Removing moles

Moles

Moles are light to dark brown coloured spots or elevations of the skin. They result from a local accumulation of pigment cells in the skin and can occur anywhere on the body and vary in shape, size and colour.
Removal of birthmarks may be necessary if malignancy is suspected, in which case it is a medical procedure. Usually removal is not necessary, in which case it is a cosmetic procedure. At Medisch Centrum Wetering, birthmarks are always removed by the dermatologist or a plastic surgeon.

Read more about birthmarks in this Dutch folder.

Treatments

How is a mole removed?

There are several options for mole removal:
– Shaving/coagulation
– Excision

The dermatologist considers which of these methods is most suitable on a case-by-case basis.

Shaving/coagulation

Shaving is applied to raised birthmarks and is done under local anaesthesia. During treatment, the top layer of skin is shaved off using a very sharp blade. After this, the wound is closed by heating (coagulation) and a scab forms on the skin. This scab loosens by itself over time.

Excision

Excision is used for flat birthmarks and is also performed under local anaesthesia. During excision, the entire mole and a piece of the surrounding skin are removed. The wound is then stitched. The wound will heal within a few weeks. Depending on the location on the body, among other things, subcutaneous (soluble) sutures are chosen, or sutures that need to be removed after about a week.

Risks and complications

Prior to treatment, your dermatologist will discuss the risks with you.

When removing a mole, there are risks of:

• Discolouration of the skin: the skin may become slightly lighter or darker, you are therefore advised to avoid sunlight for at least 6 weeks
• Development of scar tissue
• Scar inflammation
• Haematoma

Moreover, with the shaving/coagulation method, there is a risk of the mole growing back.

Rates

Moles removal by shaving, by dematologist
1-2 birthmarks: € 100,-
3-5 birthmarks: € 200,-
6-8 birthmarks: € 250,-
9-11 birthmarks: € 300,-

Surgical removal (with suturing), by dermatologist
1 birthmark: € 250,-
2 birthmarks: € 350,-
3 birthmarks: € 450,-

Surgical removal (with suturing), by plastic surgeon
1 birthmark: € 350,-
2 birthmarks: € 450,-
3 birthmarks: € 550,-

Where can you ask questions?

If there are still any questions after reading this information, you can always contact us during consultation hours on telephone number: 020-8203465.