Skin moles are often harmless and require no treatment. However, if a person has a mole located in an area that makes it very noticeable, there is the option to have it removed. These are some different methods doctors use to remove skin moles. 

Shaving It Off

Before shaving a mole off, the skin will be numbed with a local anesthetic to make the procedure painless. Then the entire mole is shaved off or shaved away in sections by using a scalpel. Once the procedure is complete, usually there is only a small area of pink skin that remains until it fades when the skin heals.

Cutting It Off

A skin mole can also be removed by surgically cutting it off. Like with shaving the mole is numbed with a local anesthetic before the cutting begins. When a mole is surgically removed, the surgeon may also cut away a small area of skin that surrounds the mole. This is done with a scalpel or surgical scissors to remove any skin cells that remain under or around the mole. 

If these cells are not removed, there is a chance the mole could grow back in the same area in the future. Because the incision is deeper than with shaving, it may be necessary to close the skin with a few stitches. A small scar may remain but often fades over time.

Freezing the Mole

Small moles that are not deep into the skin can often be removed by freezing. This is done by applying liquid nitrogen to the mole that makes it fall off. This may leave a small blister on the skin, but it normally heals up and disappears within a few days.

Laser Removal Treatment

Small moles can also be removed by laser treatments. This is done by using bursts of light radiation to break down the skin cells of the mole. To completely remove a mole, this method may need to be done in multiple sessions. Laser removal mole treatments are commonly used to remove small moles from the face, nose, or ears because this method leaves little to no scarring.

Before having a mole removed, the dermatologist usually checks to make sure it is noncancerous. This is done by scraping small amounts of skin cells from the mole and sending them to a lab to be tested. When the test results determine whether or not the mole is cancerous, the dermatologist can then decide which method of removal is best.