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Medical Author:

Joel Schlessinger, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Mole Removal Preparation

• The area to be treated will be cleansed. Depending on the surgeon's preferences, this will be done either with alcohol, Betadine, or another suitable material.



• Then the area will be numbed with anesthetic, such as lidocaine (Anestacon, Bactine, LidaMantle, Lidocaine Viscous, Lidoderm, Medi-Quik Spray, Xylocaine Jelly, Xylocaine Topical, Xylocaine Viscous, Zilactin-L). This will not usually take much time to accomplish. Many surgeons prefer to wait after numbing to allow the blood flow to the area to diminish (sometimes up to 15 minutes). Interestingly, while most patients use the word Novocain (generic name: procaine) to describe the anesthesia used, this drug isn't used anymore in skin surgeries. There are some medications that can be used if patients are allergic to lidocaine. Additionally, most surgeons prefer to add epinephrine to the lidocaine in order to help stop any bleeding.



• Depending on the size of mole and removal method, a drape may be placed over the area to be treated.