How to remove a mole on a 14 year olds face

[Tigger1]

My Daughter has a mole on her cheek. It really bothers her, she think it makes her look terrible. It seems to be getting smaller as she gets older but is turning a browner. The diameter of it is less a little more than 1/2 cm. I took her to one of the two doctors the family doctor suggested. The one we choose said he would have to cut it out to remove it. He said she should wait until she was older so she would not scare as badly. The family doctor thought he could have burn it out. I made an appointment with the other doctor. My family doctor thought that he would burn it off or use a laser. When I talked to the secretary she said he only cuts them off.


I mostly am worried that it may leave a scare. That would defeat the purpose of having it removed.

My insurance likely will not cover the procedure. I do not want to have an appointment only to be told that they do not remove them for 14 year olds or that they will cut it but it will leave a scare and then be given a $$$$ bill.

Any advice??

 

[phillybeth]

Go to a dermatologist who is also a plastic surgeon. They know the surgical techniques to minimize scarring. Any incision will leave a scar anywhere on the body regardless of the age of the person, but plastic surgeons know how to limit it.

 

[Snowysmom]

My DS had a birth mark removed from his forehead when he was 14. He would grow his bangs long in order to hide the birthmark. We took him to a plastic surgeon. The surgeon did a really good job (he cut it out) and the scar is very minimal. We also used a scar reducing medication, Mederma, to help with the scarring after DS had the stitches out. Vitamin E also does the same thing-just poke a hole in the capsule and squeeze some vitamin E onto the scar. The doctor recommended the Mederma but said vitamin E was OK too so we used the vitamin E after the Mederma was gone. DS is very happy with the results and can now wear his hair however he wants.

 

[DawnCt1]

In addition, never have any plastic/cosmetic surgery in the summer. The scar will discolor (tan) and it will be permanent. After October is the way to go and then apply suncreen after it heals for up to a year.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I wouldn't assume the insurance won't cover it. If you see a dermatologist he might be able to list it as potentially cancerous in the future and recommend it be removed with insurance coverage. At least go in for a consult or two. The teen years are rough and anything we can do to make them easier will be appreciated.

 

[minkydog]

I second the plastic surgeon recommendation. You might be surprised at how good it can look when done by the right doctor. No way would I allow someone to "burn it off" (on her face!) My DS had a small cut on his face a few years ago, very jagged and dirty from a fall. I was beside myself in the ED, worrying about what this was going to look like. It turned out great. In fact, most people don't even know the scar is there!(it was not done by a plastic surgeon either.)

If the mole is bothering her, get a second opinion. It's hard enough to be 14 without feeling like something is making you not look good.

 

[Tigger1]

The doctor I am taking her to does not turn in the insurance paperwork.

Is there a laser type surgery for this? I am thinking that December might be a better time of the year. I want to give her time after school is out of session to heal. Also, no sun tan that time of the year.


Just how do they cut these out? The first doctor said a 1 inch cut. Do they then dig out the lump cluster?

Does anyone know a good doctor in Oklahoma City area?


Thanks Tigger

 

[CarolA]

My Daughter has a mole on her cheek. It really bothers her, she think it makes her look terrible. It seems to be getting smaller as she gets older but is turning a browner. The diameter of it is less a little more than 1/2 cm. I took her to one of the two doctors the family doctor suggested. The one we choose said he would have to cut it out to remove it. He said she should wait until she was older so she would not scare as badly. The family doctor thought he could have burn it out. I made an appointment with the other doctor. My family doctor thought that he would burn it off or use a laser. When I talked to the secretary she said he only cuts them off.


I mostly am worried that it may leave a scare. That would defeat the purpose of having it removed.

My insurance likely will not cover the procedure. I do not want to have an appointment only to be told that they do not remove them for 14 year olds or that they will cut it but it will leave a scare and then be given a $$$$ bill.

Any advice??

NO! I have had three moles removed from my face. I do have a scar from one that was just "burned" off. I then started going to a plastic surgeon. She did cut it off, but with a much better method etc.. It really was not that expensive so ask around and go talk to one!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Anything with the face should be done by a plastic surgeon that specializes in mole removal.

 

[mrsg00fy]

I had three moles cut off my face. It was done by a plastic surgeion. All were thought to be benign beforehand, and therefore, the doctor took a non invasive approach and "shaved" off two of them. The third was a flat mole, so it had to cut.

THe shaved moles left virtually no scarring. You have to really look closely, and even then, most people do not see them. The largest one, on my lower jaw was the size of a dime.

The cut one left a hole. It looks like a pock mark between my eyes. It could have been filled with collagen, but I opted to just leave it alone.

Whatever you decide, please use a plastic surgeon to minimize scarring.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

I had a mole removed from my face right after I finished college (think Madonna for location...upper lip). Anywhoo...I went to a plastic surgeon. I was still under my parent's insurance, but I'm pretty sure it was covered (or at least some of it), because the doctor did send it out to be tested for cancer, just in case, even though it was being technically removed for cosmetic reasons.

The doctor did make a very small incision, and removed the entire mole (i.e. went down into the skin). I now have a VERY faint scar on my upper lip. But, honestly, I was always extremely embarrased by the mole, and would much rather have the tiny scar than the mole. HTH and good luck to your daughter!!!

 

[ReneeA]

I've had lots of moles removed over the years.

Anything on the face, I'd go to a plastic surgeon to have done. My insurance covered it, with no problem. It was even classified as "outpatient surgery", and not an office visit so I didn't have to pay a office visit copay. I've had moles cut out and also scraped off. I prefer to have them cut out, since I've had a few of the scraped ones grow back...and for whatever reason, they grew back bigger the second time around.

The last mole I had removed was a really big one (right smack on my butt cheek ) I kept telling the doctors that it didn't bother me, and I was just going to keep it since DH is the only one who ever got a look at it. However, my OB told me if I didn't go to a Dermatologist and have it removed, he was going to "hack it off" himself. Not the words you really want to hear from a doctor. The Dermatologist sent me to a plastic surgeon due to it's size. They ended up cutting out an inch all the way around it since they suspected cancerous cells. Sure enough, it ended up being pretty severely displastic (pre-cancerous). The doctor did a fabulous job, and you can't even see the scar a year later. (And we are talking 1 1/2" cut)

Check with your insurance company, and get the name of a reputable plastic surgeon from them. There are some out there that specialize in mole removal. I contacted a couple before finding mine that would do removal, but wouldn't send the tissue to a lab for testing. You definitely want to have any mole big enough to be removed tested for cancerous cells (even on a 14 year old).

ReneeA

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

YIKES!

I didn't know moles were so "terrible" and detrimental to appearance.

Not this chick.... if there is no good medical reason, then the moles stay where they are!!!

Good luck to your daughter, and I hope you are both happy with the results.

 

[CarolA]

YIKES!

I didn't know moles were so "terrible" and detrimental to appearance.

Not this chick.... if there is no good medical reason, then the moles stay where they are!!!

Good luck to your daughter, and I hope you are both happy with the results.

In lots of cases there is a good medical reason. If you do not have them removed they should be mointored annually by an MD. Renee's experience is NOT abnormal. My mother has had several "pre cancerous" moles removed and I mointor mine closely. My MD has taken some off that she thought looked "strange", but so far so good!