How to properly care for stitches after mole removal. What are the best practices for wound healing post-skin lesion removal. When should you contact your doctor after a skin lesion removal procedure. How long does it take for stitches to heal after mole removal. What are the signs of infection following skin lesion removal.

Proper Care for Stitches After Mole Removal

Stitches play a crucial role in the healing process after mole removal. They are specially designed threads used to bring wound edges together, promoting faster and more effective healing. But how should you care for these stitches to ensure optimal recovery?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to caring for your stitches:

1. Keep the area covered for the first 24 to 48 hours post-procedure.
2. After this initial period, gently cleanse the site with cool water and mild soap.
3. Pat the area dry using a clean paper towel to avoid introducing bacteria.
4. Apply petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment if recommended by your healthcare provider.
5. Replace the bandage with a clean one if instructed to keep the area covered.
6. Maintain cleanliness by washing the site once or twice daily.

What about stitch removal? Your healthcare provider should inform you when to return for stitch removal. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to contact them for clarification.

Open Wound Care Following Skin Lesion Removal

In some cases, your healthcare provider may opt not to close the wound with sutures. This approach requires diligent home care to ensure proper healing. But what does this entail?

Open wounds heal from the bottom up, and your care routine should support this natural process. Here are some key points to remember:

• Your provider may recommend keeping a dressing over the wound or leaving it open to air.
• Clean and dry the site by washing it once or twice daily.
• Prevent crust formation or removal, as this can interfere with healing.
• Apply petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment as directed.
• If using a dressing, wet it before removal if it sticks to the wound, unless instructed otherwise.
• Avoid using harsh skin cleansers, alcohol, peroxide, iodine, or antibacterial soaps, as these can damage wound tissue and slow healing.

Post-Cryotherapy Care: What to Expect and How to Manage

Cryotherapy is a common treatment for various skin lesions, including some types of moles. But what should you expect after this procedure, and how can you ensure proper healing?

After cryotherapy, you may notice:

• Redness in the treated area
• Blister formation within a few hours (clear, red, or purple in color)
• Mild pain for up to 3 days

How should you care for the area post-cryotherapy?

1. Gently wash the area once or twice daily to keep it clean.
2. A bandage is typically only necessary if the area might be easily injured or rubs against clothing.
3. Expect a scab to form, which will usually peel away on its own within 1 to 3 weeks.
4. Resist the urge to pick at the scab, as this can interfere with healing and increase the risk of scarring.

Essential Tips for Optimal Wound Healing

Proper wound care goes beyond cleaning and dressing. What other factors should you consider to ensure optimal healing?

• Minimize strenuous activity to prevent the wound from reopening.
• Maintain clean hands when caring for the wound to prevent infection.
• For scalp wounds, gentle shampooing is acceptable, but limit prolonged water exposure.
• Follow your provider’s instructions meticulously to minimize scarring.
• Use pain medication as directed, typically acetaminophen, unless advised otherwise.
• Attend all follow-up appointments to ensure proper healing progression.

Recognizing Signs of Complications: When to Seek Medical Attention

While most skin lesion removals heal without incident, it’s crucial to be aware of potential complications. But what signs should prompt you to contact your healthcare provider?

Seek immediate medical attention if you notice:

• Increasing pain or tenderness at the wound site
• Redness or swelling that extends beyond the immediate wound area
• Fever or chills
• Pus or foul-smelling discharge from the wound
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop with gentle pressure
• The wound reopening

Understanding Different Skin Lesion Removal Techniques

Skin lesion removal encompasses various techniques, each with its own aftercare considerations. But what are these techniques, and how do they differ?

Shave Excision

This technique involves shaving off the lesion at or slightly below skin level. It’s often used for raised lesions and typically doesn’t require stitches.

Scissor Excision

Used for small, protruding lesions like skin tags, this method involves snipping off the growth with surgical scissors.

Full-Thickness Excision

This more extensive procedure removes the entire lesion and often requires stitches. It’s commonly used for suspicious moles or skin cancers.

Electrodesiccation

This technique uses electric current to destroy the lesion and is often combined with curettage (scraping) for certain skin cancers and precancerous lesions.

Long-Term Skin Care Post-Lesion Removal

After your wound has healed, how can you care for your skin to prevent future issues and maintain overall skin health?

• Protect the healed area from sun exposure to minimize scarring and reduce the risk of new lesions.
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily.
• Perform regular skin self-exams to detect any new or changing lesions early.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and adequate hydration, to support overall skin health.
• Consider using scar-minimizing products as recommended by your healthcare provider.

