Removing moles?

[Kite]

Ill try keep this short, basically at the moment I live in the UK but on the 4th of March Im moving to Canada for a year on a temporary work visa. Ive been wanting to get some moles removed (about 10) for a while but I got a thing about doctors in England, every time Ive ever been to one they been completely useless in some way or another, healthcare is really messed up in this country. Anyway, I figured it would be better if I just got it done while I was out there, even if it ends up costing more. I was just wondering if anyone had any information or advice for me, like how they do it, how much it'd cost and what kind of doctor I should go to?

[kerry1]

Check the "skin problem" thread - there's lots of advice about home remedies for removing moles.

[ScruffyGuy]

I am not familiar with home remedies to remove moles, so I can't comment on that except to say in my personal opinion, I'd have a doc do it for me instead. In fact, I just did. It was nothing.

There are two methods for mole removal: excision and mole "shaving."

Excision is a bit more expensive and involves an incision and sutures. The end result is a small, thin scar. Healing is generally fast -- one to two weeks. Sutures can be removed in three to seven days, generally speaking, depending on the depth of the mole that was removed. In this method, you trade a mole for a small scar.

Shaving is simple -- the doc will simply take a scalpel and slice it off, more or less. A curette is sometimes used to scrape the area to get at the core of the mole a little bit. Shaving has a ten percent chance that the mole will grow back since the central core is not fully removed. Shaving can also result in the area retaining the color of the mole, but still being smooth and with a flat surface.

Both methods are acceptable choices. A local anesthetic is used. The area anesthetized is generally so small that the needle ***** is barely felt. There is no pain. It's possible for a very slight bit of discomfort the day after, but this can't really be considered "painful" -- it's just sensation.

Shaving sometimes also results in the area looking like a little crater with raised edges right after the procedure. This swelling is normal and goes away in about thirty-six hours at most. There may be a tiny bit of fluid exudate; also no big deal.

You will probably be told to put a little bacitracin or similar product on the area for a week or so, maybe less. You can use a bandage or leave it open to the air.

These procedures are fast, easy and uncomplicated.

I do tend to disagree that docs will provide free pathology results for moles, however. In my experience, most docs use an outside lab which independently bills you for the analysis. But you may get lucky, who knows?

Most docs insist the mole be sent to pathology even if it "looks" harmless.

The cost will vary, of course. VERY generally speaking -- about $100 per mole, with additional fees for pathology. A doc will probably get you discount if you are having multiple moles removed at once. Shaving is cheaper -- excision may add $50 or so to each mole. These are very broad estimates only.

You can always have the most "bothersome" ones removed first and have others done later if cost is prohibitive.

Good luck.

[kerry1]

Yeah, it's a small thin scar unless you get keloids, like I do. And I'm a white person.

[washee]

Depends on what size the moles are, where they are, the characteristics of the mole ect. You might have to go to a plastic surgeon (as I did for one of mine) or the Dr. might do it in the office.