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Naevi, commonly known as moles, are benign skin growths that may be removed for health or aesthetic reasons. Several removal techniques are available, including radiosurgery and shave excision.
Naevi, more commonly known as moles, are referred to as pigmented and non-pigmented benign growths of the skin containing nevus cells and are very prevalent among the majority of adults. They come in different shapes: smooth, flat, elevated, pedunculated, hair-bearing, or non-hair-bearing. It is a common procedure performed by dermatologists to remove naevi for health or aesthetic purposes.
Each lesion must first be identified as presenting an ominous or malignant character based on the ABCDE scale. It is an acronym that stands for:
After a skin assessment has been performed and changes are detected with respect to the ABCDE criteria, lesions that are perceived as evolving and therefore suspicious would require a diagnostic biopsy.
Mole removal for aesthetic purposes can be performed in several ways.
One of the most promising techniques is radiofrequency surgery, also known as radiosurgery.
The method of radiosurgery is based on the physical phenomenon of dissecting soft tissue such as skin using the energy of radiowaves that are delivered to the tissue via a special electrode.
Prior to removal, all lesions are anaesthetised with a local anaesthetic such as lidocaine, which renders the surgical procedure virtually painless.
The technique of lesion removal is described as "light and pressureless"; the tip of the electrode moves with barely any resistance, resulting in a "melting" of the nevus. It is very precise and allows even layers of skin to be removed in steps of less than 1/10 of a millimetre. The target tissue is removed gently in multiple steps until the lesion is completely excised.
After a radiosurgery procedure, it is highly recommended that medical-grade petrolatum or a special silicone-based dressing gel be applied to the treated area for approximately one week. This allows the affected skin to regain its epithelised properties, becoming smooth, pink, and dry compared to the original wound. The treated area will appear pink initially, with a gradual colour change back to normal occurring over several weeks on average. In patients with extremely sensitive and fair skin tones, the area may remain pink for a couple of months. Following mole removal, the patient is scheduled for an eight-week follow-up appointment for a post-surgery check-up.
Another method of mole removal is shave excision performed with a flexible blade. This approach is suited to certain lesion types and locations.
A third option involves excising the lesion with a scalpel and closing the wound with sutures. The appropriate technique is selected based on the characteristics of each individual lesion and the patient's needs.
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