Remember, every individual’s healing process is unique. Always follow your healthcare provider’s specific instructions, as they may vary based on your particular case and the type of lesion removed.

Skin lesion removal-aftercare Information | Mount Sinai

Shave excision – skin aftercare; Excision of skin lesions – benign aftercare; Skin lesion removal – benign aftercare; Cryosurgery – skin aftercare; BCC – removal aftercare; Basal cell cancer – removal aftercare; Actinic keratosis – removal aftercare; Wart -removal aftercare; Squamous cell-removal aftercare; Mole – removal aftercare; Nevus – removal aftercare; Nevi – removal aftercare; Scissor excision aftercare; Skin tag removal aftercare; Mole removal aftercare; Skin cancer removal aftercare; Birthmark removal aftercare; Molluscum contagiosum – removal aftercare; Electrodesiccation – skin lesion removal aftercare

How to Care for Stitches

Stitches are special threads that are sewn through the skin at an injury site to bring the edges of a wound together. Care for your stitches and wound as follows:

• Keep the area covered for the first 24 to 48 hours after stitches have been placed.
• After 24 to 48 hours, gently wash the site with cool water and soap. Pat dry the site with a clean paper towel.
• Your health care provider may recommend the application of petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment on the wound.
• If there was a bandage over the stitches, replace it with a new clean bandage.
• Keep the site clean and dry by washing it 1 to 2 times daily.
• Your provider should tell you when to come back to get the stitches removed. If not, contact your provider.

How to Care for an Open Wound

If your provider does not close your wound again with sutures, you need to care for it at home. The wound will heal from the bottom up to the top.

You may be asked to keep a dressing over the wound, or your provider may suggest leaving the wound open to air.

Keep the site clean and dry by washing it 1 to 2 times a day. You will want to prevent a crust from forming or being pulled off. To do this:

• Your provider may suggest using petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment on the wound.
• If there is a dressing and it sticks to the wound, wet it and try again, unless your provider instructed you to pull it off dry.

Do not use skin cleansers, alcohol, peroxide, iodine, or soap with antibacterial chemicals. These can damage the wound tissue and slow healing.

After Cryotherapy

The treated area may look red afterwards. A blister will often form within a few hours. It may appear clear or have a red or purple color.

You may have a little pain for up to 3 days.

Most of the time, no special care is needed during healing. The area should be washed gently once or twice a day and kept clean. A bandage or dressing should only be needed if the area rubs against clothes or may be easily injured.

A scab forms and will usually peel away on its own within 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the area treated. Do not pick the scab off.

Important Tips

The following tips may help:

• Prevent the wound from re-opening by keeping strenuous activity to a minimum.
• Make sure your hands are clean when you care for the wound.
• If the wound is on your scalp, it is OK to shampoo and wash. Be gentle and avoid a lot of exposure to water.
• Take proper care of your wound to prevent further scarring.
• You can take pain medicine, such as acetaminophen, as directed for pain at the wound site. Ask your provider about other pain medicines (such as aspirin or ibuprofen) to make sure they will not cause bleeding.
• Follow-up with your provider to make sure the wound is healing properly.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your provider right away if:

• There is any redness, pain, or yellow pus around the injury. This could mean there is an infection.
• There is bleeding at the injury site that will not stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure.
• You have a fever greater than 100°F (37.8°C).
• There is pain at the site that will not go away, even after taking pain medicine.
• The wound has split open.
• Your stitches or staples have come out too soon.

After full healing has taken place, call your provider if the skin lesion does not appear to be gone.

Addison P. Plastic surgery including common skin and subcutaneous lesions. In: Garden OJ, Parks RW, eds. Principles and Practice of Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 18.

Dinulos JGH. Dermatologic surgical procedures. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif’s Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 27.

Newell KA. Wound closure. In: Richard Dehn R, Asprey D, eds. Essential Clinical Procedures. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 32.

Last reviewed on: 5/31/2022

Reviewed by: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What to Expect and Aftercare

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by

Frederick L. Durden, Jr, MD, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon & Microsurgical Reconstructive Surgeon.

This page was updated on October 20, 2022.

Upon noticing an abnormal mole or skin growth, your doctor may recommend its removal. For most small moles, this procedure is simple and well-tolerated. Still, it’s helpful to understand how the procedure works.

Why are mole removals done?

Mole removals are typically done for health reasons—if your care team suspects that a mole may be precancerous or cancerous.

Sometimes a mole may be removed for cosmetic reasons, especially if it’s on your face, neck or another noticeable area.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with most cases falling into one of two types: melanoma or nonmelanoma.

