An unappealing mole on a visible area of your body can significantly hamper your self-esteem and even have ramifications in your social life. Fortunately, Dr. Natalie Driessen can remove most nonmalignant moles. In most cases, it can even be done in a single outpatient appointment.
Some small moles residing in the shallow layers of the dermis can be shaved away and smoothed to match the surrounding skin. Your cosmetic surgeon can then cauterize the area to prevent the mole from redeveloping in the dermal layers. If a small mole extends deep into the dermis, she might use a special laser to penetrate the deeper mole cells.
It could take a few days for your skin to heal. During this time, you might need to wear a light bandage over the area and apply topical antibiotic cream. It’s best to avoid prolonged sun exposure during this time as a sun burn could cause other potential complications.
If you have a mole that penetrates deep into the dermis, it might need to be excised with a scalpel. Then the surrounding skin will be pulled in to tighten the area. This type of incision might need sutures or another closure method. In case like this, the recovery time might be longer. Regular bandage changes and topical antibiotic cream might be a needed to prevent infection. Your surgeon will explain any unique aftercare instructions. If the incision sight required sutures, you will likely need to schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor the healing process and possible suture removal.
While your skin is healing, it’s important to stay hydrated. You should abstain from applying things to the skin in the area, including makeup, exfoliation cream or other products.
If you live in the Palm Desert, California, area and you have an unappealing mole that needs removal, you should call 760-773-6616 to schedule a consultation at Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Specialists.