Excisional Mole and Skin Lesion Biopsy

Mole Biopsy & Mole Check In Melbourne

There are a couple of key reasons why people undergo the excision of moles when they discover them on their face, their back or elsewhere on the body. The first is for aesthetic purposes, while the second reason a person might seek a mole check in Melbourne is for obtaining a sample for biopsy. Identifying a melanoma mole or a suspicious changing mole or skin lesion with a skin lesion biopsy and doing it sooner rather than later can prevent a malignant lesion from spreading. If you’ve noticed an unusual growth that might have changed shape or colour, book an appointment at The DOC Clinic to enquire about a mole biopsy.

Dr Omarjee has been performing skin lesion and mole excisions for over 16 years and is effectively trained to ensure that each of his patients achieve their desired results. If an excision is required for medical reasons, a histopathology specialist is then able to assess the sample under a microscope to deem whether the lesion is, in fact, benign or malignant. Generally, the procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, with minimal pain to the patient and with no downtime.

What Methods Are Used To Remove Moles And Skin Lesions?

The following methods of mole excision involve cutting the mole out of the skin under local anaesthetic. These techniques are usually carried out on suspect moles.

• Punch biopsies may be used when it is suspected that a good portion of the mole is underneath the skin’s surface.
• Shave biopsies may be used to collect a superficial sample of a mole/skin lesion to evaluate it using histopathology.
• Excisional biopsy of a mole is the main technique employed to remove the whole mole or suspicious lesion for diagnostic purposes.

All techniques involve taking a sample of skin, lesion or mole to be sent to a pathologist for assessment via a process called histopathology. This determines whether the specimen is benign or cancerous, making it a vital step in identifying a melanoma mole or other non-melanoma skin cancer (e.g. basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma).

What Can I Expect On The Day Of The Procedure?

During the initial consultation, Dr Omarjee and his team of professionals will explain to you what is involved in the mole or skin lesion excision procedure. Dr Omarjee will also go through your medical history, including the current medication you are taking. The most common type of mole excision is an elliptical excision, where the ellipse is often designed so that the resulting scar runs parallel with existing skin creases. This usually provides a wound under less tension and positions the scar in a direction that is less noticeable to the eye.

The mole removal biopsy area to be excised will normally be marked with a surgical marker by Dr Omarjee. Following this markup, a local anaesthetic injection will rapidly numb the area to be treated and keep it numb during the procedure. The cosmetic doctor will then perform a biopsy of the skin lesion, cutting around and under it with a scalpel and sharp scissors, along with an appropriate margin of normal surrounding tissue. The lesion will then be assessed by a pathology laboratory technician who will process and examine the specimen under a microscope and provide Dr Omarjee with a report a few days* later.

It is normal for some patients to experience bleeding in the area where the suspicious lesion was removed during the procedure. From here, the edges of the ellipse will then be sewn together to make a thin suture line. There may be two layers of stitches; a layer underneath that is absorbable and a layer of stitches on the surface that will need to be removed anytime between four days* and two week*s following the procedure. Depending upon the mole excision itself and the success of the procedure, Dr Omarjee may apply a dressing and aftercare instructions will then be given out for the wound, including when to expect the removal of stitches.

What Are The Associated Risks Of A Skin Mole Biopsy?

Excision of a suspicious mole or skin lesion is a surgical procedure with potential complications like any other surgery. It is very important to understand the risks before you proceed with the excision. Dr Omarjee and his team of dedicated professionals will be available to answer any questions you may have regarding treatment for a melanoma mole or other type of skin cancer, as well as each treatment’s associated risks.

• Scarring – Your mole excision removal procedure will leave a scar. Some lesions and some sites on the body scar more than others. However, in most cases it will be a red or pink scar at the site of the excision. Dr Omarjee will do his best to ensure that scarring is minimised.
• Pain – Sometimes the local anaesthetic does not completely eliminate the pain during the excision. If this occurs, an extra dose of anaesthetic should eliminate any discomfort and can be administered by Dr Omarjee or a member of his team.
• Bleeding and bruising – Cosmetic doctors will be able to minimise bleeding during the biopsy of the mole, but in some cases there will be some bleeding after the procedure.
• Wound breakdown – The skin on each side of the excision site is held together by stitches while it grows together. If the wound is stretched too much, the stitches can break, causing the edges of the wound to pull apart. This can also happen even after the stitches have been removed, as the skin takes several months to reach maximum strength after an excision.
• Infection – Most infections are minor and respond well to antibiotics, either oral or applied to the wound as a cream. However, if you think your wound is infected, you must not use any antibiotics or medications you have at home.

* Results will vary from person to person and with various degrees of efficacy.