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A 48-year-old member asked:

Does removal of a rather raised mole on the face leave a large scar?

5 doctor answers15 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ralph Rosato
Plastic Surgery 38 years experience
Big mole big scar: The size of the mole will dictate the size of the scar. Usually the scar is three times as long as the mole. This is not exact but it will give you an idea of scar length. Also remember a scar that is flat can be covered with make-up a raised mole cannot.
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Dr. Suman Das
Plastic Surgery 56 years experience
Scar yes.Size-depend: First of all , there is going to be a scar.In terms of size, that depends on the size of the mole.Bigger the mole longer the scar.Theoretically, ideal length of the scar will be almost 6 times the diameter of the mole.But, we plastic surgeons try to reduce the length to keep a happy medium.It is possible to make the scar smaller but there will be heaped up tissue on either end of the scar.
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Dr. Otto Placik
Surgery - Plastics 36 years experience
Width Determines: It is more the width that is more important to the outcome of removal than the height of the mole as well as the location. Wide moles will require a wide excision and result in greater wound tension producing a generally wider scar.
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Dr. Renee Burke
Surgery - Plastics 21 years experience
Scar: It is important to remember that any surgical procedure will leave a scar. While a surgeon will try to make the scar as imperceptible as possible, many factors determine how a scar will heal. It is vital to keep all scars out of the sun or keep a high sunscreen on the scar for the first year after surgery. Massage and silicone-based scar treatments have also been shown to help.
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Dr. Sahba Ferdowsi
General Practice 20 years experience
Great collaboration. Wishing you'all the very best.
Apr 5, 2012
Dr. Steven Harris
Plastic Surgery 39 years experience
Not usually: The scar should be no longer than half again as long as the mole's longest dimension (often shorter). It'll be narrow (as long as the mole is not very, very wide) and flesh colored or slightly lighter than the normal skin. The bigger and uglier the mole, the more sense it makes to trade it for a scar. Dangerous moles (black, multicolor, odd shaped, bleeding) should always be traded for a scar!
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Similar questions

A 29-year-old member asked:

Does removing a mole leave much of a scar on face?

4 doctor answers7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ram Kalus
Plastic Surgery 41 years experience
Usually not.: It depends on where on the face it is located, but as a rule, in the hands of a skilled plastic surgeon, the scar that results from excision of a mole usually heals very well and can be expected to be less conspicuous than the mole. Often it can become practically invisible. But there is always a possibility for a scar with which you might not pleased.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Sep 30, 2020

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