Large Mole Removal on Cupid's Bow? (photo)

Question

Can this mole be removed without distorting my lip? I've been to a dermatologist & he said he won't remove it because it would deform my face & result would be worse than mole. He said I could try a board certified plastic surgeon. Can it be done?

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

Although removing elevated moles by any method from any location 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. Although the photo provided, with the borders of the mole obscured somewhat by the stubble, leaves something to be desired, the apparent size and shape nonetheless suggest that literally "sculpting" the mole to the contours of the Cupid's Bow would be the most appropriate approach to removing it.

	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

	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.

	Perfectly flat moles (beauty marks, birth marks) can be elevated a tad with the local anesthetic and then more easily scalpel sculpted away and shaped to the contour of the surrounding skin.

	A board certified aesthetic physician with experience in this area should be the only one to perform this kind of procedure. And the specimen should absolutely be sent to the laboratory to confirm that it is entirely benign, since sometimes innocent-looking moles removed for cosmetic purposes only prove to be atypical . Laser ablation of the mole would simply destroy the mole, risk a visible scar and not provide any specimen for laboratory confirmation.,

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

There are several options to consider.  I would highly recommend that you see a board certified facial plastic surgeon for an evaluation and possible treatment.

David A. F. Ellis, MD · Answer

The best way to remove this without scarring is to use a FR to lower the mole to skin level. At skin level 90% of moles are skin color. It will be flat and unnoticeable  Surgical excision will leave a scar and perhaps some distortion  Do not have it surgically excised.

	 

	David Ellis MD FRCSC
	Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon
	Art of Facial Surgery

Mitchell Schwartz, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

This mole can most likely be effectively removed using a "shave excision" method. With this technique, the mole is actually "shaved off" at a very superficial level just below the surface of the skin. This method is quite effective and leaves a minimal scar. The procedure typically takes less than a minute and is fairly painless. It is frequently covered by insurance when the mole is removed for certain "medically necessary" indications.

Large Mole Removal on Cupid's Bow? (photo)

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