Skin cancer is treated most effectively if caught early, which is why it’s crucial to speak up if you’re worried about a mole on your body.

Skin cancer is most commonly found in areas of the body frequently exposed to sunlight, such as the face, neck, hands and arms.

However, it’s important to remember that not all moles are cancerous. The only way to officially diagnose a cancerous mole is by undergoing a biopsy.

What to expect during the procedure

If your doctor has scheduled a mole removal procedure, you may receive instructions on how to prepare. Ask your care team any questions that you may have about the process and recovery time. Unless instructed otherwise, it’s fine to eat and drink before the procedure.

For most small mole removals, a biopsy is an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll be able to go home after it’s over.

• Typically, your doctor numbs the skin first with a local anesthetic, which is injected into the skin with a needle.
• Your doctor then surgically removes the mole.
• Stitches may be required after, with your doctor providing instructions for how to care for the stitches and when they’ll need to be removed.

Due to the use of a numbing anesthetic, the pain during the procedure is often minimal—you may feel some pressure and temporary discomfort.

What to expect after the procedure

There are four common types of biopsy procedures used, with your doctor then sending the tissue sample to a pathologist for testing. There, it’s examined under a microscope for any cancer cells or abnormal cells.

The four types of biopsies are:

Shave (tangential) biopsy—The doctor uses a medical razor blade to shave off the top layers of the skin, removing the skin cells. To stop any bleeding, the doctor will apply an ointment or cauterize the wound using a gentle electrical current.

Punch biopsy—The doctor uses a tiny round tool, similar to a cookie-cutter, to puncture a rounded area of skin and remove a deeper sample of skin than with the shave biopsy. The skin is likely to require stitches after the procedure.

Excisional and incisional biopsies—If a mole or tumor is thought to have grown into deeper layers of skin tissue, the doctor may perform an excisional or incisional biopsy. During an excisional biopsy, the entire tumor is surgically removed with a surgical knife. For an incisional biopsy, only a portion of the tumor is removed. Afterward, stitches are applied.

Risks, complications and aftercare

A mole removal is a minor surgical procedure that is generally well-tolerated. However, with any surgical procedure, there are risks. Scarring is always possible after a mole removal. There is also a risk of infection, so watch for:

• Redness
• Pain
• Swelling

Following your doctor’s instructions is the best way to avoid complications. If you have stitches, they’ll play an important role in helping your skin recover. Make sure to treat them with care:

• Keep the area covered for at least 24 to 48 hours after the procedure.
• Gently wash the area with soap and water.
• Keep the wound site clean, and return to your doctor for follow-up appointments as scheduled.

Even without stitches, some aftercare is important to prevent scarring or infection. Wounds heal from the inside out toward the surface and take time to heal.

• You may be asked to keep a dressing over the wound and keep it moist with petroleum jelly or another ointment, as directed.
• Avoid using cleansers, alcohol-based products or peroxides, soaps or other harsh chemicals on the open wound.

Skin Care After Laser Mole Removal

A mole is a pigmented growth on the skin that is benign. Often such a nevus can interfere or attract too much attention to itself. A nevus can be congenital or acquired, and its hue is brownish, reddish, purple, or dark. A mole appears due to an excessive accumulation of pigment cells that are located between the dermis and epidermis.
Removal of a mole is often performed if its shape and size has changed, if the neoplasm is often injured, causing psychological discomfort. One of the most popular methods for removing a mole with a short rehabilitation period is the laser method. Caring for a mole after laser removal is simple, the effect is local.
Indications for disposal:

• Education looks unaesthetic;
• The size of education has changed;
• There was discomfort in the field of education;
• Mole is constantly injured.

How to care for a wound after removing a mole

In order for the skin to heal faster, you need to follow the recommendations after removing moles on the face and other parts of the body. After removal, a crust appears at the site of the mole – it cannot be torn off and injured, it peels off on its own in 1-2 weeks. The crust after laser removal of a mole performs a protective function against infection.
On the recommendation of a doctor, you can smear the site of removal of the mole with healing ointments and antibiotic creams. Avoid contact with water, do not steam the treatment area. If you tear off the crust ahead of time, there will be a risk of scarring.
After removing the mole with a laser, the crust disappears on its own, after which pinkish skin forms in its place. It must be protected from sunlight. It is advisable to use sun protection ointments to avoid hyperpigmentation.
How the site of removal of moles with a laser will heal depends on the patient’s compliance with the doctor’s recommendations. In addition, the quality of the operation affects the result. To eliminate a nevus, contact our specialists at the Medial clinic, which has been specializing in such operations for almost 20 years.

