LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Hi Dr, I wonder If you would give me some advice. Sorry about the length of this message but I want to cover everything.

1 month ago I had a facial mole excised by a plastic surgeon, the procedure seemed professional, local aesthetic was used and the surgery lasted no more than 10 mins. The surgeon said he used soluble stitches, so no appointment would be needed to remove them. However, 4 check-up appointments were made for me over the remainder of that week and the following one, where the surgeon replaced the dressing and checked how it was healing. On the penultimate check up, the surgeon snipped of a stitch that was protruding a little from the skin. On the final check-up, when I asked about the redness surrounding the wound, the surgeon told me it should fade but if it doesn't in 2 months, make another appointment (no charge).

The healing seemed to be going well in the first 2 weeks, after the thin scab fell off, the area was red and a thin purple line could be seen where the excision was made. But then the wound became more irritated as stitches began to emerge from it, by this time I would have thought they would have dissolved, and 4 weeks after the operation I pulled a 0.5cm stitch out of a tiny hole in the wound that could not close due to the protrusion.

One month after the operation the area is still very red and a few bumps have appeared on it, one in roughly the same area and roughly the same size as the original mole although red like the surrounding skin. I am not sure if the mole is returning or whether the skin is just attempting to push possible remaining parts of the stitch. I have included a photo to clarify the description of how it looks now.

I don't know If I trust this surgeon enough to make another appointment with him, and I would truly appreciate your advice on this matter.

Many thanks

hi,
thanks in your trust in sending me this question. in general, i try not to respond to other surgeon's work this early on. however, the area definitely looks irritated or maybe even slightly infected. you should probably see your physician to see if either antibiotics, suture removal, laser, or something could be done to improve the area but again i am just going by a single photograph.
best,
sml

Thanks very much for your swift reply, I have asked the surgeon for another appointment.
Could I ask if you know how common it is for excised moles to regrow? I'd like to think it's unlikely that I require another operation.

Thanks again

if it is full thickness removal then it is not likely. if it is just a shave then yes it is likely.
best,
sml