Achieving a perfectly flawless skin is not only the reason why people would want to have their moles removed. Because it has the tendency to grow into a certain type of cancer, many medical practitioners would recommend its removal. This is perhaps one of the best reasons why many do not necessarily look at the cost of removing mole in Sydney or anywhere else in the world as long as they feel secure in the notion that their moles will not lead to something far more dangerous.

 

What are Moles?

 

Moles are dark pigmentations on the skin that is composed of specialized skin cells known as meloanocytes clumping together. Exactly why melanocytes clump together is still pretty much poorly understood although genetics, ultraviolet irradiation, and hormonal changes have all been entertained as the possible culprits. What is clearly understood is that moles can morph into a malignant melanoma.

 

How Do You Know if your Mole is Malignant or Not?

 

There are a variety of methods to know if your mole is becoming a threat or not. Generally, you need to be very observant of minute changes in your mole such as asymmetry, the presence of irregular borders, changes in the color, and an increasing size to beyond six millimeters. Also, take a look at your mole if it is evolving into a big, irregularly-irregularly-shaped, and elevated black chunk of mass protruding outwards off the surface of your skin. If you note any of these in addition to pain, itching, and bleeding, it is best to seek professional medical help.

 

How Can You Have it Removed?

 

When you visit your doctor, he will try to get a tissue sample off your mole and send it to the laboratory for diagnostic biopsy. Here, they will determine if it is a malignant type of tissue or not. Upon confirmation of its malignant status, you will be briefed by your doctor about the different methods of mole removal which you can choose from.

 

  • In surgical excision, your doctor will create an incision on the skin surrounding your mole to remove it together with a patch of healthy skin. The surgical wound is then closed using sterile sutures.
  • In surgical shaving, your doctor will carefully glide a small sterile blade underneath the mole by cutting around it without necessarily involving the healthy part of the skin. This is perfect for smaller moles as it does not require sutures anymore.
  • In cryosurgery, your doctor will spray on liquid nitrogen into the mole in an attempt to make it very brittle by means of freezing. In some cases where a spray may not be suitable, dipping a cotton ball in liquid nitrogen and applying it over the area can be performed.
  • In electrocoagulation or electro-cautery, you doctor will use a metal rod with a small electric current running through it to burn and destroy the mole tissue.
  • Laser surgery and radiation surgery can also be used to specifically target the affected area with high intensity light beams and radiation particles, respectively.

 

In all of these mole removal procedures, your doctor will be applying an anesthetic on the surface of your skin within the immediate vicinity of the mole. As in any surgery, there will be breakthrough bleeding, pain, and swelling in the area after the procedure. This is not at all uncommon because of tissue injury. In cases where heat or cold has been used, cryosurgery and electrocautery or laser surgery, blistering can occur.

 

Can You Just Hide the Mole?

 

If the doctor finds out that your mole is not malignant and that he recommends against its removal, you can still hide it from public view. There are a variety of skin products available that can conceal moles and other blemishes. There are also mole removal creams that can be applied although their effectiveness pale in comparison to that of surgical mole removal.

 

How Much Will It Cost?

 

Depending on the type of procedure you will choose, the cost of mole removal can range from a few hundred dollars to at most 500 dollars per mole. Laser surgery and cryosurgery will be generally more expensive because of the technology used. It usually depends on the size as well as the location of the mole. Having moles removed from your face will cost you more than moles found hidden in other parts of the body.  Specialists will also charge you more compared to residents or generalists. The location of the clinic you will go to will also spell the difference between cheap and expensive mole removal. Clinics in major urban centers will definitely cost more than those found in rural and suburban areas.

 

Removing your mole may cost you a good portion of your monthly income. However, looking at what it can give you in terms of averting one of the major sources of malignant melanoma, you will consider it a real bargain.