Mole removal? Share your experiences please

[dismom2]

lemme ask a dumb question... to those that have had them removed... what caused you to remove them?? I feel like the mole queen, I have tons of tiny ones literally everywhere and one on my hip (like the size of a pencil eraser that I call fish bait.. long story!) but have never thought of removing them... am I missing something??

My doctor told me to have two removed because she was worried about them being or becoming canerous (not sure why..?). So, I went to the dermatologist and had them cut off. I have also had a couple skin tags removed. One was cut off, and one was frozen off---these were in area's that really bothered me-- where my bra strap rubbed. I don't have any more......yet. If I get more, I will have them removed, too.

 

[dismom2]

That's good to know. I am a total wimp too which is why I chickened out the last time I was supposed to have it removed.

What helps me is closing my eye's so I don't ever see the needle. It felt like he just put the needle in just under the skin a little (not all the way in, like when you get a shot ....I may be wrong, but that's what it 'felt' like) and it took effect so quickly that he started cutting the mole off right away. It really was quick and easy. Now, going to the dentist.....I'm still a big baby with that shot!!!

 

[Macca1111]

This particular one I wish I didn't have removed now because the scar looks worse than the mole did (which was a flat mole, not very raised at all)

That's how I feel - we removed it because it was changing shape and so potentially cancerous, but that meant he had to dig the whole thing out. The doctor stitched it up and it seemed fine, but it was on my chest and couldn't help stretching. It's an eye-shaped inch-long scar now with the little stitch marks, and I hate it. If I had left it alone it would have disappeared on it's own ( I do that, we know now, that's why they thought it looked harmful) However, that was with my family physican, and not a dermatologist. I'm planning on going to a derm this summer because my birthmark has gotten weird, and it's on my behind so I'm not too worried about a scar there. I can't see it at least. Good luck with yours!

 

[Macca1111]

lemme ask a dumb question... to those that have had them removed... what caused you to remove them?? I feel like the mole queen, I have tons of tiny ones literally everywhere and one on my hip (like the size of a pencil eraser that I call fish bait.. long story!) but have never thought of removing them... am I missing something??

I just wanted to add on about yours...I'm a moley person too. The main reason to remove them is if 1) they're in an annoying location/bothering you (bra straps, underware line, somewhere you keep catching them) this is generally for the moles that stick out above the surface of the skin. Or 2) if they change shape, color, or do anything else strange, they may be potentially cancerous and should be removed. If you leave them alone, and they are cancer, it can spread and become full out skin cancer or lead to other cancer development. That's the important bit for you (and me too) - keep tabs of your moles and make sure that they're not changing drastically in appearance. It's hard when you have a lot, but it's important to make sure you don't miss potential skin cancer.

 

[Sleepy]

I have a mole on my chest that I really hate. I have had it checked by a dermatologist who said it wasn't dangerous .......

Has anyone tried a "mole remover"? I saw something at the health food store that claimed to remove moles.

First of all, my suggestion is to never use an "at home" remedy for something like a mole. This is not an everyday wart.

Second advice is to never take a docs word that something "isn't dangerous". It very well might not be, but how do you know for sure if you tried to get rid of it on your own? SOmething non-cancerous always has potential to turn cancerous and things that look non-cancerous can most certainly be cancerous. Not trying to scare, just being realistic. Look at how many people are misdiagnosed daily by docs who have reassured them that they were fine and they find out they have something really wrong.

Third advice........I recommend ALL moles removed be sent to the lab for testing. This way you know for sure it was not cancerous.

My moles have been removed by razor and always sent to the lab to ensure they were not cancerous.

 

[floridalaurie]

I went to the dermatologist to have a skin tag removed. He did a full body scan and found 8 moles to remove. It was done with novacaine and I didn't feel a thing. 1 of them was on my shoulder and and required a few stitches. I do have minor scars but at least I know that they weren't cancerous.

