Most moles, cysts and other blemishes are benign or non-cancerous. Uncommonly, moles can become cancerous growths. It is best to get medical advice if you notice a mole that suddenly grows quickly, develops an unusual shape (like Prince Edward Island), or becomes black or multicolored, especially with black in it.

People often want a moles or cysts removed simply because

they are unattractive. This simple procedure can be very

effective in improving appearance.

Most procedures used to remove moles and skin lesions take

a short time and can be performed in-office. Usually benign

 lesions will not return once they have been removed.

The most common methods of removal include removing the

mole by shave excision or cutting out the entire mole and

stitching the area closed (excision). Shave excision is a simple

 procedure used to treat protruding benign skin lesions.

After the skin is numbed with local anaesthetic the spot is

removed with a scalpel. Most of the time, there will be no

trace of the surgery if the spot was of the superficial variety.

Sometime, there will be a flat white mark left if the root of the

spot was deeper.

Excisional biopsy may produce a better cosmetic result if the

lesion is deeper in the skin, as with a cyst or deeper mole.

The full depth of the lesion is removed and the wound is

sutured.

The scar that results from excision is usually only a thin line,

though it can sometimes be more noticeable if the lesion was

large or if the healing is abnormal. With an excision on the

face, a combination of very fine sutures on the surface and

absorbable sutures under the skin may be used. Coarse hair

which ofte grows in a mole is best removed by excision of

the whole mole.

Skin blemishes may also be removed with various forms of

burning or freezing such as cautery, laser or liquid nitrogen.

Your plastic surgeon will inform you as to the best way to

remove your unattractive blemishes.