Minor Surgery

What we remove

• Moles and warts that bother you, bleed or have changed in appearance
• Sebaceous cysts, the lumps under the skin that sometimes swell and drain
• Lipomas, soft fatty lumps that move when touched
• Other small skin lesions, based on the doctor's assessment

Before the procedure

The doctor examines the lesion and explains what will be done, how long it takes and what scar to expect. Tell us if you take blood thinners, aspirin or supplements such as fish oil, have an allergy to any anesthetic, or have diabetes. A badly inflamed cyst is sometimes treated first and removed once the swelling goes down.

How it's done

The skin is cleaned, local anesthetic is given and, once the area is numb, the lesion is removed through a small incision. It's closed with stitches when needed and covered with a bandage. Most procedures take under an hour and you can walk out on your own.

When the doctor thinks it's needed

If a lesion looks like it should be studied, the doctor may have the removed tissue examined by a pathology lab and will explain the result once it's ready.

Recovery

Some soreness and a bruise in the first days are normal; an ordinary pain reliever is usually enough. Avoid straining that area until the stitches come out. Get checked if you develop fever, pus or spreading redness.

Warning signs in a mole

A mole that's asymmetric, has irregular borders or several colors, is larger than a pencil eraser or changes in size deserves a look, even if it doesn't bother you.