Is 6 weeks Too Long Between Laser Mole Removal Sessions?

asked 9 months ago by bay_ in San Bruno, CA
Latest answer by William Ting, MD
Question viewed 229 times
Tags: timing

My plastic surgeon suggested having 6 weeks between every Laser Mole Removal session. Why so long? Wouldn't 6 weeks help the mole recover or something?

5 answers to Is 6 weeks Too Long Between Laser Mole Removal Sessions?

Mole removal, need thorough evaluation by a dermatologist

Ideally, moles should be examined by a board-certified dermatologist prior to laser ablation. If at all possible, biopsy should be performed to rule out skin cancer. If pathology reveals nonmalignant nature of a pigmented lesion, then laser mole removal may be considered using a Q-switched Nd:Yag laser every 4-6 weeks or so.

William Ting, MD
Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon

Laser removal of moles is controversial.

Personally I will treat small flat moles with a laser that are less than 3mm in diameter and are evenly pigmented. Some patients have hundreds of very small moles that can be safely and completely destroyed with a laser without a scar. Any mole of any size with irregular pigment or shape should be excised and sent for pathological examination. Flesh colored moles that are raised can be biopsied and flattened with a C02 or Erbium YAG laser. They will usually... more

Mark Taylor, MD
Salt Lake City Dermatologic Surgeon

Moles Should Never be Removed with a Laser

I feel that it is never appropriate to use a laser as your primary treatment for removing a mole. Regardless of how "benign" a mole may appear, a biopsy may still reveal it to be atypical. Using a laser to improve the appearance of a mole will alter its look and make it more difficult to observe for precancerous changes in the future. The majority of a mole can be removed very easily, and less expensively, using a shave biopsy technique. This typically results in a minimal scar,... more

Mitchell Schwartz, MD
South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

Moles

If the diagnosis is actually a mole, then it should be surgicaly removed not destroyed by laser or any other method, it also should not be shved. The entire mole should be removed and submitted to pathology fo exact diagnosis. one does not want to mis a malignant melanoma or dysplastic nevus. There are many other pimented lesions as keratosis that can be lasered , cauterized because they are benign.

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Moles (melanocytic nevi) should not be removed with a laser

There are a number of different pigmented lesions such as freckles, hyperpigmentation and seborrheic keratoses that can be removed with laser treatment. But moles that are collections of melanocytes, pigment-making cells in the skin, should be either excised or left alone if benign and not suspicious. Lasers typically remove only a portion of the mole, which can then recur and look very odd afterwards.

Emily Altman, MD
Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Ask a question

Get Free Email Updates