What To Expect During And After Mole Removal
Have you been thinking about removing your mole? Often a dermatologist may want to remove a mole to find out whether or not it is cancerous. This can leave you feeling apprehensive about the procedure. The procedure itself is relatively straightforward and simple. Here's what you can expect to happen during and after a mole removal procedure.
Mole Removal Techniques
The first thing your dermatologist will do is give you an injection that will numb the area near the mole. This may feel like a slight pinch, but there will not be any pain around the area especially during mole removal. Several techniques may be employed to remove the mole.
One technique that is often used is the shave biopsy. During the shave biopsy, a razor will be used to neatly shave the mole off. Another popular method is a punch biopsy. During a punch biopsy, a punch is put over the mole. The mole is then punched out. A third technique that your dermatologist may use is called scalpel removal. During a scalpel removal, the scalpel is used to take the mole from your skin. Your dermatologist will stitch the area.
Aftercare
Once the mole is removed your dermatologist will send a sample of it to a laboratory. This is done to ascertain whether the mole is normal or not. The results usually come back in about two weeks. If the results of the tests are normal you will not get any further treatment from your dermatologist. Your dermatologist will then tell you when your next skin screening will be so that they can see how well the mole is healing. If the cells come back abnormal then your dermatologist will decide what kind of treatment you will need next.
Scarring
One of the reasons why many people resist mole removal is that they are afraid it will leave a scar. In most cases, mole removal will leave a small scar. However, this scar will not be glaringly obvious. This is a small tradeoff for knowing whether a mole is normal or abnormal.
Getting a mole removed is a simple procedure. It will not cause you a lot of pain and the area will heal quickly. Removing a mole is one of the easiest ways to find out whether it is normal or cancerous. Considering that the procedure does not take long and it's not painful, even if you get a scar it is a small price to pay for the knowledge you will gain about your health.
