I have a mole on my arm that I would like removed

Question:
I have a mole on my arm that I would like removed as soon as possible because of some family history with cancerous moles. I have had moles removed using a freezing method, but I was left with a scar. Will laser skin resurfacing used to remove a mole leave a scar?

Answer:
If you have a mole on your arm and are concerned with a family history of skin cancer, the best approach to address this mole would be surgical excision. Laser would be an alternative to surgical excision but only if the laser is used as a cutting tool to remove the skin and not destroy the skin prior to evaluating the lesion for any pathological changes. In this scenario, laser is likely not going to be of any increased benefit with regards to scarring compared to traditional meticulous surgical techniques.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld