It depends on what "malignancy" means. There are different types of skin cancers. A basal cell carcinoma or a squamous cell carcinoma on the lip is best removed by a Mohs surgeon who is generally a dermatologist with extra training in doing Mohs procedures. You may want to consider having a plastic... more
Mole removal - Should I see a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon?
I have a mole on the border of my lip that I need to have removed because it is malignant, but I'm not sure if I should let my dermatologist remove it. Because it is located on my face (and because I don't want to look deformed after it is removed), I am wondering if I should go to a plastic surgeon or a facial plastic surgeon instead. What type of doctor is most qualified to remove a mole from my face without making me look deformed?
Sort: Date | Helpful
6 answers to “Mole removal - Should I see a...”A: Dermatologic or plastic surgeon depends on surgeon's personal skill level
And that is the truth. There are well-trained, conscientious dermatologic surgeons, and there are sloppy plastic surgeons. Interview your surgeon, get a personal referral if possible, ask to see other results, and go with your gut. Do not be rushed into a procedure by attitude. A good result can be had by... more
A: Usually a plastic surgeon
In general , while I feel that dermatologists do an excellent job in excising moles, in this region you might be better off with a board certified plastic surgeon. This is a somewhat difficult area to work on. The musculature is closer to the surface and a little complex. What I would look for is a plastic... more
A: Play it safe with your Face
Although dermatologists are completely qualified to remove moles, plastic surgeons are more qualified to keep the scar minimum afterwards. Depending on your insurance, it may be possible for your excision to be covered, even if it is removed by a doctor outside of the network. If your main objective is to have... more
A: In this case, it may take a team approach. Depending on...
In this case, it may take a team approach. Depending on the type of malignancy that it is, the best option may be to have a specially trained dermatologist perform Mohs micrographic surgery to remove the lesion and a facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon perform the reconstruction. Mohs micrographic... more
A: To avoid being deformed, you need a surgeon...
To avoid being deformed, you need a surgeon specificially experienced with operating on the lip. While some dermatologists have experience in these things, I think in general for a malignancy in this area, that I would suggest you see a surgeon. Whether it should be a facial plastic or a general plastic is... more
Comments
IMPORTANT: As noted in our Terms of Service, the information found on RealSelf.com, including that provided by professionals in the Questions & Answers area, is a general educational aid. The Questions and Answers contain opinions and views created by community members. RealSelf.com is not responsible for the accuracy of any information posted by community members. Do not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical or healthcare advice, or for diagnosis or treatment purposes.
4 posts
22 Feb 2009
Hi Dr! Let's say I have a non-cancerous mole (confirmed) removed by laser. The mole was quite deep so not all of the mole was removed. What happens if the little bit of mole under the surface of the skin becomes cancerous after some years? Is it possible that the cancer goes unnoticed as scar tissue from the laser removal some years earlier hides the cancer to the eye of myself or a dermatologist? Many thanks and take care, Pierre
138 posts
9 Jun 2008
There are a lot of good docs that can remove moles and leave very minimal scars. However, at the border of the lip, also called the vermillion border, there is another issue. If the mole involves the part of your lip where the white skin meets the pink lip, the repair must be done very carefully to make sure the white-pink junction lines up perfectly on both sides of the biopsy. Even a 1 mm misalignment can be seen from a distance of about 30 feet! When the doctor injects the local anesthesia, the border becomes harder to see. Sometimes the doctor will need to mark the border on both sides before removing the lesion. Your best bet is to go to a doctor that you are comfortable with and have an open an honest discussion. Tell them your concerns about the cosmetic result in addition to making sure you don't have lip cancer. The doctor should be able to describe how they intend to remove the lesion and restore your lip line. Michael Sinclair, MD
1 post
17 Mar 2009
I have around 9 small moles on my face but one looks like a tag and it's half inch away from my eye.. and i have another big one (the size of a pencil eraser) on my leg. ABOUT how much will it cost to get them all removed?