Mole Removal (cont.)
Medical Author:
Joel Schlessinger, MD
Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa 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. IN THIS ARTICLEMultimediaMedia file 1: This is a raised, irregularly colored mole before removal. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com.
Media type: Photo Media file 2: Alcohol is being used to clean the area prior to numbing it. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 3: The area is being numbed with lidocaine. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 4: The area is ready to be removed. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 5: The author is using a scalpel to remove the mole. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 6: The mole is being removed. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 7: This is what the area looks like just after the mole has been removed. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 8: The area of the shave excision is being cauterized. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 9: The area of the shave excision is now bandaged. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 10: This mole is a dark, irregularly colored mole that needs to be removed with a deeper excision because the mole cells go farther into the skin. It will be removed by a punch excision process with stitches. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 11: Prior to numbing the area for excision, it is cleansed with alcohol. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 12: It is now being numbed. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 13: Mole removal. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 14: The punch biopsy excision instrument is being placed over the mole to be removed. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 15: The punch biopsy has been done, and now the area has the mole in the middle but not yet removed. It will be taken out with forceps (a tweezer-like instrument) and put in a specimen bottle to be sent to the lab for analysis. It is important that every mole be sent for analysis in order to make sure that no bad cells remain or that it isn't a bad type of mole. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 16: The forceps is being used to remove the specimen from the area. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 17: The mole has been removed, and the area is ready for suturing (stitches). Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 18: The area of the punch excision is being sutured. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 19: The suture is being tied. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 20: The area is now sutured and ready for bandaging. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 21: After the mole removal, the area is cleaned with hydrogen peroxide to remove any debris. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Media file 22: A bandage or dressing is applied. Photo courtesy Joel Schlessinger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, lovelyskin.com. 
Media type: Photo Viewer Comments & ReviewsMole Removal - ExperienceThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:Please describe your experience with mole removal. |
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