While some moles are considered “beauty marks,” many men and women struggle with moles that are troublesome, dark, large, or could be a precursor to cancer. Fortunately, Dr. Mesa can safely remove moles using a range of advanced surgical or other techniques.

What is a mole?

A mole is a small, colored blemish that appears on your skin. Some moles are present at birth, while others develop over time — most often in areas of skin that are routinely exposed to the sun. Moles come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Most moles are benign (non-cancerous), but some are the first stages of melanoma (skin cancer) and pose a significant health risk if not quickly removed.

How can I tell if my mole is dangerous?

Determining whether your mole poses a risk of skin cancer requires lab testing, but there are specific characteristics you can look out for when you see a mole appear on your skin. Dangerous moles generally meet one or more of the following criteria:

Asymmetrical, not round
Irregular, blurred, or ragged borders
Multi-colored, with variations of brown, tan, blue, black, red, and white
Larger than regular moles
Changes over time, often growing

If you see any of the above factors in one or more of your moles, a visit with Dr. Mesa is critical to your health.

How are moles removed?

Depending on the size, shape, and depth of your mole(s), removal is performed using one of three methods:

Shaving: Moles that appear benign and are relatively small can often be removed through a shaving technique, where a scalpel is run over the surface of your skin until it reaches the raised portion of the mole and shaves it off. This is a minimally invasive form of mole removal, and is effective in most cases.

Laser removal: Small, cosmetic moles can often be removed with laser treatment, which is the lightest form of mole removal. The energy from the laser is absorbed by the pigmented cells in the mole, which causes them to die and be reabsorbed into the body.

Excision: If your mole is larger and the structure extends into the deeper layers of your skin, Dr. Mesa may recommend surgically excising your mole. Excision can remove all traces of your mole.

Why choose Dr. Mesa?

Mole removal can be an aspect of both beauty and health, and Dr. Mesa offers the best of both. As a board-certified plastic surgeon who has completed three fellowships and training at Harvard University, he delivers unparalleled professionalism, comfort, and results to each and every patient. Visit or call any of our three offices conveniently located in NYC, New Jersey, and Miami, today to get started.

Mole Removal

What is a mole?

How can I tell if my mole is dangerous?

How are moles removed?

Why choose Dr. Mesa?