Cosmetic Mole Removal

Cosmetic radiosurgery uses a device such as the Ellman Surgitron to deliver a very high-frequency radiowave to the skin via a delivery device. This results in cutting or fulguration of the skin whilst minimising bleeding allowing detailed surgeries to be performed with limited bleeding. Radiosurgery is the most detailed form of electrosurgery as the high-frequency radiowaves result in less dispersion of heat and therefore less damage to surrounding tissues and less scarring.

At Skin on Forty-Five our team of trained doctors and nurses use the Ellman Surgitron to perform our Radiosurgery.

• Raised Moles: Usually brown circular lumps that appear to sit on top of the skin and are often cosmetically unacceptable to the client. At Skin on Forty-Five, our trained doctors exclude cancerous growths to ensure absolute saftey before removal.
• Skin Tags: Small outgrowths of skin which are often multiple and have a tendency to grow under the breasts, underarms and around the neck. They are quickly and effectively removed with Surgitron.
• Seborrhoeic Keratoses:  “Wisdom warts” Unsightly superficial growths on the top of the skin with a typically ‘cobblestone’ appearance and can vary from deeply pigmented, solitary or multiple. These treat extremely well with Surgitron and where multiple, may need to be treated in several sessions.
• Warts can also be removed with this method. The process of removing warts is different from that of removing skin tags or moles – the skin surface is broken so the base of the wart can be sealed.

Cosmetic radiosurgery is a quick and easy method of removing any unwanted moles or skin lesions with minimal scarring. It is a day procedure in the Skin on Forty-Five clinic taking between 15-60 minutes depending upon the number of lesions you need removed.

Local anaesthetic is injected into the area a few minutes prior to the procedure after careful cleaning. Once confirmation of anaesthesia has been performed the lesion of concern will be removed by using high-frequency radio waves to scrape the mole away. A small raw area is all that is left following surgery. This is dressed and the team provide careful post-operative instructions for you to apply at home. This small area heals just as a graze does – usually over a period of 10-14 days.

No follow up is generally required if a skin tag or mole is removed. Dressing changes are usually required daily for the first week and then 2-3 times a week thereafter if a wart is removed. A small charge to cover the cost of dressings may apply.

• Bruising: can occur as a result of injecting local anaesthetic – this is more likely on the face or about the eyelids. This settles without any lasting problems within a week or so.
• Pinkness: the treated area once healed may be slightly pink or even red for several months – this usually resolves over a period of 4-6 months.
• Infection: is an uncommon complication of this surgical method. It is more likely to occur in the deeper wounds associated with wart removal rather than the site of a skin tag or mole removal. Increasing pain, heat, redness and smelly discharge are signs of infection. If you think an infection is developing please call us and we will arrange an urgent follow-up appointment.
• Scarring: is usually not associated with the removal of moles or skin tags, although infection can result in scarring. Scar tissue can form when warts are removed.
  Delayed healing: This is a very rare complication that can occur and is usually on the lower leg or anterior chest.
• Pigmentation: Again very rarely the removal of the surface of a mole can stimulate the production of pigment. The site of the raised mole heals flat as expected but brown or black pigment can form under the skin for about 3 to 5 months after the surgery. It is often best to leave the pigment as removing it requires breaking the skin surface and therefore a small scar would form.
• Regrowth: Occasionally a skin tag, mole or “barnacle” will re-grow. This usually occurs within a year or so of removing the lesion.
• Incomplete removal: Occasionally a lesion is incompletely removed. This can occur because a small fragment of the lesion remains and cannot be seen at the time of surgery and is not obvious until the lesion has healed. A brief follow up procedure will remove the remaining lesion. The cost for a follow-up procedure is approximately $50.