Get it done. If you follow instructions about wound care no noticeable scars.

I’m PP from above. The wound looked awful for the first few months and DS pretty much covered it with a bandage that whole time just bc it looked so gross. And you have to be super vigilant about sunscreen if you don’t cover with a bandage. Luckily he didn’t care about wearing a bandage (he was 8) but a tween who cares about his looks will need to realize that it will look worse before it looks better.

I absolutely would if they are asking.

We removed one from DS’s cheek after it got really large and weird shaped, but he has others on his face that we have left alone. Went to a top pediatric plastic surgeon at Children’s, and DS still has a scar on his cheek 18 months later. It’s noticeable but certainly less noticeable than the mole. So I wouldn’t remove a facial mole for no reason, but if he really hates it, and if it’s very large, I would remove it sooner rather than later bc he will recover better if it is done when he’s a child. Just know that a small scar is inevitable, and it could be worse depending on skin type.

Plastic surgeon not a derm, but wait until Fall - you have to keep sun of the new scars, tough to do over the summer

Anonymous wrote:Our DD has one of these, it’s okay now but will it get hairy?

I'm a pp who was told DS's would get "gnarly" in puberty. Docs can tell the difference between the gnarly/hairy potential ones (which, btw, they said possible could grow back. DS's has not). But in that pic, I think that's your standard mole and Cindy Crawford placement.

omg moles don't GIVE character

OP, my DD went through this exact thing last year at 11 year and here is how I handled it: “I really don’t know anything about it Since I’ve never had a mole removed so I will take you to the doctor.” Made an appointment at the dermatologist and let her hear from the doctor how unnecessary it was to get them removed. Then made an appointment at plastic surgeon and let her hear from him the description of sticking a needle in her face to numb it, cutting it out, shown pics of what the stitches will look like, the recovery process of having to keep them bandaged.
And guess how many more times she has asked me to get them removed?

Anonymous wrote:If it's flat and in a good location, I'd leave it alone. Moles give character. If it's considerably raised and in a bad location like near the nose, it might be better to get it removed.

X1000

Anonymous wrote:Are moles cut off or frozen off? Just wondering…

Moles HAVE to be cut out. I got a consultation at a highly regarded plastic surgeon in DC and he said any dermatologist or doc who says they can be frozen should not be practicing. There’s a new technique called shaving that I was hoping he would be willing to do, but he said that is just as insufficient as freezing. It will come back. I ended up having it cut out and I have a small scar next to my mouth that basically looks like a laugh line. I would never have done it if they weren’t concerned about it being cancer. It changed shape over the last few years and that made it suspicious to them. Luckily it was benign, but I’m glad I had it removed. I would never remove a mole for cosmetic reasons. Let alone let my child get one removed.

Our DD has one of these, it’s okay now but will it get hairy?

Are moles cut off or frozen off? Just wondering…

Anonymous wrote:Derm can do this.

Nooooo. Go to a plastic surgeon.

If it's flat and in a good location, I'd leave it alone. Moles give character. If it's considerably raised and in a bad location like near the nose, it might be better to get it removed.

My daughter has tons of dark moles on her face. I would never consider getting them removed. You are replacing moles with scars, you know that right? I had a plastic surgeon remove a suspicious mole on my face, and even though he was skilled, I have a very obvious scar. If they were not concerned about being cancerous, I would’ve never chosen to have it removed.