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Mole Removal Cost ≈ $500 average cost

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Laser Treatment for "Fleshy" Facial Mole Removal

I have two "fleshy" moles on my face, and I've heard that laser procedure can remove them. I have been to two doctors; and one wanted to "shave" them off, the other wants to have them "cut". I'm confused--which of these techniques should I choose? Since it's my face, I don't want to risk getting the wrong procedure.

Asked 39 months ago by reneeja in baldwin new york

2 surgical ways to remove a mole

In general, dermatologists surgically remove moles in one of two ways, shaving or cutting. Shave excision, or tangential excision, is fast, easy, and leaves almost no mark. It involves using a scalpel blade horizontal to the skin and shaving 'the top' off of the mole. Generally, a scab will form for about 10days after this procedure, and then the mole appears to be gone. The trouble is, sometimes the mole recurs, as the 'roots' are still underneath the skin. Sometimes it doesn't recur at... more

Anne Marie McNeill, MD

Newport Beach Dermatologist

Best way to remove moles

Lasering is not good for moles, not only because it doesn't allow the mole to be sent to the pathologist, but also it will tend to replace the mole with a round scar that is often a noticeably different color than the surrounding skin. Regarding shave biopsy removal versus surgical excision, dermatologists treat a lot more moles than I do, but my bias as a plastic surgeon is to excise the mole, send it to pathology, and close it with fine sutures. The resulting scar tends to be much more... more

Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Mole removal

A mole can be shaved off (it is cut flush with the skin surface leaving behind the deep part of the mole) or cut out (the entire mole, including the extension beneath the skin is removed). The second option is clearly a more definitive removal but the shave can also have great looking result although the likelyhood of it growing back is greater. Either of the two techniques provides a sample that is then sent to a pathologist for examination under a microscope to ensure that the... more

Martin Jugenburg, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Just have it cut off.

Hello, Despite the fact that lasers are heavily promoted, they do not always offer superior results. For a simple mole, surgical excision and closure usually yields better results. Best Regards, John Di Saia, MD

John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon

Fleshy mole removal on the face: excision vs laser

Laser removal of a fleshy mole can only be accomplished by burning the mole off with an ablative laser. That would leave a flat scar the same size or larger than the mole on your face. That would most likely result in a less cosmetically acceptable or pleasing appearance than an excision with a scalpel and careful suturing, which should produce a thin, linear scar. Unfortunately there is no procedure that can remove a mole without leaving any scar. However, there are ways... more

Emily Altman, MD

Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

"Shave removal" is the same as "cut".

Laser is not a good way to remove a true mole on the face. It is important to remove the tissue intact so it can be tested to be 100% sure it is not something bad. Careful, artistic shave removal (with a blade) can remove the mole at the base and make it flat. This often heals with very little scarring on the face. Sometimes a flat, small brown freckle may appear at the site. This is pigmented cells that were originally in the core, which are not dangerous, provided the pathology of the... more

Jessica J. Krant, MD, MPH

Manhattan Dermatologic Surgeon

Laser for fleshy mole removal

It sounds as though shave biopsy or excisional biopsy was recommended for you- in both instances the moles should be sent to a pathologist for further examination. If the results show that they are benign the remainder of the mole/nevus cells can be removed in a cosmetically appropriate manner by your cosmetic physician.

Purvisha Patel, MD

Germantown Dermatologist

Mole removal with laser or surgery

Removal of moles on the face should be done in the most non-invasive way possible to avoid permanent scarring. The biggest decision is whether this is clearly a benign lesion or whether it warrants further pathologic diagnosis. Check with your dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Have the fleshy mole shaved off and biopsied

Fleshy moles lend themselves well to shave removal. Make sure your dermatologist or surgeon sends the lesion for pathology to be evaluated by a competent pathologist. Lasers in this case would just be a heat source and cause unnecessary thermal damage and risk of scarring (or just need for repetitive treatments). Most importantly, the lesion would not be evalutated for pathology and many "fleshy moles" can actually be skin cancers

Elisabeth Shim, MD

Santa Monica Dermatologist

Pathology key in mole removal

Most board-certified dermatologists would share with you that every year, there are few surprises of what seem to be benign appearing 'fleshy' moles whose pathology come back as malignant. Lasers such as Nd:Yag lasers may be used only if pathology confirms benign nature of the moles. Shave excision is fine to proceed first because if you are not happy with the way it looks afterwards, you always have a chance to re-excise it; however if you excise first, you are going to be stuck with a... more

William Ting, MD

Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon

Mole removal should not be done by LASER

I would not remove the lesions with laser. The best method would be via shave excision or full excision. It really depends on the colouring of the mole and its location. A good dermatologist or plastic surgeon should be able to advise you on this. I tend to do more removals via shave excision and have great results.

Julia Carroll, MD

Toronto Dermatologist

No Laser on Moles

I strongly recommend against ever having a mole treated with "laser." Anytime a mole or other growth is removed by excision, it needs to be examined under the microscope by a dermatopathologist to make sure it is not a malignant growth. With laser, no diagnosis is ever made on the mole. In other words, you would not know if it is benign or malignant. Many moles on the face can be removed by shaving the mole flat with the skin surface and great cosmetic results. If a mole is... more

Mandy Lynn Warthan, MD

Dallas Dermatologist

Mole removal method depends on location and type of mole

Either of the two surgical methods should suffice. I strongly urge you not to have the "mole" lasered off. I have already heard of one instance when this was done (at a so-called medi-spa by a non-physician, but under the "medical supervision" of a physician who was about 90 miles away at the time) and the lesion was malignant. ALL moles should be sampled. If your physician is confident the lesion is benign, perhaps most of it could be sampled and the rest ablated with... more

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD

Virginia Beach Dermatologist

Do not have laser for mole removal

I strongly advise against laser treatment of any mole for two reasons. One, in my opinion, that is not an effective treatment. And two, that does not permit there to be a specimen to be sent to pathology where a pathologist can observe it under the microscope. All moles removed should be examined by a pathologist to make sure that it is a “benign” (typical and non-cancerous) mole. Dermatologic surgeons routinely remove moles by either the shaving or cutting technique. Shaving... more

Channing R. Barnett, MD

New York Dermatologist

Laser treatment of facial mole

I strongly do not recommend laser distraction of any mole because there is no specimen for pathology evaluation. Any mole that is removed should be evaluated by pathologist -- to make sure that it is an "OK mole". As discussed earlier shaving or cutting both are great ways to remove the unwanted mole. Shaving is a less expensive option and scars usually look great. However, cutting is most likely method to insure that mole does not reoccur. Discuss with your dermatologist both... more

Richard E. Stiefler, MD

Grand Junction Dermatologist

Flesh colored moles are best removed by 1 of 2 methods

Flesh colored moles rarely ever turn bad and are very easy to be removed. A dermatologist can look at the moles and tell you what it is and how the best way to remove it cosmetically. If it is shaved off, half the time it never recurs and looks great at a cost of $150-250 each. If it recurs in 5-10 yrs then you just shave it down again. If it is in an area that allows itself to be excised with minimal tiny line scar then it is roughly $350-500 and almost never comes back. Both methods are... more