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Can a Mole Be Removed Without Leaving a Scar?

asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Donna Bilu Martin, MD
Question viewed 15,040 times
Tags: moles, scar

What can I expect in terms of scars after mole removal? Is it possible to do it with no scars whatsoever?

19 answers to Can a Mole Be Removed Without Leaving a Scar?

+2

Removing a mole will always leave a scar.

There are three things which make a scar noticeable. 1. Thickness or if it raised 2. Width 3. darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. The surgeon that does your mole removal should understand these issues and be knowledgeable of the techniques used to prevent of minimize their occurrence.
Dev Wali, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+2

Never remove a mole with a laser.

I disagree with a posting by another physician here. True moles (nevi) are collections of melanocytes, the cells that make melanoma if they become malignant, not just random brown patches on the skin. These should never, ever be removed by laser. Laser may remove the outer layer of the pigment cells, leaving deeper melanocytes that can't be well monitored for changes over time. Any mole removal should be surgical (shave or excision) and be sent for pathologic evaluation to... more
Jessica J. Krant, MD, MPH

Manhattan Dermatologic Surgeon
+2

Scarless Mole Removal

Depending on the type of mole, some can be removed with a "scarless" technique.  I use a modification of a shave technique which makes it very difficult if not impossible to tell where the mole has been removed.  
Anil R. Shah, MD

Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Mole Removal By Scalpel Sculpting: The No Stitches Way

Scalpel Sculpting is a three-minute, simple way to remove moles (often called "beauty marks," or "birth marks.") without the need for cutting deeply into the skin or placing any stitches. Most moles are benign overgrowths of pigment cells. Typically, they begin as flat brown spots and with time begin to grow and stick out above the skin surface. That's when they come to most people's attention, especially when they are on the highly visible areas of the face,... more
Nelson L. Novick, MD

New York Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Can a mole be removed without a scar?

Any time the skin is cut, it will heal with a scar. How obvious the scar is depends on the size of what is being removed, the location of the spot being removed, how the person heals, and the technique used to remove it. Certain areas, like the chest and arms, are more apt to form a scar. Shave removal and excision with stitches are both good options for removing moles. Moles can be sent to a dermatopathologist to be examined.
Donna Bilu Martin, MD

Miami Beach Dermatologist
+1

Scarless Mole Removal

There are several options in treating a mole. Three options that may avoid a scar are laser, liquid nitrogen or freezing, or mole shave. Laser and freezing may help remove darkened pigment in the mole and may help to flatten its contour. Similarly, a mole shave will remove the elevated portion of the mole and should not leave a scar. However, these 3 options do not "cure" the mole as the root is left behind. When the mole returns, they can be repeated as needed. In order to... more
Gregory J. Vipond, MD

Pasadena Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mole removal always leaves a scar

You can't have something removed without leaving a mark. The type of scar you will have depends on the size and location of your mole, how deep the mole is, how well you heal (some of this is genetic) and surgical skill of the doctor.
Gary Goldenberg, MD

New York Dermatologist
+1

Mole Removal

Surgical mole removal will leave a scar. The skill of the facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon will help determine the final outcome. Consult with a board certified well trained facial plastic or plastic surgeon to achieve your goal of mole removal with minimal scarring.
Michael Sullivan, MD

Columbus Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scars after mole removal

Anything that traumatizes the skin has the potential to leave a scar. Some scars heal so well that they're barely perceptalble. These might be the scars that patients might refer to as a "no scar" type of surgery. However, there are a lot of factors that determine the ultimate outcome, including what type of procedure was done (shave vs. excision), whether the wound was closed or allowed to heal by itself, whether there was any complication, such as thickened scarring or... more
Andrew Kaufman, MD

Los Angeles Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Surgery means a surgical scar

Patients often come to me as a plastic surgeon for mole removal because they "don't want a scar." It is impossible to make a surgical cut and not leave a scar. What plastic surgeons and anyone who pays attention to getting the best possible cosmetic outcome do is to allign scars along natural skin tension lines to minimize the scarring.  
Jason Brett Lichten, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mole Removal and Scars

If it is a true mole, removing it will leave a scar.  It is just a matter of the type of scar.  If the mole is raised off the skin surface, usually it can be easily removed by "shaving" it flat with the skin surface with excellent cosmetic results in most cases.  If the mole is flat, it could also be excised and sutured, with the intent being a line scar.  It also depends on the location of the mole, size, and any history of abnormal scarring.   more
Timothy G. Rodgers, MD

Dallas Dermatologist
+1

Removing moles is not superficial, and usually leaves a "scar".

Moles, also known as "nevi", grow from the deep layers of the skin. To remove them, the deep skin is disturbed, and this leads to some degree of "scar", as the human body repairs this with "scar tissue",(only fetuses can have "scarless" healing). The degree of scar is dependent on the technique of removal, so select someone who has surgical training, and can show you before and after photos of similar cases. Never have a pigmented,(brown/tan), mole... more
Debra Irizarry, MD

Crestone Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mole Removal Results

Almost all mole removals will leave somewhat of a scar. But it is possible to remove a mole without leaving a scar; HOWEVER, it really depends on the type of mole. Some moles can be treated with lasers. This should reduce the chances of scarring. Not all moles should be treated with laser however.
Sanusi Umar, MD

Redondo Beach Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Mole removal without scars?

For over 20 years, I have been using a radiofrequency ablation technique that leave less heat than lasers would.  The resulting surface depression fills in within a few weeks and the worst scar that I have seen with this technique is no worse than an acne scar.  In most cases, the scar is almost hard to find, and is a very natural and acceptable result.
Randy Wong, MD

Honolulu Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mole Removal will Leave Scar

Mole removal will always leave a scar, as with any surgical procedure. However, scars are usually not bothersome. Certain body areas tend to scar more than others. It's important to follow your physicians care instructions after treatment to help reduce scarring. Only after a comprehensive evaluation can a specialist appropriately advise you.
Houtan Chaboki, MD

Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

There will be a scar, but the extent will depend on the biopsy technique and the lesion

Whenever you remove something from the skin, there will be a scar. The other question is whether or not the scar will be noticeable or wore than the original lesion. Areas on chest, shoulders, and upper back have the highest risk of raised scar formation. If this happens, the scar can be injected with a medication to aid in flattening. In these and other areas, the proper technique is key. Dermatologist and dermatologic surgeons have extensive training and experience in mole... more
Larisa Ravitskiy, MD

Columbus Dermatologist
+1

Scarring from mole removal

Moles can be removed in many differant ways that leave little traces of scarring. The way a person tends to scar (healing,where it is on the body,skin type, how large) can be unpredictable. After a mole is removed, there are options for treatment of that scar. Scarguard is an excellent choice to minimize appearance of any scar. Laser post operatively can smoothe and rejuvinate normal skin around the scar area for better healing properties. Over the counter products for scarring can be used... more
William J. Hedden, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
+1

Shaving vs excision for mole removal

Shaving a mole down to the surface of the skin ultimately gives the best color match upon healing. Over time the regrowth of the residual mole left in the dermis can occur. Not a big deal, in 5 or 10 years just repeat the same offrice procedure. Full thickness skin excision of a mole will permanently remove it with the result being a slightly more noticable scar. Nonetheless this is better than the aesthetics of having the original mole.
Lee Kleiman, MD

Annapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

No scar is not possible

There will always be a scar from rermoving anything.  The key is to go to an excellent plastic surgeon who has the training and experience to minimize the scar's visibility to where it is not noticeable at conversational distance.  Usually this is possible.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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