Surgical removal of a mole

There are many methods of removing a mole, the most common is surgical. Let's consider the features of the procedure, indications for its implementation and possible consequences.

A mole is a skin neoplasm. Its color (from light brown to black) depends on the number of melanocytes. Nevi are hereditary and can appear throughout life. If pigment cells are in the deep layers of the skin, then convex moles are formed, if melanocytes are on the surface, then flat.

Such skin growths need to be monitored. If they are large or have an unusual shape, you should see a dermatologist. Nevi up to 5 mm with smooth contours and uniform color are not dangerous and, as a rule, do not require removal. But their main danger is that they can degenerate into malignant formations - melanoma. Such formations are subject to urgent removal - excision.

Surgical removal of a mole is the most common and relatively cheap method of treatment. It is suitable for the destruction of large and deep skin formations, but has a number of features.

Advantages:

• High efficiency – allows you to remove a mole in one procedure.
• The minimum number of contraindications and the low cost of the operation make it accessible to many patients.
• Low risk of recurrence – since the nevus is completely removed, a repeat procedure is not required.
• Safety – the procedure is carried out in a hospital setting under strict medical supervision.

Flaws:

• Long-term wound healing and recovery – after the operation you will have to give up sunbathing and solarium for a long time.
• Scars – the larger the wound surface, the higher the risk of scarring. In particularly severe cases, keloid scars may develop.

Surgery may be necessary if the mole is larger than 5 mm, has an uneven color, uneven edges, and an irregular shape. The scalpel is used on nevi that are constantly injured, cause discomfort, or cause cosmetic inconvenience. If they are present, you should consult a dermatologist who will determine the type of skin growth and the method of its removal.

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Indications

Any operation, regardless of its complexity, has its own indications. Excision is most often performed when there is a suspicion of malignant degeneration. Surgical removal of a mole is necessary if it:

• Increased in size.
• Has deep penetration into the skin.
• It broke into several pieces.
• Started to bleed.
• It causes painful sensations and is often injured.
• Causes aesthetic inconvenience.

Despite the reasonable cost, excision is quite traumatic and can leave scars. But this method also has its advantages over more modern technologies: laser removal and cryodestruction. After surgery, the obtained materials can be examined for histology.

Excision prevents recurrence of skin growths, as healthy tissue areas are captured. The procedure should only be performed in specialized medical institutions, not in beauty salons.

Preparation

Regardless of the medical indications, preparation is carried out before the operation. First of all, the doctor explains the essence of the procedure, its possible complications and the nuances of the recovery period. After that, the patient takes a place on the couch. The neoplasm and the skin around it are treated with a disinfectant solution.

Pain relief is mandatory to avoid discomfort during excision. Most often, these are drugs with lidocaine (Anestacon, Xylocaine, Baktin, Zalaktin-L). This does not take much time, but reduces the blood flow to the operated area. If there is a risk of bleeding, then Epinifrine is added to the local anesthetic.

After this, the mole and some healthy tissue are excised using a scalpel. The resulting wound is treated with a special solution and stitches are applied. The tissues obtained during the operation are sent for histological examination. At the end of everything, the doctor gives recommendations for skin care.

Surgical mole removal technique

Getting rid of nevi on the face and body is not only a cosmetic procedure, but also an effective method of preventing oncology. Surgical removal is used in the case of fighting deep and extensive growths or moles that have several segments. This is the only effective way to remove large neoplasms.

The technique for surgically removing a mole depends on its location and size. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and takes 40-60 minutes.

• The method of cutting off without suturing - using a scalpel, the growth is cut off slightly below the skin level. If bleeding occurs, then to stop it, the wound is cauterized and a local antibiotic is applied. A bandage is applied and recommendations are given for further skin care.
• Removal with suturing – used to treat flat or dark moles. The doctor cleans the skin of the neoplasm and anesthetizes the surgical surface. Not only the mole is excised with a scalpel, but also the surrounding tissues. Based on the depth of the operation, sutures are placed on the upper or deep layers of the skin. Self-absorbing materials that do not require removal are used for this.

The healing rate usually takes 1-2 weeks. During this period, it is necessary to protect the operated area from any external influences.

