Mole Removal in Edinburgh
Patients commonly book mole removal for one of two reasons — because a mole is cosmetically bothersome (particularly on the face) or because they have noticed it changing, catching, bleeding, or itching.
At Waterfront Private Hospital, every mole is examined with dermoscopy by a consultant on the GMC Specialist Register before any decision to remove. This is the most important step: the consultant is confirming that the mole is benign and that a cosmetic removal is the appropriate route. Where the dermoscopic appearance raises any concern, the mole is removed as an excisional biopsy under the skin cancer pathway with histology, rather than as a cosmetic procedure.
The consultant who assesses you is the consultant who performs the removal. Mr Ben Aldridge — the UK’s only consultant dual-qualified in dermatology and plastic surgery — and Mr Kazem Nassar, consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon, both run mole removal lists at Waterfront. Histology is performed on every excision.
Guide prices: from £595 for shave excision; from £795 for full excision. Both include histology.
Contents
Mole removal at a glance
- Consultants — Mr Ben Aldridge or Mr Kazem Nassar, both on the GMC Specialist Register.
- Assessment — dermoscopic examination at consultation, before any decision to remove.
- Methods — shave excision (for raised benign moles where a flush finish is preferred) or full surgical excision (for flat moles or where margins are required).
- Anaesthetic — local anaesthetic for almost all cases.
- Hospital stay — outpatient day case.
- Histology — performed on every excision.
- Recovery — 0 to 1 week off work, depending on the site and method.
- Guide prices — from £595 (shave excision) or from £795 (full excision), both including histology.
- Time from booking to consultation — typically within 1 to 2 weeks.
- GP referral — not required.
What moles are
A mole, in clinical terms a melanocytic naevus, is a benign growth of pigment-producing cells in the skin. Moles are extremely common — most adults have between ten and forty — and the vast majority are entirely harmless. They can be flat or raised, light brown to almost black, and present from childhood or appearing through adult life.
Moles are removed for one of three reasons:
- Cosmetic — the patient would prefer the mole was not there.
- Mechanical — the mole catches on clothing, jewellery, or shaving.
- Clinical — the mole has changed in size, shape, colour, or behaviour, or is bleeding, itching, or crusting. These are assessed and treated under the skin cancer pathway rather than as a cosmetic removal.
If your primary reason for booking is concern that a mole may be changing, see the mole and skin cancer check page.
How mole removal is performed
The method is chosen at consultation, based on whether the mole is raised or flat, its size and site, and the cosmetic result you prefer.
Shave excision — a horizontal removal of the raised portion of the mole at the level of the surrounding skin, under local anaesthetic. Used for raised, clinically benign moles where a flush, scar-line-free result is preferred. Material is sent for histology in every case.
Full surgical excision — the mole is removed in its entirety with a small margin of surrounding skin, and the wound closed with sutures. Used for flat moles, larger moles, or any mole where a margin of normal tissue should be removed. Material is sent for histology in every case.
The choice between shave and full excision affects the appearance of the final scar. Shave excision generally leaves a lighter or darker round patch where the mole was. Full excision leaves a linear scar that follows the natural skin tension lines wherever possible. Your consultant will discuss both options at consultation, including how each is likely to look once healed at your particular site.
Most mole removals are performed under local anaesthetic in a single outpatient visit. Multiple moles can usually be removed in one session.
Why dermoscopy and consultant-level technique matter
Mole removal can be obtained at many private clinics in Edinburgh. Two things distinguish Waterfront.
Dermoscopic assessment by a consultant trained in dermatology. Most moles are obviously benign, but a small proportion are early melanomas that look benign to the naked eye. Dermoscopy — a magnified, polarised view of the lesion — reveals features under the surface that distinguish a benign mole from an early melanoma. A consultant trained in dermatology, with experience reading thousands of dermoscopic images, makes this distinction reliably. A nurse-led or non-consultant service does not.
Plastic surgery technique for closure. The cosmetic result of a mole removal depends almost entirely on how the wound is closed and how the scar is planned. Consultant plastic surgery training is built around the orientation of incisions along skin tension lines, the management of tension across a closure, and reconstruction in cosmetically sensitive sites. The same procedure can produce two very different results depending on the surgeon.
For facial moles in particular, both factors matter. Dermoscopy confirms the diagnosis; plastic surgery technique gives the result.
When to seek assessment
Patients commonly book mole removal when they have noticed:
- A mole that is cosmetically bothersome, particularly on the face, neck, or hands
- A mole that catches on clothing, jewellery, or during shaving
- A mole that has become tender, inflamed, or has started to bleed when knocked
- A mole that has changed in size, shape, colour, or behaviour
- A new pigmented mole that has appeared in adulthood
The first three are cosmetic or mechanical reasons. The fourth and fifth are clinical reasons and are assessed under the skin cancer pathway — see the mole and skin cancer check page.
Risks and considerations
The risks of mole removal are explained in detail at consultation and include:
- Scarring — every removal leaves a scar. Shave excision tends to leave a flat lighter or darker patch; full excision leaves a linear scar. Placement and closure are planned to minimise its appearance.
