Mole Removal - The Latest Techniques

Like all cosmetic treatments, mole removal has benefitted from the introduction of new technology and the improvement of existing technology. Moles are by the lay person sometimes confused with small cysts, small papillomas, small angiomas, fibromas, largeish warts and cholesterol deposits. These lesions can vary in colour from being flesh coloured, yellow, blue or red.

In medical terms a mole is referred to as a naevus, it is a small dark spot with high levels of the skin pigment… melanin; it can be underneath the skin (subdermal) or a pigmented growth on the skin. Medically moles can be subdivided into many types; these classifications are beyond the scope of this article.

All the types of skin irregularities mentioned above are amenable to the modern methods of mole removal (as well as wart removal and skin tag removal). There are many reasons for mole removal, such as; they may simply cause irritation, by catching on a chain, bra-strap or shirt collar. They may be cosmetically distracting and be lowering one’s confidence. Lastly, they may be sinister or suspicious lesions, the mole may be increasing in size, become raised, have irregular edges, start to bleed and become increasingly pigmented.

Recently leading cosmetic clinics are employing computer scanning technology, which analyses the skin pigment, haemoglobin and collagen in the mole lesion and this can accurately assess as any medical expert the suspiciousness of the lesion.

The main cosmetic treatment techniques for mole removal are radiosurgery and electrocautery methods.

Radio surgery involves using radio waves which vaporise the mole, they cause less thermal damage to the skin, giving instant results, negligible scarring and with the use of local anaesthetic is a painless procedure. If required the mole can be excised and sent for analysis using this technology and the analysis is not compromised as the histology is not destroyed.

Electrocautery treatment is a common mole and wart removal method used by many cosmetic clinics, for mole removal, this treatment resulted in scarring, however the latest generation of electrocautery machines have variable power settings and with skilled usage of this accompanied by using ice packs post procedure to reduce thermal damage, excellent cosmetic results can be obtained. This mode of treatment is far more price competitive than radiofrequency.

Dr S.R. Bassi is the leading cosmetic physician at a top cosmetic clinic in North Nottingham - Selston Cosmetic Clinic.