It’s not a football size or football shaped scar! DS had a big mole removed from his face and there is no scar. It was not a “suspicious” scar and we went out of pocket to a pediatric plastic surgeon. Probably cost about $2k all in. But it was a nasty mole!

I had two raised, skin colored moles on my face and the surgeon at my derm office removed them last year. He does surgeries exclusively and is an expert at mohs procedures. He shaved them and the result is flawless. I can see a tiny bit of discoloration but no scar. I thought I needed a plastic surgeon but I didn't, and I regret not doing it years ago. The area was a little raw for a week or so (think skinning your knee), then just kept it moist and it healed perfectly. Caveat: I am not a doctor and your situation may be different! But wanted to share mine. I'm thrilled with the results.

Of course have them removed.

I would take him to a plastic surgeon for a consult. Just keep realistic expectations around scaring, no matter what the dr says. Expect a scar to some degree. If he is ok with that, then do it. Maybe he will be lucky and end up with no or very minimal scars, but I wouldn’t go in thinking that will happen.

I had some removed from my face as an adult and I regret not having done it sooner. I always hated them and they were raised and dark. I did go to a plastic surgeon. I don't feel like the scars are horrible at all. It's weird that I felt the moles were so ugly, but I don't feel bad about the scars being there at all.

A football shaped scar is way better than a dark mole with hairs sticking out.

Anonymous wrote:Wait, can this be done?
I have a lot of flat moles, mostly limited in size, on my arms and legs, that I hate. but whenever I asked my derm, they laughed and said I would be trading them for scars. But maybe there is some improved technology now?

Unfortunately DD inherited a few on her arms and legs as well. Otherwise she has very white, clear skin. She would jump at the chance to have them removed.

If there is some new way that doesn’t involve paying 10k to a plastic surgeon, then tell me please!

Cutting them out is the only way to fully remove any mole, especially a flat one. For the face, see a plastic surgeon. Whether a person prefers a scar or a mole is a personal decision. I had a large one excised out of my eyebrow and have never regretted it.

Anonymous wrote:Wait, can this be done?
I have a lot of flat moles, mostly limited in size, on my arms and legs, that I hate. but whenever I asked my derm, they laughed and said I would be trading them for scars. But maybe there is some improved technology now?

Unfortunately DD inherited a few on her arms and legs as well. Otherwise she has very white, clear skin. She would jump at the chance to have them removed.

If there is some new way that doesn’t involve paying 10k to a plastic surgeon, then tell me please!

There is no “new” way of getting rid of them. Like PP said they make a football size incision. You have to deal with wound care for weeks and then you’ll end up with a scar. Got a suspicious mole removed from my face for just under $2000.

Wait, can this be done?
I have a lot of flat moles, mostly limited in size, on my arms and legs, that I hate. but whenever I asked my derm, they laughed and said I would be trading them for scars. But maybe there is some improved technology now?

Unfortunately DD inherited a few on her arms and legs as well. Otherwise she has very white, clear skin. She would jump at the chance to have them removed.

If there is some new way that doesn’t involve paying 10k to a plastic surgeon, then tell me please!

I have a lot of moles and plastic surgeons have advised only removing a couple that either really bother me or are in convenient place where a small scar won't be noticeable (like the side of my nose). They make a football shaped incision to remove them and that leaves a scar longer than the mole.

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