Moles, warts, and oil glands – most of these skin growths tend to be harmless – thankfully – but can be removed easily if the sight of them bothers you.
Removing unwanted moles, warts, and oil glands sounds intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! We address some of the common questions we receive about removing these skin growths, as well as give you an idea of what to expect:
How are these skin growths removed?
Prior to removal, Dr Kok will examine the unwanted skin growth to determine which mode of treatment will work best for your skin condition. In the case of moles, he will also diagnose if they are harmless or potentially cancerous, before advising you accordingly.
There are generally 4 modes of treatment:
Lasers/Electrocautery
Laser or electrocautery treatments use a laser machine to precisely target moles, warts, and oil glands. The laser machine delivers highly focused energy pulses that specifically targets the skin lesion itself while sealing off blood vessels and keeping surrounding skin intact.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy involves the application of extreme cold – mostly in the form of liquid nitrogen – to the skin growth. This has an effect of breaking up the cells that form the skin growth, and helps to seal off any connected blood vessels.
Cryotherapy is mainly used for treating warts and non-cancerous moles. Once treated, the moles and warts tend to drop off on their own after a few days.
Topical Applications
Applying medical-grade products can help in the case of warts and oil glands. For warts, salicylic acid can be applied in the form of a liquid or plaster. For oil glands, tretinoin or chemical peels can be used to reverse the occurrence of oil glands.
However, a medical professional has to determine your skin condition and your suitability for such medical-grade products first before prescribing them to you.
Minor Surgery
For larger moles, Dr Kok will perform a minor surgical procedure to remove the mole. This is a minor daytime surgery that does not require overnight stays or going under general anaesthesia.
If Dr Kok happens to have any suspicions, a shave or punch biopsy can also be done to accurately determine if the mole is cancerous.
Does it hurt?
No, we take steps to ensure that your treatment is as comfortable as possible! Prior to the removal of your mole, wart, or oil glands, we apply a numbing cream to the treatment area. Most patients report feeling a warm, prickly feeling from laser treatments or a numb, cold sensation from cryotherapy treatments, but most find the treatments very tolerable.
Is there downtime? Will it leave a scar?
There is no social downtime per se, but there might be a scab, where the unwanted mole/wart/oil gland used to be, that will drop off on its own after a couple of days. As long as you don’t pick at the scab, there shouldn’t be marks or scars left behind.
However, if you are concerned about others seeing the scab, plan your appointment accordingly!
For more information about our mole, wart, and oil gland removal treatments, call us at +65 6738 4700, email us at enquire@lsaestheticclinic.com, or visit us at Wisma Atria Office Tower, #10-04, along Orchard Road.
We provide honest advice, quality care, and affordable prices.