Mole removal indentation on thigh - is this normal, or will it need surgery? (Photo)

Question

Female/39. Mole removed (initial biopsy) from my right thigh 3+ months ago. Done in a public hospital by a Clinical Nurse Specialist. Very small, flat dysplastic nevus was removed via elliptical excision. 72 hours after surgery I see the stitched wound is in a deep depression, 5mm deep. As though the mole was removed not just with the skin but the fat from underneath too! 3 months+ it hasn't improved despite massage/silicone gel Could this resolve itself or is it going to need surgery?

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

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

In my opinion, this scar could be improved with a subcision. Radio-frequency microneedling is the next step. This may be followed with a long lasting filler. 
Jeff Rapaport MD FAAD 
Realself Hall of Fame

Cassie Nghiem, MD · Answer

Excellent question. It's hard to answer that question with a profile view only. However, if you're bothered by the scar, you can consider a scar revision by a plastic surgeon. I would typically wait a little longer prior to performing a scar revision. Hope that helps.

Mole removal indentation on thigh - is this normal, or will it need surgery? (Photo)

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