There are generally 2 reasons to remove moles.
- When there is any doubt about whether the mole might be a Malignant Melanoma
- For cosmetic or mechanical (moles catching in clothing etc) reasons
Will I reduce my chances of melanoma by removing moles?
It is a common misconception that you can reduce the chances of developing Malignant Melanoma by removing normal moles. The chances are in fact greater to develop a Malignant Melanoma in previously normal skin than to develop a Malignant Melanoma in a pre-existing mole.
How are suspicious looking moles removed?
If there is any doubt that a mole might be a Malignant Melanoma the mole must be completely excised and sent to the laboratory for histological evaluation. If it does prove to be a Malignant Melanoma, a wider re-excision is generally necessary.
How are non-suspicious looking moles removed?
Moles removed for cosmetic or mechanical reasons can be removed by a technique called shave excision where the mole is literally shaved flush with the skin. No stitches are needed and the cosmetic outcome is generally better compared to excision with stitching. The mole will routinely still be sent to the laboratory.
Hi Dr Louw
I had a mole removed in 2007 that was Malignant Melanoma. It was done by a plastic surgeon. Last year I was pregnant so I did not go for my routine checkup. I have a lot of moles and are worried that my dr. might miss something. Is it better for me to go to a dermatologist for my checkups? I’m thinking of getting a mole mapping done – would that help me and is that something that you do?
Dear Almare. A dermatologist should examine you regularly….at least once a year. A detailed full body examination is much more important than Mole Mapping.
hi – i am 7 months pregnant – and have a mole on my back which i am convinced is malignant. would you be able to remove this whilst i am pregnant and if so- how long is your waiting period to see you? Also, is your payment upfront or do you claim direct from medical aid? If it is upfront = what is the cost for consultation and removal – and can it be done on the same day? thanks
Dear Tracy. It can be removed during pregnancy. Regarding cost etc please look here.
Hi Dr. Jeanne i have a small mole on my eye lip that is starting to irritate me what do you recomend
If it bothers you a lot, then it can be removed.
Hi, I want to remove a mole on my back. Will it leave a scar? I would like to remove it as soon as possible, do I just phone to make an appointment? Thank you!
Dear Desiree. It will leave a small scar, the size of the mole, but flat. You can just phone for an appointment.
Hi Dr. Jeanne Louw,
I have something called Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra. Just a couple of small ones on my face. count of about 20. I did some research and i think this is best treated with the long pulsed Nd: YAG laser. How much will it cost if i have this procedure done by you?
Thanks,
Mark
Dear Mark. I do remove DPN often. I use very light cautery, but first I treat only one or two DPN to make sure that the patient heals well.
Hi Dr. Jeanne. I have about 6 really small flat (about 2mm in diameter) that appeared on my face when i was about 15 and they have just been there since. little black spots scattered on my face. I was doing research on laser for removal of moles. Is this a good option? How bad will the scaring be and how much will laser cost me?
Kind regards,
Craig
Dear Craig. Laser removal of moles is not generally advised, because when removing a mole with a laser you end up without a sample to send away to the laboratory. However, if the moles you are referring to are actually freckles, then a laser can be used.
Yes they are actually like Freckles, but black… so i wasn’t sure if they are classified as moles?
ok, so that’s good news. and then what would be the chances of scarring? minimal? and what would the cost be for the treatment of the freckles? and then lastly when can i come in to make an appointment? 
thanks for all the help.
Dear Craig. I suggest you come in, so that I can first have a look. As a ballpark idea of cost…a whole face treatment will cost around R1800-R2000. Please phone or email the practice for an appointment.
I have a wart on my face (since birth). it was frozen last year and started growing again this year. since it has started growing I haven’t visited the dermatologist again. I’m a student and work part time and stay a bit far from the centre. I really want it gone because when I’m stressed I pull it, scratch,pick…you name it. do you think a laser removal would be the best option because I doubt this wart can be removed completely with freezing and if so how much will it cost and will it be removed completely first time?
Dear Nomava. I would first have to make sure it is still a wart. The treatment depends on the diagnosis. Laser are not generally used to treat warts.
Hi there,
I have a lot of moles on my face and neck that i want to have removed. they are quite small and are in clusters and I absolutely hate them. i want to have them removed soon but would just like to know, do i need to have them checked at a doctor for cancer before i can have them removed? or does it not matter? thank you.
Dear Bianca. You should have the moles removed by a dermatologist who can evaluate the moles for malignancy before removing them. They should preferably also be sent to the laboratory for histological examination after removal.
