What can I do to minimize the appearance of a mole removal scar? 8 years post op (photos)

Question

I have a facial scar from laser mole removal in 2014. The area has some raised and dark spots now, making the contour a big concern for me. I'm not sure what I should do to make it flat

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars. 
 
Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

First, it is very important that if this was a true mole (a melanocytic nevus), it should have been biopsied to ensure that it was an entirely benign process BEFORE any destructive process, like lasers, was performed. So, for one, it would be wise to obtain the pathology report to ensure that this was the case. Once this is known, then Scalpel Sculpting can be used to flatten any of the currently elevated portions. Following this, professionally performed, manual Dermastamp microneedling can be used to better blend the treated areas with the surrounding normal skin. You would be wise to consult an experienced, 
board certified cosmetic dermatologist and not merely any venue hawking the use of the latest, expensive, "next big thing" laser or RF gizmo it has just purchased. For the benefit of other readers of this answer, it might be wise to consider Scalpel Sculpting, for the cosmetic removal of moles and certain other benign growths in cosmetically important areas of the face, nose, etc. Scalpel Sculpting has the additional benefit of allowing for sufficient tissue to be obtained to be sent to the lab for confirmation that the mole in question is nothing more than an innocent, benign "beauty mark" and not some other more problematic lesion.

What can I do to minimize the appearance of a mole removal scar? 8 years post op (photos)

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