Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon for Mole removal on my forehead? (Photo)

Question

I have a mole about the size of a pencil eraser right in the middle of my forehead. I have had it since I was very young and have always hated it. Anyway, I was wondering who I should go to to get it removed? I don't want any scarring. I have a friend who removed one on her back and she has a scar. It's on my face and I am in the acting/modeling business so a scar would do no good for the future of my career. Removal would also help me book more gigs. Who can I trust more for this ?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

In my opinion and long experience, the answer to what to look for in a doctor for aesthetically removing moles would be a board certified core aesthetic physician, meaning either a cosmetic dermatologist or plastic surgeon with extensive expertise and experience with mole removals.  And my answer to which method is preferable for aesthetically removing raised moles on the forehead, as in this case (or elsewhere, for that matter), would be Scalpel Sculpting followed by Dermaplaning if necessary. Although removing moles by any method from the nose and face is likely to leave a small scar, scalpel sculpting, which involves no deep cutting or stitches has, in my experience, proven quite successful for achieving gratifying aesthetic results while leaving little, or often barely perceptible, scars.The technique, which I have been using for thirty years, involves "scultping the mole" off from the surrounding skin in a tangential fashion (i.e. not cutting deeply into the skin). Deep cutting will inevitably result in a scar, while superficial (horizontal) removal in this fashion largely avoids this. Elliptical and fusiform simply describe the resulting shape of a wound excision after cutting them out deeply and before the placement of the sutures.As an important aside, destructive modalities to simply destroy the mole, e.g. lasers, electrocautery, electrodessication or cryosurgery should not be performed since these simply destroy all the mole tissue and do not permit a small specimen to be sent to the lab to ensure that the mole removed was entirely benign.If necessary, following scalpel sculpting, the borders of the mole can then be smoothed and blended with the surrounding normal skin by "dermaplaning," a technique by which the edge of the scalpel is used to delicately abrade the skin. Properly done, the entire procedure, performed under local anesthesia, takes no more than three to five minutes. In most cases, the procedure is done at the time of the consultation.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

There are a variety of ways to remove a mole.  If the mole on your forehead is raised, it could potentially be shaved off.  This would make the area flat with little scarring but it's possible that some of the pigment could remain.  The mole could be completely removed by surgically excising it, but you would have a scar as a result.  In the best setting, the scar would be a small, thin line that would not be very noticeable.  There are a variety of doctors who remove moles, including dermatologists, facial plastics surgeons and plastic surgeons.  Generally speaking, facial plastic surgeons and plastic surgeons have more surgical training than dermatologists, but there are some dermatologists with surgical experience as well.

Seth Kates, MD · Answer

Your question is probably going to start a real self fight, but I am a dermatologist and am biased as such.  There is no easy way to remove that mole and any physician with experience will tell you that there is always a scar (whether visible or not) after removal of a mole.  In looking at the picture, I suspect that you are going to be better off leaving the mole alone and not excising it because you have no wrinkles to hide the resultant line within and you are dark which also makes the surgery and results a little more complicated.Good luck

Mitchell Schwartz, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, “The
only source of knowledge is experience”.Look for a physician who is
very experienced in cosmetic surgery and with whom you are comfortable. The experience and technique of your physician, not their specialty, is the most critical part to your achieving the best result.

Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon for Mole removal on my forehead? (Photo)

Answers (6)

Answer: Who is best for removal of a mole on the forehead

Answer: Who is best for removal of a mole on the forehead

Answer: How to choose your physician

Answer: How to choose your physician

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Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon for Mole removal on my forehead? (Photo)

Answers (6)

Answer: Who is best for removal of a mole on the forehead

Answer: Who is best for removal of a mole on the forehead

Answer: How to choose your physician

Answer: How to choose your physician

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Everything you need to know about Mole Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.