Why remove a mole?
Medical reason: a lesion considered atypical by the dermatologist (size, borders, colour, evolution — the "ABCDE" rule) or a lesion that changes, bleeds or itches. Excision allows complete analysis under the microscope, the only examination that establishes the diagnosis with certainty.
Mechanical discomfort: a mole subject to shaving, or rubbing from a collar, strap or belt, and regularly grazed.
Aesthetic request: a visible lesion whose appearance is bothersome, particularly on the face.
Screening itself is the dermatologist's role: they examine the entire skin and establish the indication for excision for lesions that require it.
The procedure
Local anaesthesia, as day surgery, for a procedure lasting 15 to 30 minutes.
Scalpel excision of the entire lesion, with a fine margin of healthy skin, then closure with sutures adapted to the area.
Systematic histopathological analysis: a removed naevus is always analysed. This is why the destruction of a pigmented lesion by laser, with no possibility of analysis, is not a recommended practice.
The aesthetic result
The path of the incision is planned according to the skin's tension lines and, on the face, according to the aesthetic units, to obtain the most discreet scar possible. Removing a mole leaves a fine scar, generally more discreet than the lesion it replaces, which fades over several months with appropriate sun protection.
Recovery
Recovery is very straightforward: a dressing for a few days, sutures removed around day 5 to 10 depending on the area (or dissolvable), and an almost immediate return to normal activities. The result of the analysis is communicated to you and to your dermatologist.