Most moles, cysts and other blemishes are benign or non-cancerous. Uncommonly, moles can become cancerous growths. It is best to get medical advice  if you notice a mole that suddenly grows quickly, develops an unusual shape, or becomes black or multicolored.

People often want a mole or cyst removed simply because they are unattractive. This simple procedure can be very effective in improving appearance.

Procedure

Most procedures used to remove moles and skin lesions are short and can be performed in-office.

The most common methods of cyst or lesion removal include removing the mole by shave excision or cutting out the entire mole and stitching the area closed (excision).

Benign skin lesions

A shave excision is a simple procedure used to treat protruding benign skin lesions. After the skin is numbed with local anaesthetic the spot is removed with a scalpel. Most of the time, there will be no trace of the surgery if the spot was of the superficial variety. Sometime, there will be a flat white mark left if the root of the spot was deeper. Benign lesions will usually not return once they have been removed.

Cysts or deeper moles

For a deeper lesion, such as a cyst or deeper mole, the plastic surgeon may decide to use the excisional biopsy method, which produces a better cosmetic result. With this procedure, the full depth of the lesion is removed and the wound is sutured.

The scar that results from excision is usually only a thin line, though it can sometimes be more noticeable if the lesion was large or if the healing is abnormal.

With an excision on the face, a combination of very fine sutures on the surface and absorbable sutures under the skin may be used. Coarse hair, which often grows in a mole is best removed by excision of the whole mole.

Skin blemishes

Skin blemishes can be removed with various forms of burning or freezing such as cautery, laser or liquid nitrogen. Your plastic surgeon will inform you as to the best way to remove your unattractive blemishes.