Mole removal may be necessary if your mole poses a potential health risk or if you simply don't like how it looks. Your dermatologists, Dr. Robert C Griffith, and Dr. Robert D Griffith of Griffith Dermatology help remove moles in Knoxville, TN.

Mole Removal Options

Mole removal at your dermatologist's office is a quick procedure. Your dermatologist gives you anesthesia before your procedure so, it's relatively painless. Mole removal can be by:

Surgical Excision

Surgical excision simply means cutting out the mole. Your dermatologist will inject anesthesia into the mole before removing it and surrounding tissues. If your mole is larger and has cells in underlying skin tissue, your dermatologist may remove that too. Removing larger moles in Knoxville, TN, may require stitches afterward.

Surgical Shaving

For surgical shaving, your dermatologist removes the mole by shaving it with a scalpel. Your comfort is a priority, so, your dermatologist administers a local anesthetic to the target area before the procedure. A surgical shave doesn't generally require stitches after. Scars are unlikely, but you may get a small pink patch in the area your mole used to be after the surgical shave.

Never Remove Your Mole Yourself

Removing your moles yourself at home is a terrible idea, even for small moles. Without the proper skill of your dermatologist, you can damage your skin if you attempt a mole removal yourself. So, removing it yourself may leave you with an unsightly scar. You also have a higher infection risk when you perform a mole removal yourself at home.

Furthermore, removing the mole yourself robs you of the chance of assessing it for cancer. Before mole removal at your dermatologist's office, he'll assess the mole to determine if it's cancerous. If you attempt to remove a cancerous mole yourself at home, you may leave some cancerous cells behind that may spread cancer to other tissues.

If your mole returns after mole removal, don't hesitate to return to your dermatologist as it may indicate cancer. Call your dermatologists, Dr. Griffith and Dr. Griffith of Griffith Dermatology, on (865) 588-1361 if you want to remove moles in Knoxville, TN.