Skin Lesion Removal in Guernsey & Jersey
Skin lesions come in various forms, whether it is a skin tag, moles, cysts or warts.
If you have concerns about any lesions on your body, it is advisable that you see your General Practitioner first for a check-up to rule out any serious conditions or diseases.
Depending on the type of lesion presented, there are different ways in which we can treat patients. While they can be aesthetically displeasing, skin growths can also itch, bleed, and become sore over time. With both non-surgical and surgical means of removing growth, the Aesthetic Skin Clinic can treat all manners of lesions and guide our patients on the best method.
It is important to have your moles and skin tags assessed before the commencement of treatment. Some things to look out for with these forms of skin growths include:
- Change of colour, size and shape
- Pain
- Itchiness
- Bleeding
- Blurred edges
- Sun exposure
- Additional mole growth
The Aesthetic Skin Clinic provides a comprehensive range of both surgical and non-surgical treatments to remove skin tags, all with their own individual benefits and suitabilities. This means that we can create a tailored treatment programme depending on your requirements and choice. Following assessment, we advise all patients on the recommended method, according to their indication.
Minor Surgery
Many lumps and blemishes can be removed in the surgery with minimal discomfort, excellent healing and no scaring. Depending on the lesion to be removed, various minimally invasive techniques can be used:
Shave Excision
Raised and unsightly moles can be easily removed by this method. Whether due to recent changes or the fact that they are catching on clothing, numerous moles can be removed in one treatment session.
Firstly a local anaesthetic will be injected, and once the lesion has been shaved down flat with the surrounding skin, the area will be cauterised. A small plaster may be applied for 24 hours and the area should be kept clean and dry for 4 days and treated as a little burn. Once healed the skin may look slightly paler for a few months, but will re pigment to leave no visible scar. In most cases though there is always the small risk of a minor blanched area at keloid formation. Should this happen your doctor will follow up with treatment at no cost as appropriate.
Biopsy
Skin lesions can be biopsied for a conclusive diagnosis. This can be carried out as a punch biopsy where a small area is removed and one stitch inserted, or the whole lesion can be removed and sutured. Sutures will be removed at your follow up appointment, and results will be given and any further intervention planned.
Surgical Removal with Sutures
Some lesions require surgical removal. Again a local anaesthetic will be given. The area removed will be sutured with fine sutures to leave a faint scar once healed. Apart from moles, other treatment areas can include scars, enlarged pores and cysts. Once removed and sutured the wound will be cleaned and a dressing applied. You will be reviewed in the clinic for suture removal after 5 to 7 days.
Your surgeon may opt for a diamond excision with a scalpel if the mole is deep rooted. Reducing the risk of recurrence, surgical removal of lesions means a small amount of sutures to promote healing, and minimal scarring after the procedure. We can remove several growth and skin tags in the one procedure, and they may be sent off for histology
Cautery
Some flatter moles need not require surgery or excision, but can be treated with cauterisation. By coagulating the blood and destroying the growth’s tissue with controlled heat/freezing, or with a caustic agent, the skin tag will successfully fall off, much like a scab. This process can take up to 10 days to heal.
Hyfrecation
Electrical impulses can be used to treat the red spots that occur on the skin. These will again look like little burns following treatment, but will generally heal without a mark provided they are kept dry during the healing phase.
Skin Ellipse
Sebaceous cysts can be removed by this method as it avoids the need for suturing. A small ellipse of skin is raised and the cyst carefully removed. The skin is then replaced down and steristrips applied to allow the skin to heal back.
Cryotherapy
Crusty areas of skin that appear known as solar keratosis can be removed using cryotherapy. This is a technique used to freeze the cells and destroy them so that they do not return.
If you have any lesions that require investigation or removal please contact our medical team and they will be happy to consult with you and discuss the appropriate treatments. For more information please click on the FAQ below
