Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

Hi, Dr. Lam. I've been reading a few threads on your forum and I've just found that the information you provide to your patients have been very helpful. I'm getting a mole removed in a couple of days and I just wanted brief advice for the procedure and aftercare. My mole is a small pencil tip dot and flat. Its very small but its unsightly because its in between my eyebrows. I consulted an Esthetician and she said she would remove it by electrocautery. She stated that since the mole is very small, the scarring risks are very minimal. She said that there will likely be a minimal scar or no scarring at all. Can you confirm this statement? And how should I treat the area after the procedure?

i can never confirm a statement by someone else offering medical advice to someone that i have never met. it depends on who is doing it, their experience, how big or deep the mole is, etc. however, general guidelines that i give my patients is to keep the wound very moist with antibiotic cream for the first week until the skin heals, avoid peroxide or other astringents on there, and to avoid direct sun exposure for the first 6 weeks. best of luck!
best,
sml

Thank you very much for the reply. What antibiotic cream would you recommend? And am I allowed to shower and whatnot?

it does not matter, neosporin or bacitracin. there is about a 5% allergic response. may want to put it on your skin somewhere if you have not and wait 72 hours to see if you have a reaction. if not, you should be fine. typically i recommend no showering for 24 hours but you should ask your provider.
best,
sml

Thank you for the reply. I'm sorry if I ask too many questions. I don't want to risk an allergic reaction and I'm having it removed tomorrow. Is it possible that I can dab it with vaseline instead?

yes, but you really need to ask your provider. i cannot accept any responsibilities for giving someone advice that i am not working on.
best,
sml

Also, she stated that she will not use any kind of anesthesia, just ointment. Is that safe?

Edit: Also, if there is a scar from the removal. From electrocautery, usually what type of scars can occur? Is it just hypopigmentation?

if she is using a numbing cream, that typically should be fine for pain. scars can be hypopigmented, hyperpigmented, depressed, or hypertrophic. it all depends on the technique of the provider and fortune of the patient. please ask your provider the risks in her hands.
best,
sml

I just had my mole removed today through electrocautery. The area is pinkish but otherwise fine. I was just wondering if a band-aid is needed or not? My esthetician said no band-aid is necessary, but I have read differently online.

i would agree with her.

What is the possibility of the mole recurring/regrowing once removed by electrocautery? If it eventually regrows, can I have it removed by the same procedure? And, are there precautions to prevent resurfacing of the mole?

it depends on how deep the mole is and how much was burned away. a question that you should ask your provider based on her experience. you should be able to do the same procedure again but typically i would wait a year so that there is not much thermal injury and enough time for things to heal. no real precautions to limit recurrence except good removal the first time.
best,
sml

How exactly do you need if the removal was good?

if the lesion is not to thick and it looks as if all the color has been removed.