SKIN TAG, LESION, MOLE REMOVAL
WHAT IS A SKIN TAG, LESION, OR MOLE?
Skin lesions are spots, lumps or patches on the skin that appear different from the surrounding skin. A lesion can be flat or raised, dark or light, rough or smooth. Most lesions are harmless and appear because of normal skin development, aging or long-term sun exposure.
Skin cancer is a type of lesion which can continue to grow and potentially cause damage to the surrounding tissue or spread to other parts of the body. The most common types of skin cancer are melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Skin cancer ALWAYS requires treatment.
Other skin lesions may not cause serious health issues, but they can be unsightly, uncomfortable, inconvenient, or simply unwanted. Many of these can be removed quickly and with minimal scarring.
Moles are skin growths made up of cells that produce color (pigment). A mole can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups. Most people get a few moles during their first 20 years of life. They are usually brown in color but can be blue, black, or flesh colored. Most moles are harmless and don't cause pain or other symptoms unless you rub them, or they bump against something.
Skin tags are small, soft pieces of skin that stick out on a thin stem. They most often appear on the neck, armpits, upper trunk, and body folds. The cause of skin tags is not known. They are harmless.
WHAT IS A CONCERNING MOLE OR LESION?
If you have any moles that are larger than most, have smudgy or irregular edges, are uneven in color or have some pinkness, you should see a doctor and get them checked. Any moles that appear suddenly in adulthood should be checked. The most concerning sign, however, is a changing mole.
Some things to look at when evaluating a mole:
Asymmetry–one half of the mole or lesion does not match the other
Border–the edges of a mole or lesion are irregular, ragged, blurred
Color–the color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black or sometimes have patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
Diameter–the mole or lesion is larger than six millimeters across (about 1⁄4 inch or the size of a pencil eraser); or
Evolving–the mole is changing in size (enlarging), shape or color.
WHY REMOVE A MOLE OR SKIN TAG?
Most moles and skin tags don't require treatment. But sometimes people want to remove them for cosmetic reasons or because they cause discomfort when they rub against clothing or get caught in jewelry.
Check with your doctor if you have a mole that different from your other moles. He or she may need to do a biopsy of the mole, which means removing the mole and sending it to a lab to check it for cancer.
WHAT IS SKIN TAG/MOLE REMOVAL?
Cosmetic mole or skin tag removals, which are different than mole biopsies, are designed to completely remove moles from the skin in a way that minimizes scarring and creates a smooth, discreet finish. Moles are categorized as brown or black skin growths caused by the clustering of skin pigment cells, called melanocytes. They can be raised or flat and occur anywhere on the body.
This process is virtually painless for nearly all of our clients thanks to local anesthetic, and your recovery requires zero downtime. Best of all, removing a mole is a permanent solution to this common cosmetic concern when performed by a skilled and experienced doctor.
While you should continue to visit your dermatologist regularly to keep your skin healthy and check on any remaining moles, the growths targeted during this quick and easy treatment should not regrow, leaving your skin looking better than ever and giving you a significant confidence boost.
Any mole, skin tag, cherry angioma, sun damage can be removed using plasma it can take up to 3 sessions to remove completely depending on size and texture. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
WHAT ARE THE RISKS INVOLVED WITH MOLE AND BLEMISH REMOVAL?
Mole removal is a very simple procedure and considered very minor surgery. Thousands of clients have moles and blemishes removed each year without any problems or complications. Risks involved include infection, inflammation, scarring, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation.
HOW DO YOU REMOVE MOLES AND SKIN TAGS IN YOUR OFFICE?
We prefer the plasma pen removal method.
Plasma is comprised of an ionized gas charged with equal amounts of negative and positive charged electrons. When it gets close to skin tissue it creates a small electrical arc, similar to a very small bolt of lightning, it evaporates any liquid in the skin at the exact point of contact and burns the lesions on impact. The plasma pen will deliver millisecond pulses of energy to the skin which converts into thermal (heat) energy.
One of the reasons that a Plasma treatment is quickly becoming so popular for removing skin lesions is because the treatment is quick, very effective and leaves no scarring or massive healing time associated with other removal methods, such as surgery, advanced electrolysis, and cryotherapy.
Another method of removal for certain lesions is cutting them off. Skin tags may be snipped off with a scalpel or surgical scissors.
WHAT DO I EXPECT AFTER TREATMENT?
You may notice some mild tenderness in the treated area for the first 1-4 days after your mole removal. This is normal and typically subsides as the skin begins to heal. You should plan to keep the treatment site clean and covered with a bandage for 1-2 days to protect the area. After this time, you can remove the bandage and continue to keep the area clean and moisturized. Your provider will want to inspect the area 1-2 weeks after your appointment to check on your healing progress.
DOES THIS PROCEDURE HURT?
The procedure may hurt a little, but the provider will numb the area with an anesthetic before he or she begins. If the procedure causes any bleeding, your doctor may apply a medicine that helps stop the bleeding. Then he or she will put a bandage on it. These procedures usually leave no scars or marks.
CAN YOU REMOVE MOLES AND SKIN TAGS AT HOME?
Home remedies, such as using nail clippers to cut off skin tags or lotions and pastes to remove moles, may cause bleeding, infection, and scarring. And it's important that your doctor check moles before they are removed. It's much safer to have a provider remove your moles and skin tags for you.
WILL I BE LEFT WITH SCARS?
Skin tags and blemishes likely will not leave a scar. Moles are usually larger and have a higher chance of leaving a scar. However, any scars will fade dramatically over the first year following the procedure. When a mole is removed, the skin surface is damaged and therefore needs to heal. A scab will form which will usually heal within a couple of weeks if it is treated with care. There will then be some inflammation of the area, but this will settle down and disappear within a few weeks. How noticeable a scar is largely depending on the size and location of the mole, but essentially scars are minimal.
AM I AN IDEAL CANDIDATE?
If you’re unhappy with the appearance of a mole, skin tag or blemish and have had any concerning moles evaluated by a dermatologist, this treatment option is safe and effective for most patients regardless of age, skin type, or skin tone.
Male and female patients have benefitted from quick, painless removal on any part of the body with zero downtime and easy, straightforward recovery time. If you have questions about your candidacy, our provider can help you determine whether this treatment is right for you during your consultation.