Mole Removal

Moles can be removed cosmetically or as a precaution. Cosmetic mole removal methods include excision with stitches, shave excision without stitches or laser assisted mole removal. The pros & cons of each treatment will be discussed in detail. 

Recovery

2-5 days

Results

1 week

Treatment Time

5-30 minutes

Aftercare

NA

Treatment science score melasma clinic

The science of mole removal

  • Excision provides the highest cure rate & predictable results
  • A shave excision without stitches is best for raised moles
  • Excision & stitches is best for flat moles 
  • CO2 & pico lasers can be used in darker skin types
  • Laser mole removal has a high recurrence rate as compared to surgery
  • Laser mole removal should be employed in caution for lighter skin types with the risk of melanoma
  • The major problem with laser mole removal is lack of a predictable outcome

Understanding the depth of the mole will allow for precise removal. Lasers have the least amount of scarring, however the end results are not as predictable as surgery. 

What is the best way to remove a mole without a scar?

You have to make a choice; complete removal of a mole in one session or the best ‘scarless’ procedure with the possibility of incomplete removal. 

The most scar free mole removal method is a shave excision (RF or hand-held blade) or via a laser. Unfortunately these two methods may not completely remove the mole. 

The most predictable complete mole removal method is an excision with stitches. The scarring from this method is high.

How to remove a raised mole?

Raised moles are best treated with a shave under local anesthesia. This simple procedure takes approximately 3-8 seconds to perform using a free hand held blade. Cosmetic clinics will upsell a device called a RF loop or ‘laser.’ This is equally as effective as free hand shave excision. 

The recurrence rate following shave excision is much higher than excision with stitches, however the healing is often uneventful & the scarring is less. 

How to remove a flat mole?

Flat moles are best treated with surgical excision, with stitches to close the wound. Shaving using a blade or RF loupes are not recommended as it often results in an indented scar with partial mole removal. Lasers can be effective, however the results are not predictable. 

Flat moles are removed by your dermatologist or plastic surgeon. 

*We do not remove these moles in clinics. Our dermatologist is involved in complex cases of melanocytic naevi referred by other dermatologists. In select cases we may employ a pico laser to remove moles. This is done on a case basis. 

When do we use lasers & when do we use surgery?

Excision preferred for moles that are large, deep, or have suspicious characteristics that need histopathological examination. It provides complete removal but has a higher risk of scarring and longer recovery time.

Laser removal is ideal for small, superficial, and benign moles, offering a quicker and less invasive option with minimal scarring. However, it is not suitable for all types of moles, particularly those that might be cancerous, as it does not allow for a biopsy. This method requires a significant amount of hand holding as results are not predictable. 

Who to see for mole removal?

A medical or surgical dermatologist is the correct person to see if you are considering mole removal. Dermatologist manage moles in one of three ways-

  1. Monitoring of moles: this is to exclude changes in a mole. Photography & mapping is the most common way to monitor moles. A good company is Mole Map. 
  2. Elective removal of moles: this is on cosmetic grounds. 
  3. Diagnostic excision of moles: This is to exclude dysplastic naevi & changing moles, namely to exclude a melanoma. 

*Our dermatologists at The Melasma Clinic do not monitor moles, we do not provide elective removal of moles on cosmetic grounds. We do however take complex cases that are not managed by other dermatologists, including management of congenital melanocytic naevi. A referral from your plastic surgeon or dermatologist is required. 

What laser techniques do we use?

We use a modified technique of CO2 with de-focused pico lasers. The CO2 is used to flatten the mole, whilst the pico laser is used to treat the pigment. This technique was pioneered by a Japanese surgeon & is frequently employed by many clinics in Asia. 

*Disclaimer: I only remove moles in select ethnicities (darker skin types have a lower risk of melanoma). This technique is not used in lighter skin types due to the risk of melanoma. 

**Laser mole removal is not routinely performed in our clinics due to the high risk of recurrence or impartial treatment. Moles in lighter skin types are not treated with lasers as the rate of melanoma (pseudomelanoma) is too high for our practice. A cosmetic GP or skin cancer doctor may offer you this option or alternatives.

What are the pros & cons of mole excision?

Excision (Surgical Removal) is the most reliable method of mole removal. In our clinic, this is the preferred method of mole removal as it is the most cost effective & effective method of removing a mole. 

Pros: 

Complete Removal: Ensures the entire mole is removed, including its roots, which is crucial for moles suspected of being cancerous.

Histopathological Examination: Allows for the removed mole to be sent for biopsy to check for cancer cells.

Effective for Large or Deep Moles: Suitable for larger or deeper moles that might not respond well to laser treatment.

