Local Anaesthetic

Local anaesthetic is an pharmacological agent that is injected either into the immediate area that is to be treated, so only numbing a tiny area or can be used in a regional block which involves numbing a larger area. The area will be completely painless afterwards.

There are various types of anaesthetic with different strenghts and duration of action. In minor surgery it is common place to use lignocaine with adrenaline as this helps minimise any bleeding during the surgery. Very rarely people can feel their heart race or feel a bit faint which passes in a few minutes. This used frequently by dentists so if you have not had a reaction when a having any tooth treatments then you are unlikely to have any issues. Agaiin this is why is it important to have a thorough medical consultation and any local anaesthetic injected in a medical setting.

Anaesthetic injections are also available without adrenaline and are used for surgery on the fingers and toes as well as for anyone who is sensitive to adrenaline. Most anaesthetics work within 1-2 minutes and last for 1-3 hours.

Anaesthetic creams such as EMLA are also available for less invasive skin treatments and provide a good numbing effect.

All our doctors will discuss your best options for you to ensure the most comfortable procedure possible.

Shave Excision Surgery

Shave excisions are the easiest and commonest form of mole removal for moles that protrude from the skin. They involve a tiny painless injection of local anaesthetic just under the mole to numb just that part of the skin. A special dermablade is then used plane down the mole or lesion so it is flat on the skin.

Mole removal cost by shaving is from £250 for first mole and £140 for additional moles.

It only takes a few minutes to perform and no stitches are required. It takes only a 7-10 days to heal and only leaves a tiny mark. Most patients cannot believe how quick and easy it is and often wished they had done it sooner.

If the moles are in any way worrying we would perform an ellipse excision surgical procedure.

Ellipse Excision Surgery

Moles that are flat, potentially worrying or not suitable for shave excisions or laser treatments require ellipse excisions. These involve a small painless injection under the mole only to numb just that area. WIth precision cutting the entire mole is removed in one go. The remaining opening is then brought together with skin stitches that in most cases just simply dissolve away. The result is a thin white line instead of the mole. This only takes about 20 minutes and is not painful. See mole removal costs for ellipse excisions start from £320.

Usually a dressing is placed over the wound to protect it for the first week and then moisturing and massaging the wound to help improve the scar with vitamin e, bio-oil or silicon gels is advised. The wound initially starts of red and then gradually fades to a whitish line. Very rarely scars can overheal and form keloid or hypertrophic scars which would then require further treatment.

"I had a mole that just began getting darker and bigger over 6 months. It was on the side of my cheek so it was difficult to see it changing until it was the size of 20 pence piece.”

Bill remarked “The mole was abnormal and I am so grateful that it has been treated quickly and with very little scarring.”