Three questions you're probably asking yourself if you're thinking about mole removal...

Moles are hugely personal

Moles.  Love them or hate them?  Well, they are after all, a hugely personal thing.  You might embrace them because they are a part of you.  Or you might have no trouble saying goodbye to them.  Whatever you feel about your moles the one thing that remains true is that they are yours, and only you decide what, if anything, to do about them!​​

The lovely patients that walk through our doors all have different thoughts and feelings on the subject of moles.  For some, they are seeking no more than the reassurance that their moles are safe (benign). For others, they are more interested in what can be done to remove them.
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For those that fall into the ‘remove my mole now please’ camp, there are questions that you should be, or more likely are, already are asking yourself. Questions such as ‘is my mole safe to be removed’, ‘is the procedure painful’ and ‘will I have a scar’?

'Is my mole safe to be removed?'

The first question is by far the most important. 
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If you decide to have a mole removed it is important to ensure that it has been checked by a doctor.  You can speak to your GP at any time about a mole that you may have concerns about and they can check it for you. 

At Altruderm, we too offer a mole check service carried out by our Clinical Director, Dr. McDaid, where he uses a special lens called a dermatoscope to examine the mole up close looking for signs of irregularity in the colour and shape.  If the mole is diagnosed as benign it is safe to be removed.  And, in instances where there is any ambiguity a biopsy can be sent to the pathology lab for diagnostics.  ​

The crucial thing is to ensure nothing is done until the safety of the mole has been established.   Much like having a check-up at the dentist, arranging to have your moles checked regularly gives you peace of mind, and of course, the ‘green-light’ should you wish to have them removed.

'Is the mole removal procedure painful?'

So, once you've decided to have your mole removed, inevitably thoughts turn to the actual procedure, and for most, specifically the subject of pain.  And why not? Is it true that there’s no gain without pain? Well, in this instance it really depends on how the procedure is performed.  

At Altruderm, the comfort of our patients is something we’re obsessed about and it’s why we’ve chosen to buffer our local anaesthetic in order to take the ‘sting’ out of the injection.  We also use the finest size needle which again minimises any pain.  Once the local anaesthetic has been administered there should be no pain.  Yes, we said it, no pain.  

Also, as the only independent private clinic in Scotland offering Ellman radiofrequency surgery for the removal of benign moles we don’t get tired of shouting about the clinical benefits this technology has – less post-procedure pain being one of them!  This is due to radiofrequency (also known as radiosurgery) causing less trauma to the surrounding tissue.  Less trauma, less pain. ​

'Will I have a scar?'

The Ellman radiosurgery technique minimises scarring because the electrode used to cut or shave the mole operates at a low temperature causing less tissue damage.  This allows the skin to heal faster and reduces the chances of scarring.   
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However, mole removal is a surgical procedure and although steps can be taken to minimise the chances of scarring, you should be aware that scarring is a possibility and will depend on many factors, including your body’s own natural response as well as caring for your skin properly after the procedure.​

"Life-changing"

There’s no doubt about it, mole removal can be life changing for some people, as some of our patients have told us.   

"Having this procedure done has really changed my life and confidence and I can't thank the clinic enough for everything." 

Katie b.

It can take years to decide if mole removal is right for you.  Once you have made that decision the next step should always be exploring whether or not it is safe to do so and that you are in a safe environment.  

We love going on these journeys with our patients as it’s a privilege to be part of something that’s so personal.

If you’re thinking about taking that next step we would love to hear from you.  You can find out more information on our Mole Check & Removal page of our website, or call or email the clinic to book your consultation with Dr. McDaid. 

Until next time, take care from the team at Altruderm.