Controlled Procedure. Surgeons have precise control over the depth and extent of tissue removal.

Cons. 

Scarring: Higher likelihood of noticeable scarring, especially if the mole is large or deep.

Stitches Required: Often involves sutures, which may require a follow-up visit for removal.

Longer Healing Time: Recovery can take several weeks, and the wound requires proper care to avoid infection.

More Invasive: A more invasive procedure compared to laser treatment, which can be intimidating for some patients.

What are the pros & cons of laser mole removal?

Laser mole removal is offered by many cosmetic clinics. It has some advantages but significant disadvantages. 

Pros:

Minimal Scarring: Tends to leave less noticeable scars compared to excision, especially for small and superficial moles. Scarring, if encountered, usually occurs after CO2 laser.

Non-invasive: A less invasive option that doesn’t require stitches, making it less daunting for patients.

Quick Procedure & recovery. The procedure is typically quicker, and recovery time is shorter.

Precise: Can target small < 2 mm, superficial moles effectively without damaging surrounding tissue.

Cons: 

Not Suitable for All Moles.  Less effective for large, deep, or potentially cancerous moles. Cannot be used for moles with an uncertain diagnosis because it doesn’t provide a sample for histopathology.

High risk of incomplete removal, leading to potential regrowth. This is the major factor why we do not employ lasers to treat moles. 

Since the mole is vaporized, it cannot be sent for histopathological examination to check for cancer. If the mole recurs & pathology is required, there is a chance that the mole could have features of melanoma under the microscope (pseudomelanoma).  

Multiple Sessions Needed: Some moles may require multiple laser treatments for complete removal. 

How much does it cost to remove a mole?

Careful consideration should be given to the cost. As a guide-

Laser removal single mole; $1290

Laser removal 2-3 moles; $1990

Laser removal 3-6 moles; $2790

As stated throughout this page, laser removal is not guaranteed, recurrence is frequent as is incomplete removal. Careful consideration should be given to these facts prior to removal. Factor in 1-3 sessions & the costs add up. 

*Procedure conducted by Dr Davin Lim on selected cases only.

What is a pseudomelanoma?

A pseudomelanoma, also known as recurrent mole, is a benign skin lesion that can resemble melanoma both clinically & histologically. It typically occurs after the partial removal of a mole through shaving or most commonly after laser mole removal. Key characteristics include:

Appearance. The mole often looks like a melanoma, with irregular borders and varied pigmentation.

History: It usually arises at the site of a previously removed mole, often within months of the procedure.

A biopsy is often necessary to distinguish pseudomelanoma from true melanoma. Histologically, it shows features of a recurrent nevus rather than melanoma, however most pathologists will be on the side of caution & call a pseudomelanoma a melanoma for legal purposes. 

While pseudomelanoma can cause concern due to its resemblance to melanoma, it is not malignant. Nevertheless, proper evaluation and diagnosis by a dermatologist are crucial to rule out true melanoma.

Do mole removal creams work?

Yes & no. If you use a high strength acid, it can remove a mole & replace it with a scar. Chemical agents such as cansema do the same.

How to stop moles from forming?

Preventing moles from forming can be challenging since they are primarily influenced by genetic factors & sun exposure. However, there are several strategies you can employ to reduce the likelihood of developing new moles:

Use Sunscreen. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher every day, even on cloudy days. Reapply every two hours, or more frequently if swimming or sweating.

Wear Protective Clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses to protect your skin from UV radiation.

Avoid Tanning Beds: Tanning beds expose your skin to harmful UV radiation, increasing the risk of mole formation and skin cancer. 

Since genetics play a significant role in mole formation, it is important to understand that some individuals are more prone to developing moles regardless of preventive measures. While you cannot completely prevent moles from forming, taking steps to protect your skin from UV radiation and maintaining regular skin checks can reduce the risk and help you detect any changes early. If you notice any new or changing moles, consult a dermatologist for a professional evaluation.

How to treat a scar following mole removal?

The algorithm goes like this- 

Silicon creams & gels can prevent & treat early scars. Failing that our dermatologist will use the following methods-

  • Steroid injections if raised
  • Vascular laser if red
  • CO2 lasers if raised & red
  • Dermal filler & lasers if the scar is indented

*Scar revision following mole removal may be conducted on selected cases. Please submit your request to drdavinlim.com. This service may be intermittently offered, based upon the requirement to train our physicians as it is more cost effective compared to scar revision by Dr Davin Lim.

