For a raised, benign mole, radiofrequency and laser removal tend to leave the least scarring, while surgical excision leaves a fine-line scar but allows the whole mole to be tested. The most important point comes first, though: any mole that looks suspicious must be assessed and, if needed, excised and sent to pathology rather than simply lasered off.
If you have a mole you would rather not see in the mirror each morning, it is natural to go straight to the question of scarring. Which method leaves the neatest result? We will get to that with a side-by-side table. First, though, there is something more important to sort out.
First, the Most Important Question: Is Your Mole Benign?
Before anyone talks about removing a mole for cosmetic reasons, a doctor needs to look at it properly. That is not box-ticking. The assessment is there to catch the moles that should be tested rather than tidied away.
Here is why it matters. Laser and radiofrequency work by vaporising or shaving away the mole. If a lesion were cancerous or suspicious, destroying it that way would remove the very tissue a pathologist needs to check under a microscope, and you would lose the chance of an early, clear diagnosis. For that reason, a mole with any warning signs is never simply lasered off.
Instead, a suspicious lesion is removed by surgical excision and sent for histopathology (laboratory testing) so it can be examined properly. Cosmetic removal methods are reserved for moles that have already been assessed as clearly benign. At The DOC, Dr Ed Omarjee conducts a medical consultation before any cosmetic removal to determine the best approach. If a mole shows the classic ABCDE changes (asymmetry, an irregular border, uneven colour, a growing diameter, or any evolving change), please have it checked promptly rather than treating it as a cosmetic issue.
Method 1: Laser Mole Removal
Laser uses focused light to break down the mole. At The DOC, we use it for flat, benign pigmented spots and for raised benign lesions when radiofrequency isn’t an option for that patient.
At The DOC, flat benign pigmented lesions are treated with a Q-switch or 532nm bassed laser (Alma IDAS or GMEFlex lasers) that targets the pigment while leaving surrounding skin largely undisturbed. For raised lesions, Dr Ed uses a Fotona Erbium laser to ablate the mole layer by layer. He generally reserves the laser for raised moles for patients who cannot have radiofrequency, for example those with a pacemaker, defibrillator or nerve stimulator.
Laser scarring is usually low, and it tends to be a good option for flat lesions. The trade-off is the one mentioned above: because the tissue is destroyed rather than retained, laser is not used where a lesion needs testing.
Method 2: Radiofrequency (Ellman) Removal
The DOC treats most raised benign moles this way. The Ellman Surgitron runs at about 4.0 MHz, turning radio waves into a fine, low-temperature cutting energy. Rather than cutting the mole out, Dr Ed shaves it off in thin layers, and the tissue seals as he works, so bleeding is usually minimal.
Because the energy is so precise and produces little heat spread to the surrounding skin, the technique is designed to minimise scarring, making it a popular choice for facial moles. Another safety advantage is that, where practical, a shave sample can be taken during removal and sent for histopathology, so the mole can still be confirmed as benign.
Dr Ed has used the Ellman radiofrequency system for more than 20 years and has performed over 25,000 skin lesion removals with it. You can read more on the Ellman Radiofrequency page.
Method 3: Surgical Excision
Surgical excision is the traditional method, and it remains essential in the right situations. The mole is numbed with local anaesthetic, cut out in full, and the wound is closed with stitches.
It is the go-to when a mole is deep, when it sits below the skin surface rather than raised above it, or, crucially, when a lesion is suspicious and needs to be sent for testing. Excision removes the entire lesion, which is exactly what a pathologist wants for an accurate diagnosis.
The trade-off is scarring. Excision leaves a fine line scar where the stitches were, which is generally more noticeable than the result from radiofrequency or laser on a raised benign mole. For a suspicious lesion, though, getting a clear diagnosis matters far more than the scar, and that is the right priority.
Side by Side: Which Method Leaves the Least Scarring?
Here is a quick comparison for a benign mole.
| Method | Best suited for | Typical scarring | Can the mole be tested? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laser | Flat, benign pigmented lesions; or raised lesions when radiofrequency is unsuitable | Usually low, especially for flat lesions | No. Laser vaporises the tissue, so it cannot be sent to pathology |
| Radiofrequency (Ellman) | Raised, benign moles assessed as suitable for cosmetic removal | Low; the technique aims to minimise scarring | Often yes. A shave sample can be sent for histopathology where practical |
| Surgical excision | Deeper moles, and any lesion that looks suspicious | A fine line scar, usually with stitches | Yes. The whole lesion is sent for histopathology |
Scarring varies from person to person and depends on the mole, its location and how your skin heals. We decide the best method for you at an in-person assessment.
Will My Mole Grow Back?
It can, and this comes down to how completely the mole is removed. Surface methods like laser and radiofrequency remove the visible, raised part of a benign mole. If some pigment cells remain deeper in the skin, a little colour or a small amount of the mole can return over time. That is not a sign anything has gone wrong; it is simply the nature of shave-style removal, and it can be touched up if needed.
Full surgical excision removes the mole more completely, so regrowth is less likely. Whatever the method, if a treated mole regrows, changes or darkens, have it reviewed, because a changing lesion should always be assessed properly.
How Much Does Mole Removal Cost in Melbourne, and Is It Covered by Medicare?
At The DOC, cosmetic radiofrequency mole removal starts from $495 (non face) and $595 (face) for the first mole and from $195 for each additional mole treated on the same day. The final figure depends on the method and on the number, size and location of the moles, so it is confirmed after a formal assessment. Treating several moles in one visit is usually more economical per mole.
