Mole Removal By Toronto's Perferred Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Stephanie Power

Daily sunscreen use and minimizing UV exposure are recommended to protect your skin from skin cancer. You should also check your skin regularly for any signs of cancer and see your family physician or dermatologist regularly for professional screening.

When monitoring your moles for skin cancer or concerning changes, an easy way is to follow the ABCDEs:n•tA Stands for asymmetrical shapen•tB stands for irregular bordern•tC stands for change in colorn•tD stands for large diametern•tE stands for evolving size, shape, or colornIn order to most effectively detect skin cancer, you should check yourself regularly so that you can familiarize yourself with the normal appearance of your moles. It may also be helpful to take serial photographs to monitor for changes. Skin cancer is most treatable early on, so you should see your family physician or dermatologist urgently if you have medical concerns about your moles.

Removal of moles that are medically concerning may be covered by provincial insurance after assessment by your physician. If there are no suspicious findings and your moles are considered purely cosmetic, it is unlikely that your cosmetic removal procedure will be covered. However, we encourage each patient to check with your provider and undergo assessment with your regular physician prior to a consultation for cosmetic removal.

Scarring is a risk of any surgical procedure, but there are steps you can take to reduce the appearance of a scar after surgery. Cosmetic mole removal is performed meticulously and the aftercare is equally important. Washing the site daily with soap and water followed by light application of Vaseline is recommended during early healing. Following stitch removal, scar massage is important to desensitize the scar and to break up immature scar tissue. Sunscreen is important, particularly over the first year, to lower risk of pigmentation changes. Dr. Power will make specific recommendations for you based on your procedure and risk factors for scarring. Silicone gel or sheeting and steroid injection may be further options to reduce scarring.

There is a risk of recurrence following cosmetic mole removal, particularly after shave excision. If a mole recurs after cosmetic removal, repeat excision may be an option. The technique may vary depending on your specific case. If you are considering cosmetic mole removal, contact our office to schedule consultation with Dr. Stephanie Power.