AESTHETIC TREATMENTS
Mole removal
We remove moles, skin tags, angiomas, freckles, seborrhoeic keratoses and other skin lesions using laser, radiofrequency, cryotherapy and other techniques.
- Low-scarring laser and radiofrequency techniques
- Dermoscopic, spectroscopic and medical assessment for maximum safety
- Suitable for moles, angiomas, skin tags, seborrhoeic keratoses and more
Moles, skin tags, seborrhoeic keratoses and many other spots and lumps on the skin are usually harmless and don’t always require cosmetic treatment or surgical removal. But in many cases they are unsightly, irritating or can become itchy or sore if they aren’t removed.
If you’re ready to have a mole, skin tag or other skin lesion removed, we offer safe and effective treatment options, including surgery, IPL, laser and radiofrequency mole removal treatments.
Laser surgery, radiofrequency surgery and intense pulsed light are successful treatments for raised or flat moles, pigmented spots and small blood vessels with minimal scarring.
Mole removal consultation
It’s essential to have your mole or skin lesion checked before removal. This should always be done by a doctor with experience and qualifications in skin cancer medicine or dermatology. Many GPs can check moles of concern, but we normally recommend that you consult an accredited skin cancer doctor or a dermatologist.
At Spot Check Clinic, an experienced skin cancer doctor examines all moles and skin lesions before removal. You don’t need a referral, and appointments to examine selected skin lesions of concern are usually available within a few working days.
Is that ‟mole” actually a skin cancer?
When we are removing moles from the face, we will always consider the cosmetic outcome and discuss the best way of achieving a result with minimal scarring.
But if there is any question about the mole potentially being malignant or if the doctor suspects skin cancer, a biopsy will be taken from the mole as part of your mole removal procedure to obtain the most accurate possible diagnosis.
The mole will be tested for the presence of cancerous cells. If the biopsy result confirms skin cancer, we offer medical and surgical treatment options or provide a referral to a plastic surgeon if required. Your skin cancer doctor at our clinic will help you receive the best quality treatment for your diagnosis and circumstances.
If you have a laser, radiofrequency (RF) or BBL/intense pulsed light procedure to remove a mole or skin lesion, there is usually no out-of-pocket expense for any associated mole check consultation or mole biopsy procedure, as long as Medicare covers these procedures in your case. There is a fee for Dermasensor spectroscopic assessment, which is not covered by Medicare.
Mole removal procedures
Cosmetic procedures aim to remove or destroy the mole or lesion while minimising damage to surrounding normal skin. Low-scarring methods for removing moles allow the surgeon/operator to accurately target the lesion of concern and remove the mole successfully with the best possible cosmetic impact.
Surgical procedures for mole and lesion removal, such as shave excision or electrosurgery do not allow such fine control, and there may be more skin scarring. Because these traditional lesion removal procedures are cheaper, they may be preferred for mole removal in areas where a good cosmetic outcome is not so important, for example on the back or scalp. A surgical procedure can also be a viable treatment if the mole is small and the procedure would create a small scar.
MBBS, MA (Virtual Comm), Grad Cert Hlth Info, Grad Dip Comp Inf Sci
Methods of mole removal
What can we remove?
A skin lesion is a spot, lump, bump or patch on the skin that appears different from the surrounding skin. It can be flat or raised, dark or light, rough or smooth. Most lesions are harmless and result from normal skin development, ageing or long-term sun exposure.
Skin cancer is a type of lesion that can continue to grow and potentially cause damage to the surrounding tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Types of skin cancer are melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and Merkel cell carcinoma. Skin cancer always requires treatment.
Moles and other skin lesions may not cause serious health issues, but they can be unsightly, uncomfortable, inconvenient or simply unwanted, so many people want them removed from their skin for cosmetic purposes. Many of these can be removed quickly and with minimal scarring.
Save time by sending us a photo of your mole
If it’s not convenient for you to come to the clinic to have your mole examined in person, we can normally plan a suitable treatment plan based on a photo.
If you send a photo using our form, we’ll be in touch within the next 2 working days to let you know if your mole is suitable for cosmetic removal with radiofrequency surgery, laser or BBL intense pulsed light treatment.
Important: We’re located in Melbourne, and the full mole removal process may require several visits to the clinic. Please consider this before sending us your details.
Moles and skin lesions suitable for cosmetic removal
How to prepare
Get better results and reduce the risk of complications by being well-prepared.
Avoid any unprotected sun exposure on the treatment area. Don’t apply fake tan to the area to be treated.
We’ll send a consent form before your procedure. Read it carefully, and let us know if you have questions. You must sign the consent form before we can perform your mole removal procedure.
If possible, shave the area about 5cm around the mole, 24 hours before the procedure.
Clean the area with a gentle cleanser. Don’t apply make-up to the treatment area.
How it’s done
Mole and other skin lesion removal is a process generally completed over several visits to the clinic. The number of visits and what happens at each visit depend on the type of lesion being removed and the method used to remove it.
All moles and lesions for removal must be examined and assessed for evidence of skin cancer.
Most moles are biopsied or assessed with elastic scattering spectroscopy using the Dermasensor device (pictured). We can remove skin cancers, but our treatment objective changes to curing the cancer rather than simply getting a good cosmetic outcome.
We photograph moles and skin lesions to assess the results of treatment. Sometimes, we need to treat multiple times over several months. We then assess the photographs for evidence of improvement and check for early signs of scarring.
Depending on the location of your mole and the type of treatment provided, we may ask you to return to the clinic several weeks after treatment to ensure the mole has resolved and to provide anti-scarring treatment.
Learn more
Ask a Spot Check doctor
Mole removal facts
Make sure you know all the important facts before having moles removed.
Need to know more? Contact us or book a consultation.
We use local anaesthetic for potentially painful surgical procedures to reduce discomfort. Many of the procedures we use are almost painless or the pain is extremely brief.
More infoThe fee varies widely, depending on the type of lesion we remove, how many visits your treatment requires and whether we include ancillary treatments such as scar mitigation and LED treatments to improve wound healing.
More infoMost moles don’t need to be removed for medical reasons. The majority are normal and harmless parts of normal skin.
More infoIt’s often possible to remove a mole or skin lesion at home using products purchased online or from pharmacies. However, just because you can remove a mole yourself, it doesn’t mean you should.
More infoAfter mole removal, the skin surface is normally water resistant after 3 days. There may be a crust or scab over the wound for 1-3 weeks, and when it separates the skin should normally be intact and level wth the surrounding skin. There may be redness in the area as further skin strengthening occurs. This usually persists for several months to a year.
More infoThe number varies according to the risk of side effects, the degree of discomfort, the risk of scarring, the appearance of the wounds while they are healing and the time available for treatment.
More infoFor simple procedures on very superficial lesions, you might only need a single visit. For deeper moles with a higher risk of scarring, you may require multiple treatments over several months.
More infoGet rid of unwanted moles
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