Your clinician will guide you through your specific protocol & pigment corrector. This only applies to potentially irritating agents, it is not a blanket guide for all topicals/pigment correctors 
.
Still sensitive, even if short contact? 
.
1️⃣Use half the amount (dilute in moisturizer) 
.
2️⃣ moisturiser before & after
. 
3️⃣Titrate use, ie. skip a day….or three
.
4️⃣Test spot for allergy (very rare, skin irritation more common). Use a tiny amount, apply to the inner arm, photograph 📸the reaction taking note of the time it takes to develop irritation. Show this to your treating clinician to interpret & they will guide you. Irritation is different from allergic reactions💯
.
👉🙏🏼Addition of topicals will be guided by your treating clinician, based upon your skin sensitivity, current topical use & treatment (peels vs lasers). Timing is important 
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #melasma #dermatologistsydney

Your clinician will guide you through your specific protocol & pigment corrector. This only applies to potentially irritating agents, it is not a blanket guide for all topicals/pigment correctors
.
Still sensitive, even if short contact?
.
1️⃣Use half the amount (dilute in moisturizer)
.
2️⃣ moisturiser before & after
.
3️⃣Titrate use, ie. skip a day….or three
.
4️⃣Test spot for allergy (very rare, skin irritation more common). Use a tiny amount, apply to the inner arm, photograph 📸the reaction taking note of the time it takes to develop irritation. Show this to your treating clinician to interpret & they will guide you. Irritation is different from allergic reactions💯
.
👉🙏🏼Addition of topicals will be guided by your treating clinician, based upon your skin sensitivity, current topical use & treatment (peels vs lasers). Timing is important
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #melasma #dermatologistsydney
...

Dr Vee Mang is an Australian trained physician with extensive experience in skin, having worked in the field of dermatology. She’s a cosmetic physician who works with Dr Van Park & Dr Davin Lim in Woollahra, Sydney
.
👉Her interests: Pigmentation, neurotoxin, acne management, anti-aging
.
📖Bookings: Open for consultation, send your expression of interest at our website, melasmaclinic.com.au Yes, an expression of interest is required for the Sydney clinic. 
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #melasma

Dr Vee Mang is an Australian trained physician with extensive experience in skin, having worked in the field of dermatology. She’s a cosmetic physician who works with Dr Van Park & Dr Davin Lim in Woollahra, Sydney
.
👉Her interests: Pigmentation, neurotoxin, acne management, anti-aging
.
📖Bookings: Open for consultation, send your expression of interest at our website, melasmaclinic.com.au Yes, an expression of interest is required for the Sydney clinic.
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #melasma
...

Dr Van Park is the co-founder of The Melasma Clinic. She’s a key opinion leader in the field of aesthetic injectables with her innovative & novel injection techniques with neuromodulators & soft tissue injectables
.
👉Rumor has it that Davin Lim fixed her melasma & hence why she founded this clinic. 
.
📖Bookings: She’s closed her books, but occasional consults may arise 
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #drvanpark #dvp #clinicdvp #cosmeticphysician

Dr Van Park is the co-founder of The Melasma Clinic. She’s a key opinion leader in the field of aesthetic injectables with her innovative & novel injection techniques with neuromodulators & soft tissue injectables
.
👉Rumor has it that Davin Lim fixed her melasma & hence why she founded this clinic.
.
📖Bookings: She’s closed her books, but occasional consults may arise
.
The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#themelasmaclinic #drvanpark #dvp #clinicdvp #cosmeticphysician
...

Davin Lim is a technician & co-founder. He comes up with the diagnosis, management plan & settings, nothing more. He fixed Van’s melasma & the rest is history☄️
.
👉In store: working on AI for ‘virtual Davin’, namely programmed AI bot for Q and A, coupled with AI video & virtual voice. Bot Q & A will be released in the next few weeks, virtual video & voice within 6 months (hopefully)
.
📖Bookings: handful of appointments available in Sydney every month, expression of interest via melasmaclinic.com.au 
.
🏡The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#davinlim #drdavinlim #themelasmaclinic #dermatologistsydney #dermatologyclinicsydney

Davin Lim is a technician & co-founder. He comes up with the diagnosis, management plan & settings, nothing more. He fixed Van’s melasma & the rest is history☄️
.
👉In store: working on AI for ‘virtual Davin’, namely programmed AI bot for Q and A, coupled with AI video & virtual voice. Bot Q & A will be released in the next few weeks, virtual video & voice within 6 months (hopefully)
.
📖Bookings: handful of appointments available in Sydney every month, expression of interest via melasmaclinic.com.au
.
🏡The Melasma Clinic
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#davinlim #drdavinlim #themelasmaclinic #dermatologistsydney #dermatologyclinicsydney
...