Contraindications

Surgical removal of a mole is a cosmetic procedure, the advantage of which is the absence of absolute contraindications. This is explained by the fact that the operation is carried out on a separate area of the body. But there are a number of relative contraindications, let's consider them:

• Presence of infectious diseases.
• Acute inflammatory processes.
• Exacerbation of chronic diseases.
• Pregnancy and lactation period.
• Exacerbation of herpes.

In the presence of chronic diseases and after their relief, additional tests are mandatory. This helps to avoid complications and speeds up the recovery process.

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Consequences

Any operation can cause serious consequences. When using a scalpel on a nevus and applying stitches, the following pathologies are possible:

• Scarification – during the operation, not only the nevus is removed, but healthy tissues are also affected. Based on this, the size of the scar depends on the size of the skin growth and the professionalism of the surgeon. Over time, the scars become lighter, which makes them less noticeable.
• Keloid scars – most often occur in patients who have a tendency to form them. They appear after suturing large wounds.
• Recurrence – a repeated skin defect is possible if the doctor did not completely remove the mole. Regeneration is not excluded in the case of melonoma-hazardous formations.

The likelihood of the above-described consequences is significantly reduced when treating moles with safer methods.

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Complications

Surgical methods of mole removal, unlike alternative ones, have a high risk of complications. As a rule, these are painful sensations at the site of the operation, the appearance of scars. The procedure is not recommended for the face and other sensitive areas of the skin.

Most often, scars remain after surgery. This complication is inevitable, since cosmetic sutures are applied to the skin. Surgery is used if the mole is located on an inconspicuous part of the body and the scar can be hidden.

Another complication is subcutaneous hemorrhage. Slight redness around the removed tissues, disappears in 7-10 days. Since the wound remains open after excision, there is a risk of infection. All patients are warned about this, and it is this factor that is the reason for choosing less traumatic methods.

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Rehabilitation period

After the removal of a mole, as after any surgical operation, the patient will have a rehabilitation period. This involves special care for the wound surface. A wound forms at the site of the nevus, its size depends on the diameter of the removed material. Gradually, it is tightened with a scab, which falls off in 1-2 weeks. Young pink skin appears at the site of the wound and it requires proper care.

Skin care features:

• Do not get the wound wet for 4-5 days, but maintain hygiene around the operated area.
• Do not touch or tear off the crust that covers the wound, as the healing process is taking place underneath it, and if disrupted, this can cause a large scar.
• Once the crust falls off and pink skin appears underneath, cover it from the sun.

After about a month, the skin where the mole was will take on normal pigmentation. Painful sensations may still occur for 1-2 months. Complete healing depends on the individual characteristics of the body, but on average it takes 2-6 months.

Scar care

Skin healing after getting rid of a mole takes 2-4 weeks. During this period, it is necessary to treat the wound, and in the future, care for the scar will be required. After the operation, the patient may be prescribed wound-healing drugs with antibiotics and mandatory skin treatment with brilliant green or potassium permanganate. If the operation was successful and the doctor's recommendations are followed in full, then there will be no undesirable consequences, that is, complications in the form of infection and bruising.

Within 5-10 days, a crust appears on the skin, which is replaced by young pink skin. Such areas should be protected from negative factors, especially from the sun. If it is impossible to hide the wound, then use sunscreen with a high protection level before going outside. If you leave the skin unprotected, pigment spots may appear on it.

Surgical removal of a mole very often leaves scars and cicatrization. In most cases, they resolve on their own, but if this does not happen, then the skin needs help. Natural cocoa butter or a silicone patch (used only as prescribed by a doctor) will do for this. If this does not give the expected result, then you should contact a cosmetic surgeon. After treatment, carefully examine your moles, especially if the removal was due to constant trauma to the nevus. Make sure that no changes occur.

Sick leave after surgical removal of a mole

Getting rid of nevi involves surgery and a long recovery period. Sick leave after surgical removal of a mole depends on its location and size, the amount of work done. As a rule, patients are given leave from work for 1-2 weeks.

If the mole was large and stitches were applied, the patient needs to go to have the wound bandaged and, after it has healed, to have the stitches removed. The tissues obtained during the operation are sent for histology. Therefore, during the sick leave, the doctor familiarizes the patient with the results of this study. If there is evidence of degeneration of the skin formation, the patient is registered to monitor the dynamics of moles and their treatment.