Birthmarks and mole removal

The majority of moles and blemishes do not to be removed, however, it they are suspicious for cancer, a dermatologist may advise removal for further testing.

Moles or blemishes that are of cosmetic concern can also be removed. In both situations it is important to minimise scarring and to maximise cosmetic outcome. Your treating dermatologist will advise you on the types of lesions you have, and which procedure will give you the best cosmetic outcome.

Shave excision

This surgical technique is conducted without sutures. We perform shaves with either a traditional blade method, or with electrocautery. A shave excision is a simple yet effective procedure that can give excellent results. For patients with darker complexion, laser removal is a more precise method, and will minimise scarring and post surgical pigmentation.

Excision

This procedure is usually performed for deeper moles. In the majority of cases we use deep dissolving sutures in addition to skin sutures to minimise scarring.

Procedural dermatologist have additional training to perform more advanced skin surgery.

Laser surgery

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Laser surgery can be used to treat lesions such as moles, age warts (seb keratoses), and birthmarks. Lasers function as precision tools to ablate tissue to a specified plane, minimising damage to deeper and surrounding tissue. Erbium ablative laser can be as accurate as 5/1000 of a millimetre.

For birth marks, vascular lasers such as the Pulse dye laser or  Erbium Yag laser can be effective. Several treatment sessions are usually required. 

(As Practice policy, we do not treat children under the age of 8 with laser procedures. The Royal Children’s Hospital has laser facilities to manage birth marks in children.)

Skin conditions that appear at or near birth are referred to as ‘birthmarks’. These may range in colour from red to brown. Treatment will depend on the type of birthmark and the age of the patient.

Spider naevi

...are red dots that appear in young children, and can occur in awkward areas such as below the eye, or on the nose. They also commonly arise in pregnancy. The good news however, is that they respond very well to V-Beam laser treatment. Often only one treatment is needed. The sensation is much like a tiny rubber band flicking on the skin. Treatment age will depend on co-operation of the child. The majority of children over the age of 7-8 tolerate this procedure very well!

Epidermal naevi and sebaceous naevi

...are birthmarks commonly seen on the face. They tend to be more prominent with age, and may resemble warts. Treatment with ablative laser can diminish the appearance of these lesions. Most children undergo laser treatment for this condition closer in the teens, when they are more self-conscious. These types of birthmarks will need treatment every few years as they tend to grow back.

Café au lait patches and Becker’s naevi*

...are brown coloured birthmarks that do not respond as predictable as other birthmarks to laser treatment. Your laser dermatologist can give you a diagnosis and advise in regards to the success of treatments

Port wine stain birthmarks*

...are present at birth and tend to darken and thicken over time. Laser treatment early in the course of these birthmarks can reduce the colour and avoid the social stigma often encountered at school. For babies, toddlers and children, laser treatment is conducted under General Anaesthetic. This procedure is not conducted at Westside Dermatology due to anaesthetic reasons. We do offer Vascular laser treatment for children over the age of 8, as most will tolerate laser at this age.

**The laser experts at Westside Dermatology often perform a ‘test patch’ to a birthmark before performing full laser treatments. This test patch gives both dermatologist and patients and idea of how well the skin reacts to the laser procedure. In the majority of cases multiple laser treatments are needed.

Haemangiomas or strawberry birthmarks

...appear in the first few weeks of life. Haemangiomas go thru a phase where they can grow rapidly, then stabilize, eventually diminishing in size. The majority will disappear by puberty. Flat haemangiomas can be treated with Vascular laser, however this treatment should be done in a Hospital under the supervision of an anaesthetist.

Port wine stains

...are present at birth and darken with time. Westside Dermatology does not perform laser procedure on children under the age of 8 as they will require a general anaesthetic. Treatment is well tolerated in patients over 8 years of age.

For routine skin checks, observation and photography of moles in high-risk patients (multiple dysplastic naevi, personal/family history of melanoma), we provide a Mole and Melanoma Clinic at Westside Dermatology.

This clinic is conducted under the guidance of Professor Peter Soyer and is designed for high risk patients. Moles/ blemishes are NOT removed on cosmetic grounds for patients referred to this clinic.

Not all moles need to be removed. If moles are removed on cosmetic grounds, then scar should be minimised.  A dermatologist can best advise you whether a mole should be removed (to exclude cancer) or whether the mole can be removed electively (on cosmetic grounds). Additionally a dermatologist can inform you of the best procedure for you, whether it be excision, shave excision or laser. Laser trained and procedural dermatologist are best equipped with expertise and the latest technology to give optimal results to our patients.

For cosmetic removal of moles, including laser removal of blemishes, request an appointment with Dr Davin Lim or Dr Shobhan Manoharan. For skin checks and opinions in regards to moles, a routine appointment can be made with any dermatologist. High risk patients (multiple dysplastic naevi, history of melanoma, strong family history of melanoma) are seen at the Professorial Pigmented Lesion Clinic.

As we are Specialist in our field, a referral from a GP will enable you to claim a percentage of the consultation and in some cases a rebate for procedures.

Call us directly on 07 3871 3437 to make an appointment, or to discuss issues regarding the referral process.

Medicare provides a rebate for birthmark removal by laser or surgery. Your Laser Dermatologist will advise you on the number of treatments required, the most likely cosmetic outcome and price.

moreDr. Davin S. Lim

Dr Davin S. Lim, Cosmetic dermatology

The vast majority of moles are benign - that is non-cancerous and no treatments are needed. For certain type of moles in cosmetically sensitive locations such as the face, treatments such as laser maybe appropriately used to give excellent cosmetic results. As a rule, dermatologist will submit all lesions removed for further testing on the side of caution.