Moles
As we age moles often change, becoming raised and/or changing in colour. Sometimes, hairs will develop on the mole. Some moles will disappear naturally over time while others do not. Most moles are benign which means that they will not cause any harm to you. If the mole changes in colour, texture, height, shape or begin to bleed this could be an indication that this mole is changing from benign to something that may be harmful in the long run . If our physicians are concerned about a mole a small sample will be sent for a biopsy. Safety is always our first concern.
If we have determined that the mole is indeed low risk then we discuss the options for removal and what the skin will look like after the treatment. There will most likely be some mark on the skin, we will discuss with you what your lesion is liable to look like. A small amount of local freezing may be used to make the treatment comfortable.
We generally use a CO 2 laser to remove moles. This is a onetime treatment with instant results for the majority of lesions. Post-laser care instructions will be provided to the patient. These usually involve keeping the lesion covered with polysporin and if needed a Band-Aid and avoiding soaking the area in water for the next 5- 10 days. Care must be taken to shield the area form the sun and sun screen applied to the area once it has healed over.