Shave excision
Treating a protruding mole is simple using a procedure called shave excision. The aim is to return the skin contour to its normal unblemished shape.
What does shave excision involve?
After numbing the skin with local anaesthetic using a fine micro-needle, Dr Boone will carefully shave-off the projecting part of the mole to the level to the skin surface with a scalpel or by electrosurgery. He will then seal the skin surface using an electrosurgical hyfrecator device. The resulting wound is similar to a graze and heals to leave a flat pale mark, but sometimes the colour remains the same as the original mole. The scar will have the same footprint as the original lesion.
Shave excision is best for skin coloured moles and in the vast majority of cases will heal to give an excellent cosmetic result. Laboratory analysis is generally not required for skin coloured moles, but if your mole is pigmented or if Dr Boone feels it is appropriate then we may need to send it for analysis.
After shave excision, up to 3% may regrow slightly and may require further surgery longer-term. Results are generally better with smaller moles that are skin coloured with no pigment. Very rarely a raised scar may develop called a hypertrophic or a keloid scar. The risk on the face is extremely low. On the trunk or the shoulder, the risk of keloid formation is slightly greater. Dr Doron Boone is always happy to review patients if they have any concerns post-treatment.