On Medicare, the general rule is that purely cosmetic mole removal is not rebatable, because it is elective rather than medically necessary. It is a different story when a mole is clinically suspicious: assessing, excising and testing a lesion for medical reasons is a medical service and may attract a Medicare rebate. Dr Ed will tell you which category your mole falls into at your consultation.
Healing and Aftercare
What healing looks like depends on which method you have had. After radiofrequency, most people see a small flat wound to begin with. A light scab forms over the next few days, and new skin comes through underneath it, often within a fortnight. Stitched surgical wounds take longer and need a follow-up visit to have the sutures taken out.
Good aftercare genuinely affects the final result: keep the area clean and dry early on, protect it from the sun, and resist picking at any scab. For a full run-through, see our guide to radiofrequency mole removal aftercare.
Why Choose Dr Ed for Mole Removal in Melbourne
Dr Ed Omarjee is a cosmetic physician practising across Metropolitan Melbourne and Northern Country Victoria. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP), a Fellow of the Cosmetic Physicians College of Australasia (CPCA) and a Fellow of the Australasian College of Aesthetic Medicine (ACAM).
Mole removal sits at the meeting point of cosmetic and medical care, which is why having a doctor assess the lesion first matters so much. At The DOC, every consultation and procedure is carried out personally by Dr Ed, not delegated to a nurse or technician. He has performed more than 25,000 skin lesion removals over two decades using the Ellman radiofrequency system, and offers laser and surgical options as well, so the method can be matched to your mole rather than the other way around. Your plan is tailored after an in-person assessment, without promises of a fixed result.
You can read more about his background on the Dr Ed Omarjee profile page, or explore the wider clinic on the homepage.
Book a mole assessment
The first step is always an assessment, so we can choose the safest and most suitable option for your mole. Book a mole assessment with Dr Ed at The DOC East, 47A Karnak Rd, Ashburton VIC 3147, or The DOC West, 302 Heaths Road, Hoppers Crossing VIC 3029. Call 03 9021 6022 to arrange a time that suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best method of mole removal?
There isn’t one. It depends on the mole itself. Raised benign moles usually do well with radiofrequency, flat pigmented spots respond better to laser, and anything deeper, or anything that looks suspicious and needs testing, goes to surgical excision. That call is made at your assessment, not before it.
Does laser mole removal leave a scar?
Usually only a little, and least of all on flat pigmented lesions. No method is entirely scar-free, though. Where the mole sits, how big it is and the way your own skin heals all feed into how the result looks.
Is it better to remove a mole by laser or surgery?
They do different jobs, so neither wins outright. For a raised benign mole, laser or radiofrequency is often chosen because scarring tends to be lower. Surgery is the one you need for deeper moles, and for anything that has to go off for testing, because it takes the whole lesion.
Can all moles be removed by laser?
No. Laser is only for moles a doctor has already assessed as benign. If a mole looks suspicious, it should be excised surgically and sent to pathology instead, because lasering it destroys the tissue and with it any chance of testing.
How much does mole removal cost in Melbourne?
At The DOC, cosmetic radiofrequency removal starts from $495 (non face) and $595 (face) for the first mole, then from $195 for each extra mole treated on the same day. What you actually pay depends on the method and on how many moles there are, how big they are and where they sit, so the figure is confirmed at your assessment.
Is mole removal covered by Medicare?
Generally not, if the reason for removing it is purely cosmetic. Where a mole is clinically suspicious and needs assessing, excising and testing for medical reasons, that counts as a medical service and a rebate may apply. Your doctor can tell you which side of the line your mole falls on.
Do moles grow back after removal?
Sometimes, after surface methods like laser or radiofrequency, if pigment cells are left deeper in the skin. Full surgical excision makes that less likely. Either way, book in to have any mole looked at again if it regrows or changes.
How long does mole removal take to heal?
After radiofrequency removal, the area typically scabs and then heals over roughly one to two weeks, with the skin continuing to settle after that. The final results usually is achieved 3-4 months post the treatment. Surgical wounds take longer and involve stitches. Healing varies between people, so follow the specific aftercare advice you are given.
Further reading
- Can I Have a Mole Removed Without Scarring? (existing blog) https://www.thedoc.com.au/can-i-have-a-mole-removed-without-scarring/
- Radiofrequency Mole Removal: Aftercare Tips (existing blog) https://www.thedoc.com.au/radiofrequency-mole-removal-aftercare-tips/
- What Should I Know About Mole Biopsy? (existing blog) https://www.thedoc.com.au/what-should-i-know-about-mole-biopsy/
- Cosmetic Mole & Skin Lesion Removal Prices (service page) https://www.thedoc.com.au/cosmetic-mole-skin-lesion-removal-prices/
- Ellman Radiofrequency Cosmetic Removal (service page) https://www.thedoc.com.au/ellman-radiofrequency-precision-cosmetic-removal-of-raised-benign-skin-lesions/
Medical references
- HealthDirect (Australia), Moles https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/moles
- Cancer Council Australia, Check for signs of skin cancer https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/check-for-signs-of-skin-cancer
- DermNet, Melanocytic naevus (moles) https://dermnetnz.org/topics/melanocytic-naevus
- Cleveland Clinic, Mole Removal https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23312-mole-removal
