What You Can Expect Before, During, and After Mole Removal
Like getting your wisdom teeth taken out or having an IUD inserted, mole removal probably isn’t high on your “can’t wait for that appointment!” list. How has science not yet invented a way for you to fast-forward to the part where it’s all over?
Simply thinking about having a mole removed might send a few shivers down your spine, but sometimes it’s just necessary for your health, Gary Goldenberg, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, tells SELF. If, for example, you have a mole that your doctor suspects or has confirmed through a biopsy is cancerous, excising the mole can help to stop any cancer from potentially growing more. But people also have moles removed for cosmetic reasons or because they’re simply annoying, like if one falls just under your bra strap and always gets irritated, Dr. Goldenberg says.
No matter the reason you’re getting a mole removed, the actual process is pretty much the same for everyone. Here’s what you can expect.
For the record, there’s technically a difference between having a mole removed and having it biopsied, but these two processes are very closely connected.
A biopsy usually involves taking cells or samples from the mole to be analyzed in a lab, according to the Mayo Clinic. Moles are usually just clusters of pigment cells called melanocytes, according to the Cleveland Clinic, but sometimes they can become cancerous. A biopsy helps determine if there is anything wrong with the mole, like melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Your doctor will typically perform a skin biopsy by using a tool similar to a razor to shave off the mole, using a circular device to remove a section of the mole, or using a scalpel to remove the whole thing, the Mayo Clinic says.
What are some clear signs you should ask your dermatologist whether or not a mole needs a biopsy? If your mole is asymmetrical, has an irregular border, contains different colors, has a diameter larger than a pencil eraser, or is evolving in some way, you should mention it to your doctor. These are known as the ABCDEs of melanoma, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, because they signify when a mole may be cancerous.
As for a mole removal, clearly the goal is to excise the entire thing. If experts have already determined the mole is cancerous, your doctor may also cut out some of the skin around it, the Mayo Clinic says.
And here’s an interesting tidbit to know: “In typical practice, every single mole that is removed is also examined under the microscope, so often we may use the terms ‘mole removal’ and ‘biopsy’ interchangeably,” Jules Lipoff, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “Even if a patient is having a mole removed ostensibly for cosmetic reasons, it is prudent to evaluate the pathology regardless,” he explains. “We wouldn’t want to miss something.”
Mole removal is usually an outpatient, straightforward procedure. First, your doctor will prepare the area, including by giving you local pain-relieving medication.
Once your doctor has determined that you’ll need your mole removed (likely through a skin exam and/or biopsy), there are a few things they’ll do to get you ready for the procedure, which is done on an outpatient basis, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The area will be measured, mapped, and sometimes photographed before your doctor does the actual removal, Samantha B. Conrad, M.D., a dermatologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, tells SELF. Your doctor will also explain what, exactly, they plan to do during the procedure and answer any questions you may have, she says.
Then, your doctor will clean the surface of your skin, usually with an alcohol pad, and inject the area with local anesthesia like lidocaine, Dr. Lipoff says. “This should be the only part with any discomfort,” he adds. “There may be a pinch and a burn.” After that, the anesthesia should kick in, and your mole plus the surrounding area should be nice and numb.
You shouldn’t feel much during the actual removal other than (maybe) some pressure, Dr. Goldenberg says.
Usually your doctor will use an instrument like a scalpel to remove the actual mole and surrounding tissue if necessary, Dr. Goldenberg says. Thanks to the anesthetic, you shouldn’t feel pain or sharpness during the procedure—if you do, let your doctor know.
The procedure itself can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on the size of the mole and the depth to which your doctor needs to cut, Dr. Goldenberg says. Typically, your doctor will give you a heads up in advance about how long they expect the whole thing to last. (If they don’t and you’re wondering, ask!)
If you had to have a deeper cut, you’ll probably need stitches once the mole has been excised, Dr. Lipoff says, but that should only take a few minutes. Again, due to that anesthetic, you shouldn’t feel much discomfort here.
As with any procedure, the recovery time for mole removal varies. You should feel back to normal within days to weeks, depending on whether or not you got stitches.
When it comes to overall healing time, you’re looking at anywhere from a few days to a few weeks based on how big the mole was and how deep your doctor had to cut, Dr. Lipoff says. If you had stitches put in, they’ll usually come out in two weeks, Dr. Goldenberg says.
You shouldn’t experience any severe pain as the area heals, but you might deal with soreness or itching, Dr. Conrad says. Regardless of the type of mole removal you had, your doctor should instruct you on how to keep the area as clean and soothed as possible. For patients without stitches, Dr. Goldenberg recommends running a mixture of water and gentle soap over the wound at least once a day, gently patting it dry, then applying a thick ointment like petroleum jelly or an anti-bacterial cream before putting on a fresh adhesive bandage.
If you had stitches, your doctor will recommend that for a few days you keep the area as dry as possible and avoid doing any heavy exercise, Dr. Conrad says. (Both of these factors can throw a wrench into things if you’re super active—be sure to discuss that with your doctor if it worries you.) If you had a pretty quick and easy removal, you should be fine to return to any usual habits like working out the next day, but it’s still smart to run that by your doctor first.
Lastly, know that you’re probably going to have some kind of a scar after mole removal. The size of the scar ultimately depends on the size of your mole and the type of procedure you had done, but this almost always happens with mole removal, Dr. Goldenberg says.
If you’re experiencing pain after your mole removal or you notice that your mole is growing back, call your doctor so they can take another look. And if you got the mole removed in order for it to be biopsied, you should have your results within a week so that you can either put the entire thing behind you or move forward with a treatment plan if necessary.
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