Mole and Skin Tag Removal Options
Moles are skin cell clusters that may appear on any part of the body. They are generally black or brown in color and appear before the age of 20. Moles are generally harmless but if you find them getting in the way when you dress or shave, or if you don’t like the way they make you look, it is best to get the mole removed.
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Bryson Richards provides mole and skin tag removal procedures to patients in Las Vegas, NV, and surrounding communities.
Mole Removal Procedure
Mole removal involves a simple surgical procedure that your cosmetic surgeon can perform in their office or an outpatient department in a hospital. Doctors generally use one of the following methods to remove your mole:
Surgical shave
This involves numbing the area around the mole and then shaving off the mole using a tiny blade. A little of the underlying tissue is also removed. No stitches are necessary. Surgical shave works best for moles that are small in size.
Surgical excision
In this method, after numbing the area, the doctor cuts out the entire mole using a circular blade or a scalpel. Some of the surrounding skin is also taken off, and then the wound is stitched to close the cut.
Skin Tag Removal
Skin tags are small bits of skin-colored tissue that are attached to your skin through a narrow stem. They generally occur in areas prone to friction such as in the armpits and the groin, under the breasts or on the eyelids and neck.
If you find the skin tag uncomfortable or think it mars your appearance, you can have it removed at your surgeon’s office. Skin tag removal may be done in any of the following ways:
- Snipping: After numbing the area, the doctor cuts away the skin tag using special scissors.
- Burning: Using an electrode, the doctor makes an electric current flow through the skin tag which dries and then falls off.
- Freezing: Using super-cold liquid nitrogen, the surgeon freezes the skin tag which falls off after around two weeks of the treatment. This method called cryotherapy is effective, but it may irritate the surrounding skin.
All of these procedures are not entirely pain-free and therefore, doctors use an anesthetic to numb the area before the procedure. If there is any bleeding, they apply medication to stop it and bandage the area. Marks or scars are rare after skin tag removal procedures. Skin tags generally don’t grow back after being removed; however, new ones may appear on other parts of the body.
Removing Moles and Skin Tags at Home
It isn’t safe to cut off skin tags at home with nail clippers. Avoid the use of paste or lotion for mole removal. These home remedies may lead to infection, bleeding or scarring of the area. The safe way to remove the moles and skin tags is to consult a doctor who can examine them, and choose the best mole and skin tag removal procedure.
Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Bryson Richards receives patients from Las Vegas, NV, and nearby areas for mole and skin tag removal.
Contact Las Vegas Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Richards to Schedule a Consultation
If you would like more information on cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada plastic surgeon, Dr. Bryson Richards please contact us at 702.870.7070
Taking new patients from Las Vegas, Bullhead City, Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV and surrounding areas.