 

[kldmom2000]

I worked as a clinical assistant to a dermatologist and also had 6 "suspicious" moles removed myself. First, if your dermatologist deems it to be benign before even surgically removing it, YOU may be responsible for the cost as it would be considered cosmetic surgery... so double check and see if they are going to bill it as such. There is always a potential though for any mole to become dysplastic (malignant) so that's why they recommend checking all new and existing moles for changes....

Next, I don't believe anything you buy over the counter would remove a mole....if that were the case, dermatologists would be prescribing it

The removal is as others have described... not that bad. They will first inject the area with lidocaine to numb it and it contains epinephrine that will limit the bloodiness. Next, depending on how large the mole is, the MD will use a scalpel (or a biopsy punch if it's very small) and cut deep into the skin to make sure they get the root. If it's large enough to require sutures, that will be done next. Usually the sutures stay in for 7-10 days on the body and up to a week on the face. Sometimes your MD may use the dissolvable ones so that they'll fall out/dissolve on their own, otherwise, you return to the office to have them taken out and get your pathology report if it was billed as a suspicious lesion and they sent it out to pathology. The aftermath is easy... there may be MINIMAL discomfort, but it's easily remedied with Tylenol.... it's really no biggie.

There will be scarring. I have 6 scars now... but happier to have scars than suspicious moles Also make sure you know what kind of work your derm does if you're doing this mainly for the way it looks now.... I worked for 2 dermatologists.... the woman had a background in plastic surgery so she was meticulous in her work... very minimal scarring.... the man (who was an excellent diagnositician) was very sloppy in his closures.... tying the sutures in knots very tightly that the skin would overlap and then heal that way as a bump with lots of scarring

Good luck to you in whatever you do.....

 

[flying_babyb]

I would get them removed at the doctor. It dosent hurt, I have had two taken off on my arm. Its a little scar but its better than the mole. I hear that facial moles HURT! Anyone know?

 

[MoniqueU]

I had one I think they froze off or used something like that, no scalpel no real pain, just gone, I don't think I have a scar.

 

[Niagara2]

My DH has his frozen off. I wonder why it is done that way sometimes vs. the cutting off?
I once went to a dermotologist who wanted to freeze off every age spot I had. I guess my insurance covered that and she saw $$$$! I saw that smoking liquid and said no thank you!

 

[kldmom2000]

My DH has his frozen off. I wonder why it is done that way sometimes vs. the cutting off?
I once went to a dermotologist who wanted to freeze off every age spot I had. I guess my insurance covered that and she saw $$$$! I saw that smoking liquid and said no thank you!

Liquid nitrogen is used on pre-cancerous lesions.... it CAN treat SOME basal cell cancers if they're small enough. Liquid nitrogen can never be used on any squamous cell (squamous is the under layer of skin in which the lesion has gotten deeper than the upper layers) and most certainly never a melanoma or mole suspected to be dysplastic (malignant/melanoma).

 

[Disney Ella]

Is it a flat mole or one of those ugly dangling ones? I had a big dangling one removed from the back of my neck and it was just cut off, no digging required. I mentioned that it rubbed against my clothes the removal was covered by insurance. I was expecting to have a scar, but DH told me that he couldn't see one when I asked him to look. I didn't get novocaine. The dermatologist just sliced that thing off. It hurt for a few seconds, but the pain wasn't bad.

 

[kirkbenoit]

I went to the dermatologist for a skin tag removed. He did a full body scan and found 8 moles to remove. It was done with novacaine and I did not feel a thing. One of them was on my shoulder and needed and some stitches. I have some minor scars, but at least I know they are not cancerous. moleremovalguide.com

 

[mjkacmom]

Ds13 had an eraser sized mole on his belly. The doctor told me that it wasn't dangerous, but when he wanted it removed, bring him to the dermatologist. Made an appointment for it to be checked out, doctor said we could do it right there, stuck a needle in it, razored the sucker off, cauterized it, and we were out the door in under 5 minutes.

 

[SandrA9810]

I've only had them removed by a dermatologist. Some Novocaine, slice it off, slap a bandaid on it, send it for biopsy, it comes back negative, life is good.

