Mole Removal

Moles are usually just clusters of pigment cells called melanocytes, 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.

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.

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. The area will be measured, mapped, and sometimes photographed before your doctor does the actual removal.

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.