Moles are removed for a variety of reasons; these could be for cosmetic purposes or because of some risk factors associated with them. There are 2 surgical methods that are usually used to remove moles, namely excision with stitches and excision with cauterization. Laser removal technique has also been tried out for removing moles; however this method is not used for deeper moles because the laser ray cannot penetrate too deep.

Normally, the dermatologist or doctor may choose to go in for excision with or without stitches depending upon the cosmetic outcome desired and the depth of the mole.

An elaborate mole removal preparation is carried out before actually getting to the main surgery. The area where the treatment has to be carried out is cleansed either with alcohol, Betadine or any other suitable material, depending on the doctor. Lidocaine is then used to numb the area. Surgeons usually wait for a period of 15 minutes after numbing. This is because it takes this much of time for the blood flow to the area to diminish. Next, a drape might be place over the area that has to be treated. This, however, depends on the method of surgery or the size of the mole.

If the removal involves simple cutting without stitches, the doctor shaves the mole with a scalpel. The mole might be shaved off slightly below the skin. After this, the area is burnt with a solution that is applied to stop bleeding. Alternatively, the doctor could also use an electric instrument to burn or cauterize the area.

Moles that are flat or darker in color are removed by excision with stitches. The doctor traces out the mole and then cleans and sterilizes the area. This is followed by a numbing procedure. A scalpel is then used to cut out the mole and its surrounding border. The size of the border area depends on the doctor’s concern for the mole that is being removed. After this, stitches are placed on the upper surface of the skin. These stitches do not get absorbed and have to be removed later. Stitches could also be placed deep into the skin. These do not have to be removed because they get absorbed on their own. The choice of stitches is dependent on the depth of the excision.

After undergoing either of the above mole removal techniques, a proper home care routine has to be carried out by the patient. A layer of antibiotic salve or bandage has to be kept on the wound. You should choose an ointment that is antibiotic and does not have neomycin. This is because a lot of people are allergic to neomycin and it may lead to rashes on the operated site. You could go in for Polysporin; this is an antibiotic that does not include neomycin. The wound has to be cleaned once or twice daily with either diluted hydrogen peroxide or water. A bandage or antibiotic salve has to be applied on the wound after cleansing. This procedure has to be repeated till the wound has completely healed up.

It is imperative to note that during the healing period, you must not do anything that delays the complete recovery. There are a lot of misconceptions about the healing. Some people think that exposing of the wound to open air will lead to it healing faster. However this is incorrect. In fact antibiotic salve and bandages are better to allow healing the place quickly. Another mistaken practice is that people apply vitamin E on the treated spot. It should be remembered that vitamin E slows down the process of healing rather than accelerating it. In fact if vitamin E is applied directly on the operated area, the scars can be worse.