If you have a bump under your skin or a mole you’re not certain about, be sure to monitor it carefully. You should have it examined and possibly biopsied if it has any of the following characteristics:
- Gets larger
- Bleeds
- Causes pain
- Has an irregular border
- Develops an ulcer
- Has multiple colors
If we decide to proceed with removal of a mole, the procedure is typically performed in the clinic setting. We would first mark the edges of the mole, and plan for removing a small amount of normal tissue to decrease the likelihood that it would recur. We numb up the skin first with an injection, and then once you are numb, the mole is removed. There are stitches placed to repair the wound. The ones that show knots on the surface of the skin are removed after about 1 week, whereas buried stitches do not have to be removed and will dissolve slowly over time. We decide the best stitches for you depending on the location of your mole, the shape of the resultant wound, and how much tension is placed on the skin.
