Mole Removal Aftercare Guide: What To Expect

By Ash 20th August 2021 Category: Advice
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Medically Reviewed June 2023, by Keith Rose, Sclerotherapy Specialist, for sk:n. Next review due June 2024.

Almost everyone has a mole; it’s a small pigmented patch of skin that resembles a big freckle and is usually harmless.

Melanocytes, the cells that give your skin its colour or pigment, generate moles, which are clusters of skin cells. A mole is usually round or oval and can have a rough or smooth edge.

If you’ve had your moles removed, or you’re planning to do so, this blog will explain the aftercare tips you need to know.

What To Expect After Mole Removal

After your doctor has removed your mole entirely, they may stitch it up to aid in the healing process. They will apply a bandage to the treated region and provide you with recovery instructions. If you’d like to know more about the mole removal process, read our full blog here.

If you do not feel faint or dizzy after getting wound care instructions, you may return home and relax. Depending on the surgery, it could take a few days or even weeks to recover fully. You may need to return in 1-2 weeks for a follow-up exam to ensure the area is healing correctly.

Although pain is uncommon, discomfort and itching may occur. Because this process is short and minimally invasive, you will be able to resume your daily activities right away. If your mole was removed from a visible region, you might choose to take 1-2 days off from social activities.

For the first 1-4 days after your mole removal, you may have slight soreness in the treated area. This is natural and will usually go away when the skin heals. You should keep the treatment site clean and covered with a bandage for 1-2 days to protect the region. Remove the bandage when this period has passed and keep the area clean and moisturised.

If you’re unsure whether you need to have a mole removed, check out our handy guide here.

How Long Does It Take For A Removed Mole To Heal?

Expect a mole removal scar to heal in 2 to 3 weeks in most cases. Once the wound has healed, several scar-reduction techniques should be implemented.

However, proper wound care is critical for preventing infection and ensuring the least amount of scarring possible.

The Mole Healing Phases

After the mole is removed, the scar healing process is divided into three stages:

  • The inflammatory stage begins approximately 12 hours after the procedure and lasts approximately 5 days.
  • Proliferation stage: This stage begins within 24 hours of the removal and lasts for around 7 days. It overlaps with the inflammatory phase.
  • Maturation stage: This final step can last up to a year following surgery.

The stitches from a surgical mole excision are usually removed 1–2 weeks following the treatment.

For at least a year, the body will continue to work on repairing a scar. Read our full blog on mole scars and how to care for them here.

How To Look After Your Skin Following Mole Removal

Scarring is possible while removing a mole, especially a malignant or pre-cancerous mole that requires a deeper excision. There are, however, a few things you can do to help your skin heal and scar less.

Keeping the wound moist after mole removal is essential and may help it heal up to 50% faster. In general, the wound should be kept clean, bandaged, and hydrated with over-the-counter ointments. You should also change the bandage once or twice a day.

Do not use alcohol on mole removal wounds; this may interfere with the healing process.

How To Prevent Mole Removal Scarring

Remember to keep the skin tight and undisturbed as it heals, avoid touching or extending the treated region as much as possible. You should also stay out of the sun since it can harm the healing region, and always apply suncream when going outside.

Once the wound has healed, moderate massage can increase blood flow, promote healing, and relieve stiffness in the area.

In order to avoid scarring and inflammation while the mole-removal wound heals, avoid smoking, consuming alcohol, and using any blood-thinning medications.

What Does A Mole Removal Scar Look like?

The look of a mole removal scar is determined by the mole that was removed. The body will work to heal the wound in the first few days after a mole removal operation. Scarring is the body’s natural reaction to traumas that go deep into the skin’s layers.

Collagen is produced by the body to mend the skin where the mole used to be. Injury-induced collagen is thicker and denser than regular collagen.

The affected area may appear rough, red, and stiff 2–4 weeks after mole removal, as healing tissue begins to form up.

Although the wound area may be slightly elevated and red for the first 1–2 months, the scar usually fades and flattens over time.

Key Takeaways

  • Almost everyone has moles on their body, usually averaging up to 40 moles, but it might be a sign of skin cancer if one changes.
  • After your mole removal procedure, your doctor will stitch up the wound and apply a bandage. Your doctor will provide you with healing instructions.
  • You may have soreness for up to 4 days after the mole removal procedure.
  • Moles removal scars usually heal in 2 to 3 weeks.
  • Keep the mole removal wound moist and covered with a sterile bandage.
  • Never try to remove a mole at home.

You may get your moles evaluated, screened, and removed by renowned physicians at The Mole Clinic. Both cosmetic and biopsy removal procedures are available. Find your nearest Mole Clinic and arrange a consultation with one of our doctors for advice on which mole removal service is best for you.

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