Restrictions after mole removal

Before performing the procedure, the doctor examines the nevus using a dermatoscope. Removal with a laser is carried out quickly and painlessly, in about 10-30 minutes, depending on the size of the formation.
Restriction after removal of moles is a visit to the pool, solarium or beach to avoid infection and hyperpigmentation. You can treat moles after laser removal with antiseptics, after the crust falls off, you can use sunscreens.
What not to do after removing moles:

• Sunbathe in a solarium or in the open sun;
• Drink alcohol after removing a mole;
• Apply cosmetics to an unhealed wound;
• Rub the place of removal and peel off the crust.

The procedure for removing a nevus practically does not affect the usual way of life, it is not required to wear a bandage.
If all the recommendations after removing the mole with a laser are followed, scars usually do not remain. Procedures can be performed at any time of the year, but it is advisable to do this in autumn or winter. After removing the mole, you can go to the pool when the crust falls off and skin appears in its place.

Possible consequences

If the procedure is performed incorrectly, or the recommendations on how to care for the wound after removing the mole are not followed, complications may develop. These include incomplete removal of the nevus, infection and scarring. Scars can form due to the characteristics of the body, as well as if the crust was torn off prematurely.
Removal of nevi with a laser is safe. However, there is a risk of incomplete elimination of a new formation, then some of the cells remain in the skin, and the mole appears again. To avoid such consequences, you need to contact only experienced doctors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many patients are interested in when it is possible to sunbathe after removing a mole with a laser, whether it is possible to play sports after removing a mole, what restrictions should be observed. It is important to clarify the features of care before performing the operation in order to reduce the risk of complications.
Can I sunbathe after mole removal?
After performing the manipulation, you should not sunbathe for 3-4 weeks. Ignoring this recommendation can lead to the development of hyperpigmentation, the appearance of a white spot at the site of removal. Once the scab has fallen off, new skin should be protected from the sun with a high SPF.
If you remove the crust ahead of time, a scar may appear, which will differ in color. In this regard, it is not recommended to visit the beaches or swim in the pool until the wound is completely healed and the pinkish spot disappears after removing the crust.

Can I use cosmetics after the procedure?
Do not use decorative cosmetics on the area that has been treated with a laser. This can lead to infection, premature rejection of the crust. The place can only be treated with antiseptics and healing ointments, which the doctor advised.
You should not wipe the skin of the face or body where the procedure was performed with alcohol, apply scrubs or acids, alkaline compounds, depilatory creams and other care products. This can lead to complications that will then be difficult to eliminate, increasing the risk of scarring.

Can moles be removed during menstruation?
There is no prohibition on removing a mole during menstruation, but it is recommended to postpone this procedure if you feel unwell. During menstruation, sensitivity increases, discomfort may occur during exposure. The period of menstruation does not affect the result after removal.
There are also no restrictions on the number of moles removed, since the specialist at the reception can give the final recommendations. If you want to remove a mole on the body in the intimate area, you must first consult with your doctor about the appropriateness of this procedure and the urgency of implementation.

Can I play sports after removing a mole?
In the first 2 weeks after the removal of the mole, it is not recommended to play sports. This is due to the fact that if sweat gets on the crust, it can get wet, increasing the risk of infection or irritation. If this happens, the risk of scar formation will become higher and it will be difficult to get rid of it later.
For a while, it is recommended to give up walking in the open sun, visiting a sauna or bath, taking a hot bath. On the day of the procedure, you should not wet the wound, after which you can wash in the shower with warm water, without soaking the crust and without rubbing it.
Without the recommendation of a doctor, adhesive plasters or dressings are usually not used on the wound so that it does not get wet and inflamed. If there are complications after the removal of the nevus, consult a doctor, you can not treat them yourself.

Mole removal in clinic 9.09, St. Petersburg

Cost of the service

from 2000

Duration of the procedure

from 30 minutes

Number of procedures

Optional

Moles (nevi) on the face and body are found in approximately 90% of the world’s population. They can be congenital, or appear under the influence of external or internal factors. Most often they are benign and do not cause concern, however, if the nevus is injured, there is a risk of developing skin cancer – melanoma. In addition, many moles have an unaesthetic appearance and increase in size over time, causing significant discomfort.

These factors push the owners of large moles and papillomas to remove them.

Various techniques are used to remove moles: radioknife, laser and electrocoagulation.