This was my experience too. I had a large freckle on my neck, that eventually turned into a raised mole. It wasn't largely raised, but it often got pinched when I wore two necklaces.

I think it cost about $125 between the office visit and the lab testing. I have one on my back that I'd like off, but it doesn't really bother me in any way. There's also a few other freckles that annoy me, but it's too costly to change it.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Glad I opened this thread because I was considering passing it over. I'm going for my first cancer screening next Monday and I'm nervous as all get out. There are a few spots they need to look at and I was very nervous about having them removed but you all seem so comfortable with it that I'm feeling less nervous. As for skin tags, I have excellent health insurance and have been told they will NOT cover the expense of removing these because it's strictly cosmetic. They don't become cancerous. I would love to have a number of them removed but don't know if my vanity is worth paying the cash.

 

[Planogirl]

I had one removed from under one of my eyes a few months ago. It was one of those ordinary small flat ones that suddenly decided to grow and grow outward! I hated it.

The dermatologist told me that it was a harmless type so I had to pay out of pocket for it. He did check it in a lab too. He did a nice job - I can't see where it once was and the thing had grown to be pretty big.

 

[indimom]

Hi everyone,
I have a mole on my chest that I really hate. I have had it checked by a dermatologist who said it wasn't dangerous but I hate how it looks and it affects what I can wear.

I would love to hear any advice about how to get rid of it or hear about people's experiences.

Has anyone tried a "mole remover"? I saw something at the health food store that claimed to remove moles.

Thanks in advance!

I've had a skin tag and a regular (raised, pencil eraser sized) mole removed. The skin tag was removed with a tweezers and a medical scissors, I kid you not. The doc then proceeded to tell me I could do it myself at home if I got more. As long as I cleaned the scissors well first. Um. No thanks.
The mole was some sort of "hot" scapel. It burned it shut as it cut, so no bleeding. I did get a pain shot for that one.
I thought both were very simple, painless and well worth doing. Both of mine were done by my GP

I have had a couple removed. In fact I went to the derm on Monday to get a body check and I had a skin tag removed under my eye.

I also need a cyst removed however I am waiting on that.

Just go back and get the thing cut out. You will have scar.

Question for you, if you don't mind. How did it go getting one removed near your eye?? I've got a small skin tag on my eyelid. It's been there awhile. I'm afraid it's going to get bigger (it's in the crease so not real noticable YET). Did it hurt? How did they do it?

it's easy and quick. they sometimes use a laser scalpel for the larger ones but it doesn't hurt either. It can sting a little like any small wound once the novocaine wears off but it's nothing horrible.

i get skin tags taken off every few years and have had a large mole removed from my back. It always worried DH and was right where my bra strap went across so finally had it off.

Ahhh, that must be what they used on mine. I didn't know what it was called.

lemme ask a dumb question... to those that have had them removed... what caused you to remove them?? I feel like the mole queen, I have tons of tiny ones literally everywhere and one on my hip (like the size of a pencil eraser that I call fish bait.. long story!) but have never thought of removing them... am I missing something??

Both of mine were seriously annoying.
The skin tag was on my neck and I kept catching it on my necklaces. That Hurt!
The mole was on my side, under my arm, right where the edge of my bra would rub. It was constantly sore and irritated. Time To Go!
I have more, but none of them bother me, so I just keep an eye on them for changes.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Well I went to the derm tonight. All the spots I was concerned with were nothing. However, she did do two biopsies. One on my back and one on my butt. Didn't realize I'd be dropping my pants for this exam. She also wants to keep an eye on a spot on my nose. So if you're so inclined, please send a good thought, some pixie dust or a prayer my way that these two biopsies come back okay. It would be much appreciated.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Doctor's office called. The one on my back is atypical/pre-cancerous so they need to do further in-office surgery. Thankfully they got me in for this Friday so I don't have to wait any longer. They also indicated it will need stitches so I guess it will be deeper/wider. So glad it's not cancer and it's not the one on my butt. That would be very uncomfortable.