Needing a mole removed isn’t exactly the best news you can get from your skin specialist, but it is important to your overall health to stay informed. Moles have the potential of being cancerous and spreading these cancer cells to other parts of your body. By removing cancerous moles, you lessen the risk of receiving this deadly disease in your lifetime. Whether benign or cancerous, moles may also be removed for cosmetic reasons. This may be due to their large, obtrusive size, or perhaps it sits in an awkward spot on your body, such as the middle of your forehead. Those who have undergone mole removal or need a mole removed are often concerned with whether or not the mole will grow back. This would mean another procedure and more money towards its cause. To learn more about mole removal, get in touch with Bakersfield Medspa.
The regrowth of a mole after it has been removed is largely due to the type of procedure used to remove it in the first place. Let’s take a closer look at these procedures.
Surgical Shave
One popular way of removing moles is through shaving the mole off surgically. A local anesthetic is applied to numb the area first so that you don’t feel any pain during the process. Then, your surgeon will use a surgical blade to gently shave off the raised portion of your mole. With this process, no stitches are required and the healing time is very minimal, ranging from one to two weeks.
There’s also little to no recovery procedure or side effects, but sometimes a light pigment of the mole can still be seen on the skin. This process is mostly used for moles that are smaller in size. In addition, because the raised area is just shaved, moles can sometimes grow back with this procedure, as well as any hair that might have grown in the area. However, there’s no real way to predict whether or not this will happen. For moles that are very visible, such as those on the face, this method is preferable as it doesn’t leave any scarring.
Surgical Excision
The best way to ensure that a mole won’t grow back is to remove it by way of excision. In this procedure, both the mole and its roots are removed from the skin. By removing the roots, the surgeon can ensure that every bit of the mole is removed and won’t grow back. Moles that are larger or serve more of a threat of cancer may require this method. While most effective, this procedure does require stitches and may leave a small scar.
Laser Removal
Laser removal of a mole is most commonly used when moles are flat and difficult to shave or cut out. In this procedure, the laser uses light to break up the pigment of the mole. Moles are also very unlikely to grow back with this way of removal.
Feezing
Freezing is another method for moles that aren’t so problematic. In this situation, liquid nitrogen is sprayed onto the mole, causing it to scab and eventually fall off. Unfortunately, this is another method in which the mole may grow back and the process may need to be repeated.
Why Does it Grow Back?
Moles have a higher chance of growing back if some of its cells remain below the skin after removal. It’s like trying to get rid of a certain plant or weed in your garden: if just the plant is removed or weeded, it’s likely to continue growing. You need to remove its roots to really get rid of it for good. This is why a surgical excision is the best method to ensure that no regrowth occurs. Not only does it completely cut off the mole from the skin, but it also removes the subcutaneous cells in the process.
Mole Removal at Bakersfield
If you have a pesky mole that gets in the way of you looking your best, or you think may be cancerous, it never hurts to get it checked out and explore your removal options with a professional. At Bakersfield Medspa, scheduling a consultation is just a click away with our easy online system. Visit Bakersfield to find out more today!
