Getting a Mole Removed: What to Expect

If you're thinking about getting a mole removed from your body, you may have a few questions about the actual procedure. A lot of people have to get moles removed, because they contain pre-cancerous cells. For the rest of us, we decide to get moles removed for cosmetic reasons. Besides, who wants to have that ugly brown mark on their body, especially in places where it can be seen? I've had 2 moles removed, one on my chest and one on my back. Neither were cancerous, I just wanted them removed because they were rather large and I hated them. I was constantly trying to cover them up. Now that they are gone, I'm glad I went through with the procedure. Here's what to expect.

Once you decide you want to get a mole removed, you'll want to make an appointment with your doctor or a dermatologist. Some doctors won't remove a mole unless it is cancerous. If that's the case, get a second opinion from another doctor until you get the answer you want. Your doctor will explain what will happen during the procedure, and which method they are going to use. There are several different methods of removing a mole, depending on the kind of mole you have. If you have a deep mole, expect to get stitches. If your mole is raised above the skin, it will most likely be cut or shaved off without stitches. Only your doctor can decide. Once you've discussed the mole removal, you will then make an appointment for the actual procedure.

Depending on where at on your body the mole is, you may be asked to put on a gown. Both of my mole removals required me to wear a gown. If your mole is on your arm, you will probably not have to wear a gown. Next, your doctor will prepare the area where the mole is. He or she will clean the area with alcohol or Betadine, or a similar cleanser. Then, you'll receive shots of an anesthetic. This was probably the worst part for me, because the needles do hurt on certain parts of your body. I can only image what people feel like when they have moles on their face. You'll get several shots, depending on your situation. Sometimes, you'll feel a burning sensation in your skin from the anesthetic, but it usually goes away after a few minutes. The doctor will wait about 5-10 minutes for the area to numb up before doing any cutting or burning. After you're numb, you won't feel much at all. Both of my removals were done with the cutting method. They were both above the skin, therefore I didn't need stitches and all they had to do was shave it off the skin. This only takes a few minutes. The doctor will then apply a solution to stop the bleeding, along with a topical cream to prevent infections. On top of that, you'll get a band-aid. Sometimes, your mole will be sent to a lab for further examination and to test for cancer. Even if your mole isn't suspicious, it may still be sent out to the lab. After your procedure is finished, you'll be sent home with home care instructions.

At home, you'll need to take care of the wound for the first day or so with an antibiotic cream like Neosporin. Keep a band-aid on it for the first day, in case it starts bleeding again. You'll also need to keep the area germ-free. Clean the area once per day with hydrogen peroxide. After the area is cleaned, apply the antibiotic cream. You probably won't need a band-aid after the second day, but some doctors will recommend that you keep it on for about a week to prevent infection.

If you do notice signs of an infection, such as pain, excessive bleeding, discharge and odor coming from the wound, call your doctor. You may experience some pain at the wound area. If so, take an over the counter pain reliever such as Motrin or Tylenol. If that doesn't help the pain, it may be a sign of infection.

After about a week or two, you'll start to see a scar form. Depending on the mole removal method, you may have a big scar or a small scar. In my opinion, a scar is much better than the ugly mole. It's easier to cover a scar with makeup then it is to cover a dark brown mole. My first mole was removed about 11 years ago, and I have a tiny scar that is raised above the skin, but pretty much invisible. My second mole was removed a year ago, and the scar is barely noticeable at all.

I'd recommend this procedure to anybody who is self-conscious about a mole on their body. Insurances sometimes cover the procedure, other times you'll have to pay for it out of pocket. It doesn't cost too much, usually no more than $100-$150. But think about it, that cost is probably worth it. Would you rather spend all your time worrying that people are looking at that big mole, or would you rather just spend the money to get it removed so that you never have to worry about it again?