Seborrheic Keratosis Removal in Edinburgh
Seborrheic keratoses are common, harmless growths that appear from middle age — waxy, warty or “stuck-on” in appearance, often called age spots, though they are unrelated to viral warts and not infectious. At Waterfront, every lesion is examined with dermoscopy before removal, because seborrheic keratoses can occasionally mimic melanoma.
Mr Ben Aldridge — the UK’s only consultant dual-qualified in dermatology and plastic surgery — and Mr Kazem Nassar perform all removals: cryotherapy, curettage and cautery, shave or surgical excision, chosen at consultation. Guide prices from £395; full price list below.
Contents
Seborrheic keratosis removal at a glance
- Consultants — Mr Ben Aldridge or Mr Kazem Nassar, both on the GMC Specialist Register.
- What it is — a common, benign growth, often called an “age spot”.
- Assessment — dermoscopic examination to confirm the diagnosis and exclude melanoma.
- Removal — cryotherapy, curettage and cautery, shave or surgical excision, under local anaesthetic where required.
- Recovery — outpatient day case; 0–1 week off work.
- Guide prices — from £395 to £795 with histology. Full price list below.
- Consultation — typically within 1–2 weeks; no GP referral required.
What seborrheic keratoses are
Seborrheic keratoses are non-cancerous growths of the upper skin layer — extremely common from the sixties onwards, often multiple, and found anywhere except the palms and soles. They are typically waxy or warty, sharply defined, and tan to black in colour, with a “stuck-on” look. There is no evidence they turn into skin cancer, and they are not contagious.
Why they are sometimes mistaken for skin cancer
Seborrheic keratoses are harmless, but they can occasionally look like a pigmented skin cancer — particularly melanoma — to the naked eye. This is the main reason a patient should not assume a dark, raised, or irregular spot is “just an age spot” without it being properly assessed.
Dermoscopy resolves this in almost all cases. A consultant trained in dermatology recognises the structural features of a seborrheic keratosis under the dermatoscope — milia-like cysts, comedo-like openings, fissures and ridges — that are not present in melanoma. Where the dermoscopic appearance is unambiguous, the lesion is treated as a benign seborrheic keratosis and removed (if you choose to remove it) by whichever method suits its size and site.
Where any doubt exists, the lesion is removed under the skin cancer pathway as an excisional biopsy, with the material sent for histology. See the mole and skin cancer check page if your primary reason for booking is to have a changing or suspicious lesion looked at, rather than to have a confirmed seborrheic keratosis removed.
How removal is performed
The method is chosen at consultation, based on the size, thickness, and site of the lesion, and on your preferences for cosmetic result.
Cryotherapy — liquid nitrogen is applied to the lesion, which causes it to scab and fall off over the following one to two weeks. Best for thinner seborrheic keratoses and small lesions on the trunk and limbs. Does not produce material for histology, so is only used where the diagnosis is dermoscopically certain.
Curettage and cautery — the lesion is scraped off under local anaesthetic and the base sealed with electrocautery. Works well for thicker lesions where a flat result is preferred. Material can be sent for histology where indicated.
Shave excision — a horizontal removal of the raised portion of the lesion at the level of the surrounding skin, under local anaesthetic. Used for raised lesions where a flush cosmetic result matters. Material is sent for histology.
Surgical excision — the lesion is removed in full with a small margin and the wound closed with sutures. Used for larger lesions, lesions in cosmetically sensitive sites, or where histology is required. Material is sent for histology in every case.
Most removals are performed under local anaesthetic in a single outpatient visit.
When to seek assessment
Patients commonly book a seborrheic keratosis assessment when they have noticed one of the following:
- A growing, scaly, or warty patch that catches on clothing or jewellery
- A lesion that has become tender, inflamed, or has started to bleed when knocked
- Multiple lesions developing over several years, particularly on visible sites
- A lesion that has changed enough in appearance to cause concern about skin cancer
- A lesion that is cosmetically bothersome
A sudden increase in the number of seborrheic keratoses, particularly accompanied by itch, is occasionally associated with internal illness (the so-called Leser-Trélat sign) and warrants assessment. Any individual lesion that changes rapidly in size, shape, or colour should also be reviewed, to exclude a skin cancer mimicking a seborrheic keratosis.
Risks and considerations
The risks of seborrheic keratosis removal are explained in detail at consultation and include:
- Scarring — all methods leave some mark. Cryotherapy and curettage typically leave a flat lighter or darker patch; surgical excision leaves a linear scar. Placement and method are planned to minimise the cosmetic impact.
- 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 — minor and self-limiting in almost all cases.
- Infection — uncommon; managed with antibiotics where needed.
- Incomplete removal or recurrence — possible with methods that do not remove the lesion in full (cryotherapy, light curettage). Surgical excision has the lowest recurrence rate.
- New lesions — removing one seborrheic keratosis does not prevent new lesions developing elsewhere on the skin over time.
Aftercare
Wound or treated-area care is provided in writing on the day of the procedure. After cryotherapy the lesion typically scabs and falls off over one to two weeks; the area should be left alone to heal. After surgical excision or curettage, stitches (if 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. Where histology has been taken, the result is normally available within approximately two weeks and is communicated by the consultant who performed the procedure.
What seborrheic keratosis removal costs
Pricing depends on the method of removal and the size of the lesion. Guide prices at Waterfront Private Hospital:
- Consultation — £200
- Cryotherapy of small lesions (skin-tag-priced) — from £395
- Shave excision (including histology) — from £595
- Excision of a benign skin lesion (including histology) — from £795
- Multiple lesions 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 (where applicable), and routine post-operative reviews. Final pricing is confirmed in writing after consultation, based on the number, size, site, and method required.
Waterfront Private Hospital is self-pay.
Keratoses removal before and after
Frequently asked questions about keratoses
What is a seborrheic keratosis?
Are seborrheic keratoses dangerous?
How can you tell a seborrheic keratosis from a skin cancer?
Who performs the assessment and removal at Waterfront?
Do I need a GP referral?
How quickly can I be seen?
Can multiple seborrheic keratoses be removed in one session?
Will the procedure leave a scar?
Will the seborrheic keratosis come back after removal?
What anaesthetic is used?
Should I be concerned if a lot of seborrheic keratoses appear suddenly?
How is treatment paid for?
Page author
Mr Kazem Nassar, MBChB, FRCS (Plast), GMC 7131999, is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Consultant with over 10 years of experience. He practices at St John’s Hospital and the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, specialising in melanoma, skin cancer treatments, breast surgery, and post-cancer reconstructive surgery.
