remodelling, steroid injection or cryotherapy.

Your follow-up assessment and treatment are included in the price of your initial mole removal procedure. It’s important to attend this appointment. If your mole removal site develops a raised scar, it will be harder to treat it successfully if you wait for months before returning to the clinic.