Why the check comes first
A dermatoscope magnifies the skin about ten times under cross-polarised light. It shows detail below the surface that the eye cannot see, including structure, symmetry, border, pigment pattern and vessels. These details help separate a benign mole from one that needs excision and testing. A 2008 analysis reported a diagnostic odds ratio of 15.6 with dermoscopy, against 4.7 with the naked eye.
This step matters because laser and radiofrequency vaporise tissue, which limits what a laboratory can examine later. So a mole is not removed until it has been checked. If you would rather keep a benign mole, it can be photographed and checked again over time. Results vary.
Mole removal in Singapore: methods and when each is used
Layered removal of checked, benign-pattern moles. Usually chosen for flat moles.
Shaves and seals in one pass. Suits raised dermal moles and delicate sites.
For protruding moles where a flat finish is the goal.
For moles with atypical features. The whole lesion goes for histology.
For benign moles you prefer to keep.
Flat and raised moles are different
Flat moles sit close to the skin surface, at around 0.1 mm deep. Raised dermal moles extend deeper, by millimetres, and can reach about 4 mm. The depth, type and location of your mole decide the method. This is why the method cannot be named until the mole has been examined. A deeper mole has more tissue below the surface, which is one reason that re-pigmentation can occasionally happen.
Signs that need assessment
The ABCDE check is a useful guide. Look for Asymmetry, an irregular Border, multiple Colours, a Diameter above about 6 mm, or a mole that is Evolving. Any of these calls for a medical assessment, not casual removal. If the dermatoscope shows something unusual, the plan moves to excision with histology or to specialist referral.
Who may suit cosmetic removal
Removal may suit you if your mole looks benign on dermatoscopy and you want it gone for appearance. This applies to moles on the face and body, where the site and how the skin will look after healing both matter. Several benign moles can often be treated in one sitting, and the number is agreed at consultation. You can also choose to keep a benign mole and have it monitored. Removal is not required just because a mole is benign.
Who should not have ablation
These are not lasered or vaporised. They are excised with histology or referred.
Mole pens, removal creams and salon cautery are advised against. Removing a mole this way skips the examination that tells you what it is.
How a visit runs
What mole removal cannot do
No method can promise an invisible finish. Removing a mole leaves some kind of mark. The aim is a mark that sits flat, looks lighter and draws less attention. Laser is not suitable for every mole. Deeper parts of a mole can occasionally darken again and may need a further session. A consultation is still needed, since this page is general information and cannot judge your own mole.
Healing and risks
A small scab for about 1 to 2 weeks. Redness then fades over the following weeks.
A flat mark that fades over weeks.
A stitched wound, with stitches out in about 1 to 2 weeks.
A scar or visible mark that matures over weeks to months, mild tenderness, a scab, leftover redness, and regrowth or repigmentation. Sun on the healing site can affect the final look. Full healing varies with size, depth, method and site.
Histology is limited after laser or radiofrequency, because tissue is vaporised.
How fees work
Fees are not published. They are quoted individually after dermatoscopy and depend on the method and on the number, size and location of your moles. The fee is confirmed before any procedure.