Hi. I have quite a few moles that I would like removed. Particularly a couple of big ones. Also some dark spots. I’m on a tight budget. Does the above quote still aply? (8OO rand for 4 moles) if the moles are sent away does that cost more? And how long in advance would I need to make an appointment
Dear Natalie. The quote is a ballpark estimate and does not include the cost of the laboratory. Try and make the appointment a few weeks in advance.
Hi,
I’d like to find out what procedure would be best for removal of a single mole from the nose (not on the bridge, on the soft part of the nose) and I’d also like to enquire what the cost of this procedure would be.
Regards.
Dear Anonymous. It depends on the size and type of lesion. If it is benign and small, then shave excision is an option. This procedure costs in the region of R700. The first step, though, is to make a diagnosis.
This is a message for patients out there who are feeling anxious and scared to have moles removed. I went to see Dr. Louw today and he removed 3 of my moles. I could not believe how quick the whole procedure took and how pain free it was. Mine had been bothering me for years and I finally plucked up the courage to do it…thank you Doctor … I feel so much better now!!
Hi.I have a mole that’s just below the corner of my eye.I would like to have it removed as it is my wedding day in 10 days.what are the chances that the removal could b done immediately and that it will b healed so soon
Dear Za-eemah. Best to not do any surgery just before a big day like that, because you can never be sure how quickly anything will heal.
hi I have a small raised mole on my chin I’d like removed and a few small ones in the neck which catches my clothing, will Gems (Emerald) cover this?
Medical Aids generally do cover it.
Thank you very much for your prompt response!
Hi Dr,
I have a mole that i would like removed for aesthetic reasons. My two concerns are scarring and the the chance that removing the mole may increase the chance of Malignant Melanoma. In regards to the former, which is the removal option that leaves the least scarring: Laser therapy or shave excision? Also, the costs involved?
Your advice is great appreciated.
Dear Anon. Shave excision is the treatment of choice for moles that are not suspicious of Malignant Melanoma. Moles that are suspicious of Malignant Melanoma needs to be excised. Surgery does not increase the chance of developing Malignant Melanoma. It will cost around R800 to have a mole removed. The cost varies a bit depending on the size and position of the mole.
Hi Dr Louw. I have a raised mole on my chin that i would like to remove. Im worried about scarring and time. If i had it removed on a Friday – would it be healed by the following Friday? How would you remove it?
Dear Sheri. Most likely by a technique called shave excision. It takes around 2 weeks or so to heal up.
Dear Dr. Louw,
I have been toying with the idea of having a mole removed for the longest time and I think I must just bite the bullet and do it now. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it, I just really hate where it is. It is quite high up on my left breast and I hate how it looks when I wear a low cut top. My biggest concern is scaring. The mole is about 1cm, but it is not raised at all. Do you think you would be able to shave this mole or cut it out and what do you think the scaring would be like? I realize this is probably hard to say without seeing me first but any advice I would really appreciate. Also again I know this is hard to say without seeing me but how much do you think this procedure would cost?
Thank you so much for your help, I look forward to hearing back from you.
Kind regards
Kate.
Dear Kate. If the mole is completely flat it can be removed by limited excision. It would cost around R600-R800 or so to remove. In general the resultant scar will be less noticeable than the mole itself, especially if you hate the way it looks now. If the lesion is not a real mole, then laser therapy is another option.
Hi Dr, I made an appointment to see you next week in this regard, I have a little “mole” or whatever this is between my nose and my upper lip. I have however tried to remove this many years ago and went to various dermatologist and it was treated as a wart by using Liquid nitrogen and scraping it off, as soon as they do something, then almost immediately it would appear again, and its been there for most of my adult life, but I definitely never had it before.
Hi
I would like to remove my moles. I was born with one on my nose, which grew bigger as I grew up and two on the side of my nose, which grew into one. How much will it cost? I am so scared to removed it because people always say it could be cancerous.
Please help?
Hi,
I have had a mole removed from my top lip about 7 years ago. It has since re-appeared. Should I be concerned about this and would it be safe to remove it again?
Hi i want to have moles removed in my neck and face…I would like to know if this procedure will be covered by my medical aid,discovery and if not how much will it cost…once the moles are removed how long will it take for the marks to go away..Thank you
Dear Cheryl. Medical aid normally covers the procedure. The exact cost is difficult to say without seeing you, but it should be around R800 for about 4 moles. How quickly the marks fade, depends mostly on how you tend to heal, but in general a few days.