Why Mole Removal by a Plastic Surgeon?

Moles are benign tumors.  While Marilyn Monroe may have penciled hers in, moles are not pretty.  Plastic surgeons spend a great amount of time removing moles in an aesthetically sensitive way.

Moles are just one of the “things” that grow on the skin.  These things are named “lesions” by plastic surgeons until they are removed and examined under the microscope.  Other benign lesions include seborrheic keratoses, senile angiomas, warts, and skin tags.  Skin cancers include basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas as well as melanomas.

There is no question that dermatologists and family doctors, in addition to plastic surgeons, can capably remove moles.  However, removal can be disfiguring, with improperly oriented scars, visible suture tracks or point marks, or white depressed scars.  While we can not promise a perfect result and an invisible scar, as a plastic surgeon, Dr. Perry uses a variety of tricks to give the best possible scar.  These tricks include orienting the scar along the best wrinkle lines, lifting the skin to decrease tension, closing the skin in several layers, and using meticulous suture or glue technique on the skin.

If you have a mole you would like removed, feel free to schedule a consultation.  If you just want a “body check” to make sure your skin growths are normal, then I would recommend seeing a dermatologist.  If the dermatologist feels you need a growth removed, then you can call me for a consultation.