Moles (Nevus) are dark spots or irregularities found in the skin. They come in various shapes and sizes. Moles can appear anywhere on the skin, in groups, or by themselves. They can be present at birth, or can begin to appear over time. Some moles may be cosmetically bothersome, while other can be dangerous health risks (a melanoma). Mole removal by laser surgery is an effective cosmetic procedure that provides a solution to people wanting to improve their appearance and reduce associated health risks.
What are My Treatment Options?
Although most moles are not a health risk, it is important to have a qualified physician evaluate and remove your unwanted moles. Surgical excision is the most common option for removing a mole. This is often the treatment of choice for deep mole that have to removed and evaluated under a microscope.
When a mole is not considered dangerous then a less invasive treatment can be considered. Laser removal of a mole is very effective and has no associated down-time.
What are the Risks of Mole Removal?
While risks are minimal, possible complication include skin discoloration and scar formation. The risks associated with mole removal also depend upon the technique used. When a dangerous mole is surgically removed there may be a small scar. Mole removal with a laser will cause temporary redness and rarely a scar.
What is a Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops when melanocytes (the cells that give the skin its tan or brown color) start to grow irregularly. Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can then spread to other areas of the body Ref: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/melanoma-skin-cancer/about/what-is-melanoma.html).
Good news! Detecting melanoma has never been easier or more accurate. Dr. Melamed at West LA Medical & Skincare now offers the DermTech Smart Sticker as an option when evaluating suspicious moles. Using a painless adhesive we can now collect skin cells and test for genes indicative of melanoma—before cutting. And the best part is that this seemingly simple sticker is actually a powerful technology that allows us to look 10,000x closer into a cell for 99% accuracy.
Finding melanoma early has never been easier. Book your appointment today. No excuses!
If you have any questions about mole removal or any other procedure or would like to make an appointment please schedule and Online Appointment or call toll free 1-88-88-West LA (310-473-1734).
