How can i tell if i had a shave or excisional biopsy to remove a suspicious mole? dr used local &?scalpel, around margins of mole. some pigment return

Talk directly: to the doctor to get all the info you need. Take care.

Stitches: yes or no?: if you have stitches, then it was most likely excised but maybe not completely (that may be why you are seeing pigment return). Shave excision is usually achieved without stitches and leaves a raw area that takes a few days to heal. Because pigment cells may be left behind in the deeper layers of the skin, pigment may reappear.

Shave vs excision: Shave biopsy is exactly like it sounds: doc shaves mole off skin (http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/skin-biopsy/multimedia/shave-biopsy/img-20007312). With excisional biopsy, mole is cut out (http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/skin-biopsy/multimedia/excisional-biopsy/img-20005766). Sometimes we use punch biopsy device like holiday cookie cutters. Sounds like you had excision.

What diagnosis?: A biopsy is a procedure to remove tissue for microscopic diagnosis. If the lab tells the DR it is benign, usually you stop there. If the microscopic description is a cancer or severely dysplastic nevus, then more tissue is removed to eliminate any remaining abnormal cells. An excision may be done by shave or by other technique. Excision is a word meaning to remove something. If some pigment remain