Mole Removal Aftercare
Follow our clinician-approved aftercare instructions to ensure minimal scarring and optimal results following your mole removal procedure.
Mole Removal Aftercare Summary
Mole removal is relatively simple and in most cases you can return to normal activities the same day.
Specific aftercare advice depends on the type of procedure carried out. Rest assured, your doctor will provide full aftercare information during the appointment.
Shave/Laser Excision Aftercare
The information below is an aftercare guide to shave excisions or laser mole removal treatment (no stitches).
Shave/Laser Excision Aftercare Guide - Summary & Timeline
Day of procedure
After the procedure the area will remain numb for 2-3 hours. After this the anaesthetic will wear off and the wound will feel like a graze. Simple paracetamol or ibuprofen for 1-2 days will minimise any discomfort.
If you have a dressing you will be told when it can be removed.
1-3 days
Expect the area to be red and the edges slightly inflamed and raised. This normal as it is part of the healing process. Any discomfort should be getting slowly better. If is getting significantly worse let us know.
Treat with vaseline/dressing.
3-10 days
The wound will have red edges with a yellow green center to it that is part of the normal healing process There should be little or no pain
Continue vaseline/dressing as advised.
10-14 days
The wound will appear red while the last areas of healing will slowly close over.
The redness gradually settles over the next few months
Continue vaseline/dressing as advised.
Massaging with oils or moisturising/silicon (dermatix) creams is advisable after 2 to 3 weeks to help reduce any scarring.
14-28 days
The wound will be red but healing well and according to how well you heal, will start to fade and flatten out.
Massage with biooil or silicon gels.
1-3 months
The area will start to fade from red color to pinkish.If the wound is getting lumpy or raised this is unlikely to be the mole re-growing but possibly the wound over healing in which case contact us and we can review the area. Simply massage with Bio-oil and apply silicon gels (Dermatix or Kelocote), which often help minimize the scarring.
Massage with biooil or silicon gels. Sunblock if in the sun.
3-9 months
The scar tissue will start remodeling and fading to lighter skin color with less redness.Occasionally some pigmentation / coloration can reappear and if this happens and is significant contact us and we can remove this coloration if it is of concern.
Sunblock if in the sun. Occasionally some brown color at the base of the wound can remain or reappear. If this is a concern please revisit us as this can easily be removed.
Elliptical Excision Aftercare
The information below is an aftercare guide to ellipse excisions (with stitches).
Ellipse Excision Aftercare Guide - Summary & Timeline
Day of procedure
A dressing will have been applied after your treatment. This should stay and be kept as dry as possible for the first 3-4 days. If it comes off reapply the steristrips and the dressing provided. Dressings can be left for up to a week
You will be informed at your appointment as to whether your stitches are dissolvable or need to be removed and should receive specific guidelines on wound care.
Following an elliptical excision the anaesthetic will wear off after 2-3 hours. Paracetamol or ibuprofen should help with any discomfort.
1-3 days
It often feels a bit tight, swollen and sore for the first 1-3 days and simple paracetamol or ibuprofen should help. This should ease off. Increasing pain is a sign of possible infection in which case contact us.
Keep the dressing on to keep wound dry. In areas where the skin is under tension such as the back and legs, it is advisable to reduce exercises which would possibly stretch the wound.
3-7 days
Expect the discomfort to be easing off although you may have a mild itch where dressing is. If there is any increasing pain or redness consult your doctor as it could be a sign of infection.
Steri-strips can be applied over the wound for up to 3 weeks to help the wound heal.
Continue to avoid exercises or activities which may stretch the wound.
7-14 days
If you have stitches that need removing this is normally done at 7-14 days according to what the doctor has instructed.
Wound heals over and is red minor swelling and redness, small bruising.
It is best to steristrip or use micropore tape to support the wound for a further 3-4 weeks if possible to keep the scar as narrow as possible as the skin strength in the scar only regains about 50% of its full strength.
Continue to avoid exercises or activities which may stretch the wound.
14-28 days
The would should now be fully healed showing as a red line which will fade over time.
You can expect to resume full exercise and activities provide the wound looks well-healed.
Continue use of steristrips / micropore tape as directed.
After 3 weeks the wound can be massaged with oils or moisturising creams.
1-3 months
Reddness fading to pink
Massage with biooil or silicon gels. Sunblock if in the sun
3-9 months
Pink area fading to skin color or slightly lighter and any lumpiness flattening out.
Sunblock if in the sun
What aftercare should I do to help reduce the scar?
Once the wound has healed which is typically around 2 weeks then scar therapy can start.
Our advice for the best scar reduction therapy is -
- Wounds on the body and limbs is to continue to support the wound with steri-strips or micropore tape for 2 months changing them every couple of days as they get worn. The reason for this that even though the wound has healed the wound is only at about 50% of its normal skin strength at this stage so in areas when the skin moves a lot the scar then stretches if it is not supported during these first few few months whilst it regains more strength. After that you can then start massage with biooil or vitamin e cream or silicon gels to help improve the redness of the scar.
- Wounds on the face we would recommend the optimum regime is applying silicon gel (dermatix or Kelocote can get from the chemist or from us) morning and evening and once dried makeup can be applied over the top if needed. Also during the day gentle massage with moisturizing cream or bio-oil helps soften the scar as well. This can be done for up to 3 months.
Aftercare FAQs
Can I wash as normal?
Yes you can but be careful to keep the area dry for the first 2-3 days and avoid soaking the area ie long baths or swimming for 7 days.
Can I take painkillers?
Yes simple paracetamol and ibuprofen are sufficient especially in the first 1-2 days. Thereafter any discomfort should decrease.
Can I exercise?
Our advice is for smaller wounds it is best to leave for a 2-3 days but gentle walking etc is ok. If it is an area that rubs against the wound leave for 7-10 days.
Should I expect any bleeding?
There maybe a small amount of oozing into the dressing but if it more than that pressure should be applied to the area with a tissue for 10-20 minutes until it has stopped.
Should it continue or the area get painful please contact us.
Will I get any bruising?
Yes some bruising in the area is quite normal. This normally takes 7-14 days to settle and gentle massage and arnica cream can help speed up the recovery.