Moles are dark skin lesions that are usually symmetrical and uniform in colour. They are commonly found in various shades of brown. Moles can be present from birth or appear over time at any age. Sun exposure can play a role in the development of moles. The only moles of medical concern are those with an appearance that has changed over time. This can include changes in colour, height, size, or shape as well as the presence of bleeding, itching, tenderness or pain.
Skin cysts, also referred to as epidermal or inclusion cysts, are benign sacs filled with debris. Skin cysts often develop when epidermal cells become embedded more deeply and start duplicating creating a small ball with an out shell and an inner component made of dead skin cells.
Lipomas are soft, round, benign mobile masses made of mature healthy fat cells. They will not go away on their own and will never change into malignant mass.
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you’ll have to decide if the benefits of the surgery outweigh the risks and potential complications of surgery.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your surgeon.
Mole, cyst, and lipoma removal is typically carried out under a local anesthetic. Depending on the location and size of the mass you are removing, you may need a surgery under general anesthetic. A sample of the mass will be sent to pathology on your behalf. Typically, dissolvable stitches will be used on the surgical incision. But depending on the location and size of the surgical incision, your surgeon may need to use non-dissolvable sutures.
Hypertrophic scars are raised, red/pink scars that do not extend beyond the original surgical incision. Hypertrophic scars occur when myofibroblasts, a type of healing cell in the body, produce too much collagen during the healing phase. People who produce more of the type of melanin that is responsible for darker pigments are at higher risk for developing hypertrophic scars (melanin is the pigment that gives human skin their color). Overproduction of collagen can also occur when your surgical incision becomes infected or inflamed because of excessive tension or motion. Any scars on the chest area will always be at high risk for hypertrophic scars. Diligent aftercare is crucial to proper healing for patients who are at higher risk.
A good candidate for surgery is a patient who is relatively healthy and has realistic expectations for post-operative outcomes. It is also strongly advised that you be a non-smoker at the time of surgery. If you are a smoker we recommend you quit smoking at least 3 months prior to surgery as nicotine can interfere with blood supply and potentially cause complications with healing after surgery.