- Pigmentation change — the area treated may heal lighter or darker than the surrounding skin, particularly in sun-exposed sites and in patients with darker skin types.
- Bleeding and bruising — usually minor and self-limiting.
- Infection — uncommon; managed with antibiotics where needed.
- Altered sensation — temporary numbness around the wound is common and usually resolves over several weeks to months.
- Regrowth — possible after shave excision because deeper pigment cells can remain. Full excision removes the mole in its entirety with minimal regrowth risk.
Histology is performed on every excision. If the histology is unexpected — for example confirming the mole was a melanoma — your consultant will discuss this with you in person and arrange the appropriate next steps under the skin cancer pathway.
Aftercare
Wound care advice is provided in writing on the day of the procedure. Stitches, where used, are removed at 7 to 14 days, depending on the site. The Waterfront nursing team is available for the first week for any wound-related concerns. Your consultant remains accessible after the procedure — if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.
Histology results are normally available within approximately two weeks. The result is communicated by the consultant who performed the removal. Where the histology is unremarkable — as it is in almost all cosmetic mole removals — that is the end of the pathway. Where the histology is unexpected, your consultant will discuss the next steps with you in person.
Before and after mole removal photos
What mole removal costs
Guide prices at Waterfront Private Hospital:
- Consultation — £200
- Shave excision of a mole (including histology) — from £595
- Full surgical excision of a mole (including histology) — from £795
- Multiple moles in one session — priced after assessment, based on the total work required
Each price covers the consultant’s fee, the hospital and theatre fees at Waterfront, histology, and routine post-operative reviews. Final pricing is confirmed in writing after consultation.
Waterfront Private Hospital is self-pay.
Your consultants
Mole removal at Waterfront is performed by Mr Ben Aldridge — the UK’s only consultant dual-qualified in dermatology and plastic surgery, with a PhD in skin lesion diagnostics — and by Mr Kazem Nassar, consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Both are on the GMC Specialist Register. The consultant who assesses you with dermoscopy at the consultation is the consultant who performs the removal.
Frequently asked questions about mole removal
Who performs mole removal at Waterfront?
Mr Ben Aldridge or Mr Kazem Nassar, both on the GMC Specialist Register. Mr Aldridge is the UK’s only consultant dual-qualified in dermatology and plastic surgery; Mr Nassar is a consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon. The consultant who assesses you is the consultant who performs the removal.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can book a consultation at Waterfront directly. If you would like a copy of the consultation summary sent to your GP, the consultant can arrange that at the appointment.
How quickly can I be seen?
Consultation appointments are normally available within 1 to 2 weeks of enquiry. Removal is usually scheduled within two weeks of consultation.
What is the difference between shave and full excision?
Shave excision removes the raised portion of a mole at the level of the surrounding skin and is suited to raised, clinically benign moles where a flush, scar-line-free finish is preferred. Full excision removes the mole entirely with a small margin and is closed with sutures, suited to flat moles or moles where a margin is required. Your consultant explains both options at consultation.
Is the mole sent for histology?
Yes, on every excision — shave or full. The material is sent for pathology to confirm the diagnosis is benign.
What anaesthetic is used?
Local anaesthetic in almost all cases. Multiple moles or moles in anatomically challenging sites may occasionally require sedation; this is discussed at consultation.
Will mole removal leave a scar?
Every removal leaves a scar. Shave excision usually leaves a flat lighter or darker patch; full excision leaves a linear scar that follows the natural skin tension lines wherever possible. Plastic surgery technique is used in every case to plan the scar for the best cosmetic outcome.
Can multiple moles be removed in one appointment?
Yes. Multiple moles are often removed in a single session under local anaesthetic. The plan and pricing are set at consultation.
Can a mole grow back?
Regrowth is possible after shave excision, because deeper pigment cells can remain in the skin. Full excision removes the mole in its entirety and the regrowth risk is minimal.
What if the consultant is concerned the mole may not be benign?
If your consultant has any concern that a mole could be a melanoma, the mole is removed as an excisional biopsy under the skin cancer pathway, with histology and onward planning as needed. See the skin cancer page for detail.
How long does the procedure take?
Most mole removals take 30 to 45 minutes, including local anaesthetic, the procedure itself, and dressing. Multiple moles in one session may take longer.
How is treatment paid for?
Waterfront Private Hospital is self-pay. The price you are quoted in writing after consultation covers the consultant’s fee, the hospital and theatre fees, histology, and routine post-operative reviews.
Page author
Mr Ben Aldridge, MB ChB, MSc, PhD, MRCP, FRCS (Plast), GMC [6049481], is a Consultant Dermatologist and Plastic Surgeon at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh. He is the UK's only consultant dual-qualified in dermatology and plastic surgery, holds a PhD in skin lesion diagnostics, is a co-author of national skin cancer guidelines, and chairs the South East Scotland Melanoma Multidisciplinary Team.
