I have a few moles along my hairline on my scalp. Can they be removed without shaving my hair and leaving a bald spot? (Photos)

Mole removal begins with a comprehensive examination and consultation to determine the likelihood of a mole being worrisome. Excisional and incisional biopsies are reserved for suspicious moles. But it’s good news that most moles are not problematic and are only cosmetic, thus leading to the option of scarless or non-surgical mole removal with lasers and RF and plasma. Our office specializes in non-surgical mole removal.

Best,
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian
Realself 100 Surgeon

Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed question. It shows how much care you’ve put into monitoring your skin health, which is always a good thing. I can also understand your concern about balancing peace of mind with preserving your hair and hairstyle, especially since you’ve worked so hard to grow it out.

Scalp moles are actually fairly common, and it’s also normal at your age to notice new ones appearing over time. The fact that yours haven’t changed in size, shape, or color is very reassuring. Your dermatologist was correct that most are harmless, but your family history and sun exposure do make your proactive approach very reasonable.

As for removal:

Excision is the standard method if the goal is both complete removal and the ability to test the mole under the microscope. This does involve cutting around the mole and closing the area with tiny stitches. On the scalp, this usually heals well, but it can leave a very fine line scar. The good news is that when done carefully along the direction of hair growth, the scar is often well-hidden by surrounding hair and doesn’t necessarily create a “bald spot.”

Shaving the area is not always required. For small excisions, many dermatologists will part the hair and work through a small window without needing to remove surrounding hair.

Cosmetic impact depends on mole size and location. Smaller moles can often be removed with little to no visible difference once healed. Larger ones may need a few more stitches, but again, hair regrowth usually helps conceal things over time.

Alternative methods like shave removal or laser can sometimes be used, but these don’t always remove the mole completely (and therefore don’t allow for proper pathology review). Because of that, excision is still considered the safest and most definitive approach, especially if you want long-term reassurance.

Yes, it is realistic to remove scalp moles without permanently leaving bald patches in most cases. An experienced dermatologist or dermatologic surgeon will take hair direction into account when placing stitches so that healing is as discreet as possible.

Given your family history, I think it’s very reasonable to remove the ones that bother you for peace of mind, but also reassuring to know that, from what you describe, nothing sounds immediately concerning.

Shaving your moles flat is easy under local anesthesia and does not require shaving any more hair than the ones growing threw the mole itself. Usually those few hairs regrow nicely anyway. Cost is roughly $250-350 each and is so easy and simple to undergo.