IPL is awesome for non-melasma pigmentation but is often a cause of flare ups for melasma pigment. The reason is the excessive heat that is often associated with IPL. Exception to this rule is the use of exact filters in correct pulse widths with co-prescription of pigment inhibitors- medical therapy. It can be done, but the threshold for error is very thin💯
.
👉This patient: treated with old fashioned dermal toning with nano-lasers, Spectra by Lutronic, in addition to medical therapy
.
📆👉Timeline: 10 weeks. Pico lasers offer faster resolution, if performed correctly. 
.
Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#drdavinlim #IPL #IPLtreatment #melasma #melasmacure #melasmasurvivor #melasmaskincare #themelasmaclinic #sydneydermatologist

IPL is awesome for non-melasma pigmentation but is often a cause of flare ups for melasma pigment. The reason is the excessive heat that is often associated with IPL. Exception to this rule is the use of exact filters in correct pulse widths with co-prescription of pigment inhibitors- medical therapy. It can be done, but the threshold for error is very thin💯
.
👉This patient: treated with old fashioned dermal toning with nano-lasers, Spectra by Lutronic, in addition to medical therapy
.
📆👉Timeline: 10 weeks. Pico lasers offer faster resolution, if performed correctly.
.
Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane | Sydney🇦🇺
.
#drdavinlim #IPL #IPLtreatment #melasma #melasmacure #melasmasurvivor #melasmaskincare #themelasmaclinic #sydneydermatologist
...

Dermamelan & Cosmelan peels have arrived 💯
.
👉Novel peels: are a good option for primarily epidermal melasma and superficial pigmentation, albeit a downtime of 6-12 days 
.
👌🏻Employ peels based upon diagnostic features of pigment and allowed recovery of the patient 
.
🏡The Melasma Clinic Sydney-Brisbane 🇦🇺
#melasma #cosmelan2 #cosmelanmask #cosmelanpeel

Dermamelan & Cosmelan peels have arrived 💯
.
👉Novel peels: are a good option for primarily epidermal melasma and superficial pigmentation, albeit a downtime of 6-12 days
.
👌🏻Employ peels based upon diagnostic features of pigment and allowed recovery of the patient
.
🏡The Melasma Clinic Sydney-Brisbane 🇦🇺
#melasma #cosmelan2 #cosmelanmask #cosmelanpeel
...

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The Melasma Clinic can diagnose all forms of pigmentation including flat & raised seborrheic keratosis. With precise use of lasers we can remove unsightly spots without scarring. 

Our specialist clinic is overseen by dermatologists who have extensive experience in the treatment of all forms of pigmentation, including removal of age warts.

Dr Davin Lim

645K subscribers

How to treat PIGMENTATION

If I can identify the cause of pigmentation, chances are I can treat it. This can only be achieved with careful real time examination…

More of our mostFrequently asked questions

Can retinol or tretinoin treat moles?

Can moles be frozen off?

Can moles be burnt off?

How to treat a depressed or divot scar from mole removal?

How to use cansema to remove moles?

How to tell the difference between a melanoma & a benign mole?

What are other spots that may look like moles?

A SummaryTreating moles

Dr Davin Lim | Dermatologist
The Melasma Clinic, Brisbane | Sydney

It is not that I am against removal of moles on cosmetic grounds, it is a matter of what is objectively significant & intrusive, rather than what is subjectively of great concern (mole-phobia) or a variation of the norm. 

The moles that I remove are 1. Intrusive moles that may lie in the midline & or are large- think Austin Powers ‘moley-moley-moley’. 2. Large congenital melanocytic naevi on the face or neck. For normal clusters of moles, I do not encourage removal because-

  1. Unpredictable nature of non-surgical techniques, this includes lasers & or shaves. Recurrence is frequently seen, reactivation of benign moles & or pseudomelanoma is not uncommon.

2. The odds game; rolling the dice with laser mole removal. Facts: The chances of developing melanoma in individuals with darker skin types (Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI) are significantly lower compared to those with fair skin (Fitzpatrick skin types I-II). Fair skin patients have a higher risk of developing melanoma due to less melanin, which provides less protection against UV radiation. Melanoma accounts for a smaller percentage of skin cancers in darker-skinned populations.

It is the odds game which is in favor of laser mole removal in Asian countries, namely the chances of melanoma is much less than in lighter skin types. For lighter skin types, it is my policy not to laser moles without a biopsy. 

*Disclaimer: I do not laser moles routinely. We only take up selected cases of mole removal based upon the risk to benefit ratio.