Moles, Skin Lumps & Bumps Removal

What to expect

1. 01

   Lesion check and confirmation of benign nature

   Every lesion is examined with high-resolution digital dermoscopy. Anything suspicious is biopsied or referred — we never cosmetically remove or ablate a lesion without first confirming it is benign. Clinical photographs may be taken for documentation or monitoring.

2. 02

   Method selection

   Choice of radiofrequency, Er:YAG laser ablation, shave excision, or full-thickness surgical excision based on the lesion type, depth, location, your skin type (Fitzpatrick), and whether tissue for histology is needed.

3. 03

   In-clinic procedure

   Most procedures take 20 minutes per lesion under local anaesthetic. Several small benign lesions can often be treated in a single appointment.

4. 04

   Wound care and dressing

   A simple dressing is applied with written aftercare instructions. Sun protection, wound-care timing and what to watch for (bleeding, infection signs) are covered before you leave.

5. 05

   Follow-up and scar care

   Sutures (if placed) are removed at 7–14 days. Where appropriate, structured scar care — silicone gel, sun avoidance and review — runs for 3–6 months to optimise the final cosmetic result.

Results timeline

• Immediately Lesion removed; small wound or area of ablation present. Local anaesthetic wears off in 1–2 hours.
• 1–2 weeks Wound closes and crusts separate. Sutures removed at 7–14 days where placed.
• 4–6 weeks Early scar visible — usually pink and slightly raised. Most lasered lesions are already cosmetically settled by this point.
• 3–6 months Redness fades and the final cosmetic result becomes clear. Scar care (silicone gel, sun avoidance) is most active during this window for surgical excisions.
• Long-term Most benign lesions do not recur; some types (e.g. some seborrhoeic keratoses, sebaceous hyperplasia) can re-form over years and may need repeat treatment. New or changing lesions should always be re-checked.

Frequently asked questions

• Will my lesion be checked before removal? +

  Yes — always. Every lesion is reviewed with high-resolution digital dermoscopy before any treatment is offered. If we have any concern that a lesion could be cancerous, atypical or pre-cancerous, we biopsy or refer for specialist assessment rather than removing it cosmetically. Many benign lesions can closely resemble skin cancer — diagnosis always comes before treatment.
• Why is a doctor review mandatory before RF or laser? +

  Because RF and laser destroy tissue — once a lesion has been ablated, it is no longer available for histopathology. If a lesion turns out to have been a melanoma or other skin cancer, the diagnosis (and the chance to treat it properly) has been lost. Digital dermoscopy and — when appropriate — histology before destruction protects against this. It is also why we sometimes shave a lesion before ablating the base, so tissue is preserved for pathology when indicated.
• Are all lesions suitable for cosmetic removal? +

  No. Lesions that look atypical under dermoscopy, lesions on patients with significant skin cancer risk factors, very deep or tethered lesions, lesions in cosmetically high-risk areas (e.g. the central face where scarring is highly visible), and any lesion the doctor is unsure about are not suitable for cosmetic removal. In those cases the right next step is biopsy, formal excision with margins, or specialist referral — not cosmetic destruction.
• Will there be a scar? +

  Some kind of mark is inevitable whenever skin is broken. Our role is to choose the method and placement that gives the best cosmetic result for your specific lesion and skin type — and to give you a clear, written scar-care plan afterwards. Laser and RF ablation typically leave minimal marks; shave excision leaves a small flat mark; surgical excision leaves a linear scar but is often the most definitive option. Scar care over 3–6 months matters as much as the procedure itself.
• Will shaving a lesion remove it completely? +

  Shaving removes the raised component of a lesion but leaves the deeper base. For pure cosmetic contouring of a raised mole this is sometimes enough; more often we follow the shave with RF or laser to address the base, which improves blending and reduces recurrence risk. Some benign lesions (e.g. dermatofibromas, cysts) extend too deep for shave alone and need full excision.
• Can multiple lesions be removed in one visit? +

  Yes — often. Small benign lesions can be treated in batches under local anaesthetic in a single appointment. The practical limits are total anaesthetic dose, total procedure time, and how comfortable wound-care will be afterwards across multiple sites. We will tell you on the day how many can be safely done in one sitting, and stage the rest if needed.
• Are removals covered by Medicare? +

  Cosmetic removals are not covered by Medicare. Removals for medical reasons — recurrent irritation, repeated bleeding, suspicious lesions requiring biopsy or excision, lesions causing functional problems — may attract a Medicare rebate. We confirm whether a rebate is likely to apply before the procedure based on your specific clinical situation; we do not make pre-assessment guarantees.
• Can I have a lesion removed if I'm on blood thinners or other medication? +

  Often yes — but it depends on the medication, the dose, the indication, and the lesion. Anticoagulants (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran), antiplatelets (aspirin, clopidogrel), regular fish oil and high-dose vitamin E can all increase bleeding risk. Recent isotretinoin can affect wound healing and scarring. We never recommend stopping prescription medication without checking with your prescribing doctor first. Tell us about all your medications at the consultation and we will work out the right pathway — sometimes that means proceeding with extra care, sometimes deferring, occasionally choosing a different removal method.