Mole Removal

I've had 3 moles removed.
2 When I was 14 (1 each on the back of my neck & the small of my back, left a couple of scars)
1 on my neck was removed by freezing if off about 10 years ago.

Wikipedia said:
For surgery, many dermatologic and plastic surgeons first use a freezing solution, usually liquid nitrogen, on a raised mole and then shave it away with a scalpel. If the surgeon opts for the shaving method, he or she usually also cauterizes the stump. Because a circle is difficult to close with stitches, the incision is usually elliptical or eye-shaped. However, freezing should not be done to a nevus suspected to be a melanoma, as the ice crystals can cause pathological changes called "freezing artifacts" which might interfere with the diagnosis of the melanoma.
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I've got two that cause me problems. One on my nostril that protrudes so much that it changes the shape of my nose and becomes noticable. However it's fairly light in colour and people often tell me they think it's a big freckle. So I'm unsure about getting that one removed because I'm sure it'd leave an unsightly scar.

However, I have another on my shoulder. It's flat and round, about the size of a 5 pence piece. Doesn't look great. I've always wanted to get it removed, and I've never been able to wear wife-beater vests, and I've always been concious about taking my top off infront of people because of it.

I showed it to my GP when I was about 13 and told me it wasn't worth it. I'd be willing to pay to get this one removed, I'd rather pay and get a decent job done, rather have GP do it hastily and leave a massive scar.

Where do I start?
 
Mine have all been done at the hospital and never at the doctors surgery. If its for cosmetic reasons you need to ask for a referral to a plastic surgeon I would think. The one I put pictures of on this thread was done in the hospitals dermatology unit (that was because they were worried about it being cancerous I guess) but the 3 I had taken off my face were done by plastic surgeon.

If you are willing to pay you will still need a referral from the doctor, im sure if you laid it on thick enough about how much its annoying you you could get it removed for cosmetic reasons on the NHS you will just have to wait longer because it wont be seen as "essential surgery." Again your doctor is the best person to speak to because they can tell you how long waiting lists are etc.

Hope that helps. :)
 
I had a mole removed on my cheek, and my father has had a fair few.

My operation has basically made the mole the colour of the rest of my skin rather than dark brown, whilst my father's has removed the 'lumpiness' and has left a few visible but small cars.

Both happy as Larry 7-8 years later :)
 
I had one removed from my abdomen free on the NHS because it was a bit weird looking. I've got a lovely 1 inch scar right across the area, I just tell people I got stabbed in a club though so it's all gravy.

I don't really.
 
I have a couple of large "sticky-out" moles on my back which I went to my local GP about. She took one look, said they're not worth removing and to ignore them! I must have been in the room for about a minute max :(.
 
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Meatball said:
I have a couple of large "sticky-out" moles on my back which I went to my local GP about. She took one look, said they're not worth removing and to ignore them! I must have been in the room for about a minute max :(.
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Ask for a second opinion, failing that ask for a referral to the dermatology department and say they're bothering you. You can have them removed for cosmetic reasons, you will just have a bit of a longer wait, plus as already mentioned the scar will be a bit bigger than the mole you have now.
 
Andr3w said:
I have one stuck in the middle of my eyes like a budda spot :(
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I had mine there removed. Said it was causing me distress. Cos it was on my face you can barely see the scar, apparently there's so much blood running around your head that it lessens the scar noticeability. Again, go and see your GP and ask for a referral to a plastic surgeon (they deal better with ones in visible areas)
 
knip said:
Ask for a second opinion, failing that ask for a referral to the dermatology department and say they're bothering you. You can have them removed for cosmetic reasons, you will just have a bit of a longer wait, plus as already mentioned the scar will be a bit bigger than the mole you have now.
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I think the scar will be small and not noticeable at all.
 
SoSolid said:
I think the scar will be small and not noticeable at all.
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Er, I have had several removed, (the pics are in this thread) and can assure you in all the cases, the scar is larger than the mole I had there, and some of them have scarred quite badly indeed.

My latest one which was done a year ago, the mole was about 5mm across, I now have a large ugly scar which is nearly an inch wide. They were concerned it was cancerous, hence them needing to take more away than was there.

The one on my back is horrible too, I just got lucky with the ones on my face and head because a plastic surgeon did them, and not a dermatologist.
 
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knip said:
I had mine there removed. Said it was causing me distress. Cos it was on my face you can barely see the scar, apparently there's so much blood running around your head that it lessens the scar noticeability. Again, go and see your GP and ask for a referral to a plastic surgeon (they deal better with ones in visible areas)
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Hmm I may do, how did they remove it? Is the scare much smaller?
 
Andr3w said:
Hmm I may do, how did they remove it? Is the scare much smaller?
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They stick loads of local anaesthetic round the area and then cut it out and stitched me up. Like I said make sure you get it done by a plastic surgeon because they are a lot neater. The scar is a bit bigger than the mole that was there, I can try and take a pic, but i'm not sure it'd be worth it because like I said you can barely see it. It was done about 12 years ago as well.
 
knip said:
Er, I have had several removed, (the pics are in this thread) and can assure you in all the cases, the scar is larger than the mole I had there, and some of them have scarred quite badly indeed.

My latest one which was done a year ago, the mole was about 5mm across, I now have a large ugly scar which is nearly an inch wide. They were concerned it was cancerous, hence them needing to take more away than was there.

The one on my back is horrible too, I just got lucky with the ones on my face and head because a plastic surgeon did them, and not a dermatologist.
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Yes but it depends on the size, location and nature of the mole removal. Mine is purely cosmetic, my father had a huge one removed from his face and you would never know it was there.
 
SoSolid said:
Yes but it depends on the size, location and nature of the mole removal. Mine is purely cosmetic, my father had a huge one removed from his face and you would never know it was there.
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And as I already stated, moles on faces do tend to heal better because of the amount of blood running round your head. Mine on my face are barely noticeable as well, it also depends on the surgeon doing it.

The ones on my neck, back and arm haven't healed well because they weren't done by plastic surgeons they therefore don't tidy them up so well.

Are we done now because frankly i'm bored with squabbling about technicalities? :rolleyes:
 
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