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What is
a mole?
Many
people
refer to a
mole as
any dark
spot or
irregularity
in the
skin.
Doctors
use
different
terms. But
skin marks
such as
these are
not
treated
the same
way moles
are and
are not
discussed
here:
-
Birthmarks
-
Abnormal
blood
vessels
(hemangiomas)
-
Keratoses
(benign
or
precancerous
spots,
which
appear
after
about
age
30
years)
What
causes
moles?
-
Some
people
are
born
with
moles.
Other
moles
appear
over
time.
-
Sun
exposure
seems
to
play
a
role
in
the
development
of
moles
and
may
even
play
a
role
in
the
development
of
atypical,
or
dysplastic,
moles.
-
The
role
of
heredity
cannot
be
underemphasized.
Many
families
have
a
type
of
mole
known
as
dysplastic
(atypical),
which
can
be
associated
with
a
higher
frequency
of
melanoma
or
skin
cancer.
Benefits
of Mole
Removal
There are
various
benefits
to this
procedure
including:
-
Removing
protruding
moles
that
get
in
the
way
of
shaving.
-
Reducing
skin
irritation
that
can
occur
when
certain
moles
rub
against
clothing
or
jewelry.
-
Achieving
smoother,
clearer
skin.
-
Enhancing
appearance
and
improving
self-esteem.
-
Most
importantly,
if a
mole
is
suspected
to be
pre-cancerous
early
on,
it
can
often
be
completely
removed
before
it
causes
a
serious
health
risk.
How is
Mole
Removal
Performed?
Before the
mole is
removed,
the area
is
cleansed
and then
an
anesthetic
is applied
to numb
the area.
The type
of mole
being
removed
determines
what
technique
is used.
Depending
on the
technique,
stitches
may or may
not be
used.
For
excision
of the
mole, the
surgeon
uses a
scalpel to
cut the
mole and a
border of
good skin
surrounding
it. The
surgeon
will
determine
the size
of this
border.
Stitches
are placed
either
deep
within the
skin, or
on the
upper
surface,
depending
on the
depth of
the
excision.
For the
procedure
that
involves
no
stitches,
a scalpel
is used to
shave the
mole
allowing
it to be
flush with
the
surrounding
skin. Then
using an
electrical
instrument,
the doctor
cauterizes
the area
to stop
any
bleeding.
Topical
antibiotic
is applied
to reduce
risk of
infection.
Shaving
removes
the
protruding
surface of
the mole,
but it can
leave mole
cells
beneath
the skin
and may
grow back.
Mole
removal
typically
takes less
than an
hour to
perform,
depending
on the
amount of
moles to
be
removed.
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If you need more information or would like to schedule and appointment for a consultation, please click here to contact us or call one of our offices at: (212) 285-1110 New York
(516) 512-7616 Long Island |
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