How Safe is It to "Tie Off" a Raised Mole?

Question

I have a VERY raised mole on my neck the size of a pencil eraser, that has been there ever since I can remember. It has never changed size, color, shape. The mole is dark brown in color but has a flat "neck" much like a skin tag - it is as tall as it is in diameter. I did some research and decided to remove it at home by tying it off with dental floss, similar in technique to a livestock castration. I am not concerned about scarring. Are there serious risks to this that I should be aware of?

David Hansen, MD · Answer

See your dermatologist to have it removed since you won't be able to tell if it is a mole, a pigmented skin tag, cutaneous horn or filiform wart etc...  They can get infected very easily if you try tying it off and may bleed a lot as well.  Cost is going to be around $150-200 but it is worth doing it right.  Sincerely,

	David Hansen,MD

Mark Taylor, MD · Answer

Moles that are growing or changing could be cancerous. A dermatologist is the best trained physician to evaluate moles that may need removal. Highly skilled dermatologic surgeons or plastic surgeons are the best trained physicians to remove moles properly with the best cosmetic result.

Michael K. Kim, MD · Answer

i would definitely recommend a physician to look at it to determine if you need a biospy.  it can be done simply and quickly with minimal scarring  GL

Mohsen Tavoussi, MD, DO · Answer

Tying off the mole my get rid of most of it but there is still some left at the base and since we don't know the nature of this, it is best to have it shaved by a surgeon so that it can be examined and no scar is left.

Debra Irizarry, MD · Answer

Moles, also known as nevi, grow from the deep layers of the skin. Although taking off the "top" by tying or another method may improve appearance, it will cause scarring that can change the ability to tell if the mole is having any cancerous changes. All pigmanted nevi have melanocytes, (the cells that make pigment), in them, and monitoring pigmented nevi by periodic physical examination is an important way of checking to make sure they do not show changes that are suspicious for melanoma development.

	  If the appearance of a mole is of concern, the best way to improve it is usually a "full-thickness" excision, (with stitches). Shave excisions will remove the mole but, can leave a "white spot" from the normal pigment being removed, and it is controversial in those cases where a malignancy may be found as it reduces the ability to predict how invasive the lesion is. Full thickness excisions performed by Plastic Surgeons place the incisions in a way that they heal to a fine line that should be minimally noticeable.

	Best Regards,

	Debra Iirzarry

	doctordeb.co

How Safe is It to "Tie Off" a Raised Mole?

Answers (8)