When considering cosmetic mole removal, it’s essential to understand that this procedure should only be performed by a qualified doctor, not a beauty therapist, cosmetic technician or nurse. While a beauty clinic may offer mole removal services, these settings lack the medical expertise to properly assess and treat skin lesions, potentially putting your health at risk.
Skin lesions, even those that appear benign, can sometimes harbour serious underlying conditions such as melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancers or be associated with an underlying autoimmune disease. Proper diagnosis and safe removal require the expertise of a doctor trained in skin cancer medicine or dermatology. Dr. Danielle shares 2 recent cases that illustrate the risks associated with inappropriate or insufficiently trained mole removal techniques and explains why doctor-led care should be non-negotiable.
Case 1: 38-Year-Old Female with Melanoma
During a routine skin check, a 37-year-old female patient presented with two suspicious skin lesions, one on her neck and another on her calf. Dermatoscopic examination revealed concerning features consistent with melanoma. Both lesions were promptly excised by Dr. Danielle with 2mm margins to ensure histological diagnosis.
A 2mm excision margin for suspected melanoma is critical for accurate diagnosis, appropriate staging, and effective treatment planning. This method ensures that melanoma is completely identified and correctly managed, reducing the risk of progression while avoiding unnecessary large excisions in benign cases.
Pathology confirmed both lesions were melanoma, necessitating further wide local excision (WLE) to reduce the risk of recurrence or metastasis. Had this patient opted for a cosmetic mole removal at a beauty clinic without medical oversight, the melanoma could have gone undiagnosed, potentially allowing the cancer to progress to an advanced stage with life-threatening consequences. This case highlights the critical role of thorough examination and histopathological testing that only a doctor can provide.
Case 2: 42-Year-Old Female Following Laser Cosmetic Mole Removal.
A 35-year-old patient sought a skin check two years after undergoing a laser mole removal at a beauty clinic. Another lesion, located on the right side of her chest, had initially been treated as an add-on service offered by the beauty technician, not at the patient's request. The patient accepted the treatment without prior medical assessment.
On examination by Dr. Danielle, the site displayed scarring, pigmentation, and a suspicious vascular pattern under dermatoscopy. A biopsy was performed, revealing a basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a type of non-melanoma skin cancer. The patient subsequently required surgical excision by Dr. Danielle to remove the cancerous tissue completely. Due to unclear margins from the previous laser treatment, the patient required two separate excisions to ensure complete removal of the cancer with adequate margins.
This case underscores the dangers of non-medical mole removal. Lasering the lesion had not only failed to address the underlying skin cancer but had also led to scarring, which could have masked further changes in the lesion. A lack of medical assessment and histology delayed the correct diagnosis, potentially putting the patient’s health at greater risk.
Why You Should Choose a Doctor for Mole Removal
Accurate Diagnosis: Doctors are trained to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. Using dermoscopy or mole mapping and, when necessary, biopsies, they can ensure that any suspicious mole is correctly identified.
Safe and Effective Techniques: Medical professionals follow strict safety protocols to minimise the risk of infection, scarring, or incomplete removal. They are also equipped to handle complications if they arise.
Histopathological Testing: Unlike beauty clinics, doctors send excised tissue for histological analysis to confirm the diagnosis. This critical step ensures that no underlying skin cancer is missed.
Regulated Care: Doctors operate in a regulated environment and follow established medical guidelines for skin cancer management. Beauty clinics, however, are not bound by the same standards of care.
The Risks of Non-Medical Mole Removal
Non-medical mole removal methods, such as laser treatments or chemical applications offered at beauty clinics, can be ineffective and dangerous. Without proper training or diagnostic tools, beauty therapists may inadvertently treat malignant lesions as benign, delaying critical medical care. Additionally, treatments like lasers can cause scarring, pigmentation changes, and incomplete removal, which may complicate later medical assessments.
Protecting Your Health
If you have a mole or skin lesion that concerns you, Dr. Danielle advises you to seek advice from a qualified medical professional, such as a GP with an interest in skin health or dermatologist. Even cosmetic mole removal should begin with a thorough skin check to rule out any underlying medical concerns.
Your health and safety should never be compromised for the sake of convenience or cost. Cases like those discussed above serve as powerful reminders of why mole removal is a medical procedure—not a cosmetic service. Choose wisely and trust your skin to the care of a doctor.
For further information about how you can protect yourself from harmful UV sunlight click the links to visit these websites:
Sunshine. You do the 5. You survive. (Queensland Government)
Being Sunsmart - Cancer Council QLD (Cancer Council)
If you have your own story to tell, please consider commenting to raise awareness.
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Disclaimer: The cases described above are based on real patients. Consent has been obtained from each patient to discuss their cases and use anonymised photographs for educational purposes. Personal details have been omitted to protect patient privacy.
Thank you Dr. Richards for this article. I have a daughter who went through a similar situation to your patient you wrote about in the second case, but her mole turned out to be a melanoma. I agree that mole treatments should only be performed by doctors to avoid missing cancers. There needs to be more awareness. Please post more like this.