Cost of neoplasm removal in cosmetology clinics 9.09

Service

Cost

Duration

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (up to 0.5 cm) up to 10 pcs. (unit price)

700

30

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (up to 0.5 cm) from 11 to 20 pcs. (unit price)

600

30

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (up to 0.5 cm) from 21 to 30 pcs. (unit price)

400

60

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (up to 0. 5 cm) more than 30 pcs. (unit price)

350

30

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (from 0.5 cm to 1 cm) up to 10 pcs. (unit price)

900

30

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (from 0.5 cm to 1 cm) from 11 to 20 pcs. (unit price)

800

30

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (from 0.5 cm to 1 cm) from 21 to 30 pcs. (unit price)

600

60

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (from 0.5 cm to 1 cm) more than 30 pcs. (unit price)

550

30

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (from 1 cm) up to 10 pcs. (unit price)

1900

30

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (from 1 cm) from 11 to 20 pcs. (unit price)

1700

30

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (from 1 cm) from 21 to 30 pcs. (unit price)

1500

60

Papilloma, keratoma, wart, condyloma (from 1 cm) more than 30 pcs. (unit price)

1300

60

Nevus (up to 0. 5 cm) 1 pc.

2500

30

Nevus (from 0.5 to 1.0 cm) 1 pc.

3000

30

Nevus (more than 1 cm) 1 pc.

3500

60

• Qualified employees

• Transparent price list and loyalty system

• Certified equipment and preparations

• Fine timing

When to remove a mole

If a mole or other tumor-like skin growth begins to increase in size, change color, itch, cause discomfort or permanent injury, you should consult a doctor.

The dermatologist examines the patient, collects an anamnesis, and if the nevus causes him any suspicions indicating malignancy, he will prescribe a cytology. If the neoplasm is of a benign nature, then we suggest removing the mole using a radio wave knife, which the doctors of the clinic work with, to perform the procedure.

Benefits of radio wave mole removal

The radio wave mole removal procedure has a number of advantages.

Versatility. This method is suitable for most types of neoplasms. With its help, both the removal of red moles, and condylomas, papillomas, neoplasms in the subcutaneous tissue and others are performed. The radio wave technique can be used on any part of the body, except for the mucous membranes.

No scarring and minimal downtime. If the patient adheres to the recommendations of the cosmetologist, then the scar will not remain after the procedure, and the rehabilitation period will take from 7 to 10 days.

No pain or bleeding. Since the radio wave knife in the process of destruction of the neoplasm seals the blood vessels and nerve endings, there will be no pain or blood at the site of the removed nevus.

Efficiency of removal. The procedure takes several minutes. However, the time of destruction will depend on the number of neoplasms.

The radio wave knife used to remove moles in the 9.09 clinic network is similar to a surgeon’s scalpel, but unlike surgery, it does not come into contact with the skin and eliminates the risk of wound infection. In addition, radio waves disinfect the skin, speeding up the recovery process.

A similar procedure for removing moles is electrocoagulation, but unlike the radio wave method

How is the procedure for removing moles

Moles on the face and body are removed on an outpatient basis, after a doctor’s examination and tests (cytology if necessary).

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. The doctor, using a gel or cream, anesthetizes the area with a nevus, then selects the appropriate radio wave knife nozzle for the neoplasm. Then the neoplasm is destroyed at its very base. The mole is removed completely, but the doctor does not affect the healthy tissues surrounding it.

Manipulation takes about 20 minutes. The duration depends on the number of moles that the patient plans to remove.

How to prepare for the procedure

Removal of a mole with a radio wave knife does not require any preparatory procedures. However, in some cases, cosmetologists are advised to first consult with an oncologist about the possibility of removing a nevus in order to make sure that it is of good quality.

Mole care after removal

After removal of moles and until complete healing, the postoperative area is treated with the drugs prescribed by the doctor. Antiseptics “Argosulfan” and “Chlorhexidine” are used. They are applied to the wound three times a day during the first day after destruction.

Care should be taken not to soak the protective crust formed at the site of the removed nevus. The dried crust cannot be torn off – 7-14 days after the procedure, it will leave itself, and thin pink skin will appear in its place, which must be protected from ultraviolet radiation for several months.

Mole removal with a radio wave knife is a safe and painless procedure. Contact any of our clinics in the Primorsky, Vyborgsky and Petrogradsky districts of St. Petersburg. Our dermatologists remove moles using state-of-the-art equipment to ensure fast healing.

FAQ

• How long should you not sunbathe after mole removal?

After removing the mole, you should refrain from sunbathing in the sun and in the solarium for 1.5 months.

• How long does it take for a wound to heal after removing a mole?

Postoperative wound heals within 7-10 days.

• How long after removal of a mole should one not bathe or take a bath?

Avoid water procedures for a day.