The medical name for moles is Nevi. A mole forms when a cluster of several skin pigment cells joins together rather than being evenly distributed across the surface of the skin. It’s very common for individuals to have a few dozen moles, commonly referred to as beauty marks. These marks can form anywhere on the body, but are most often located on the torso, face, legs and arms. Common forms of moles are evenly shaped, flush or slightly raised above the skin surface, and are uniform in color. The good news is that the majority of moles are harmless, but they still need to be watched for any change in color, shape, and size.
Moles found to be either pre-cancerous or confirmed melanoma can be completely removed with surgery. The three types of surgical mole removal are: Shave Excision is for nevi that are raised above the skin level; Punch Biopsy is for smaller nevi, and Excision Surgery is to entirely cut out the nevi and to use stitches to close the area. Surgical procedures can be performed in the surgeon’s office or as an outpatient in a clinic.
Patients who elect to have their non-malignant moles as a precautionary action, because they do like the appearance of the mole, or because the mole interferes with daily health habits such as shaving, have the option of Laser Removal. The laser removal procedure is ideal for flat or slightly raised moles and may require a few visits to the doctor’s office.
