Bruising issues

I’ve got this one spot I’m dying to get rid of. But honestly? I am terrified of ending up looking like I have some kind of "centipede" pattern on my back—you know, those nasty scars from a million different stitches—so I was thinking about seeing a private plastic surgeon instead.

Do you guys happen to know anyone actually good?
And what can I do to make sure the scar stays as tiny as possible?
Has anyone here gone through this before?
Thanks! 👋

I know I’m being a little out there, but please don't drag me to the public hospital—there's basically nobody alive in those places... 🙂

My sister actually had a mole removed recently, but I didn't catch any sign of a tick... she was working at a public hospital or something.

There’s really no reason to think it’s a tick because that mole wasn't even that big.

Maybe you'll end up with a couple of extra legs though.😉

Once the surgery is done, just keep rubbing some Neosporin on the scar.

I feel like it really comes down to how big the moles are. I actually had three removed earlier this year—they weren't huge, just kind of raised bumps that were attached to my skin by a small base (hope you know what I mean)... I went to a private dermatologist for laser removal, and honestly, the only thing left behind is just a little bit of darker pigmentation where they used to be. He told me the color should just fade out naturally over time.
If you have the option, I’d definitely recommend this method...

I’m honestly not sure—I saw two friends who had moles removed, both about 5 mm wide. They both ended up with scars at least 2 cm long, plus they were about 1 cm wide with 6 or 7 stitches or staples 😲
And let me tell you, those stitches actually look way worse than the incision itself when it comes to how visible they are.
I have no idea why the marks turned out so big. Both of them just did it for cosmetic reasons—it wasn't like it was melanoma or anything serious.
And since they both went to a public hospital... yeah, I would definitely avoid doing that if I were you 🙂

Jose Miller3, are you in New York City? If you are, please shoot me a DM with your doctor's info!

Can someone please just drop the names of those doctors here publicly instead of sending me a DM? I’m mentally prepping myself for surgery right now... 😁

I had a mole removed by Dr. Zambellia in Seattle and he was fantastic (he runs his own private practice there if anyone needs him), but now I need a solid specialist in Washington, D.C.

Thanks for the heads up🙂

I’d strongly suggest seeing a plastic surgeon instead.

They use a technique called electrical cauterization to shave them off. I just had two removed from less obvious spots to see how the healing and scarring would hold up, and honestly, I couldn't be happier with the results.

In fact, I’m heading back next week to get a few more taken care of.

Avoid the "leftovers" you get from standard surgical excision at all costs. My surgeon actually referred me to a specialist because he explained that traditional removal leaves a scar at least twice the size of the actual mole itself. It’s such a waste, especially when you're dealing with those completely harmless types.

Some moles just have to be cut out with a scalpel, while others can be handled with a laser. I went into a clinic near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. this past summer; my mole was massive and required nine stitches, but thanks to using some Neosporin and giving it enough time to heal, there's almost no scar left at all.

I think we touched on this before—people were raving about Dr. Sandy. I went to see her myself and honestly? Highly recommend. She’s incredibly easy to talk to and actually treats you like a human being instead of just another chart. I went in for some laser work on a stubborn skin issue and was thrilled with the results.
I don't want to sound like a walking advertisement, but if anyone is looking...
click right here 🙂

Honestly, you're just throwing money away if you go the laser route. This electrical current method—electrolysis—is top-tier. They’ll personally evaluate which moles are safe to remove this way and which aren't. Plus, they can actually send those moles to a lab for biopsy after electrolysis, which isn't really an option with lasers once they're gone.

And I won't even mention that the electrical method is about five times cheaper than getting hit with a laser.

Christian Alvarez said:sometimes you just have to cut a mole out...

Yeah, I think you're right there. A mole often isn't just skin deep; it can have a pretty deep root system. To get the whole thing out, you usually need a larger incision. My understanding is that doctors opt for surgical removal whenever they notice any changes—like if it starts swelling or shifts color...

Nobody’s going to jump you or anything! They aren't going to assault your moles right at the clinic entrance 😉

There are actual diagnostic tools used to check the type and condition of a mole, and the surgeon will tell you exactly which ones need to go based on those results.

In my case, they recommended I shouldn't even touch one unless it becomes absolutely necessary... if it even comes to that.

Anyway, from what I've seen, the nastiest ones—the flabby, protruding, massive ones—are actually the easiest to get rid of. It's no big deal and leaves almost no scarring whatsoever.

Back in the spring, I had two moles removed via cauterization at the Mayo Clinic under Dr. Nol's care. There isn't a single trace of a scar left behind. The samples were sent off for pathology, and thanks to my referral and supplemental insurance, the whole ordeal was completely free of charge.
Since I am so incredibly satisfied with the results, I am actually planning to have another four or five cleared away very soon.

Come on, let's get one more 🙂

Larry Bailey2, did you apply it lightly or slather it on after?

I’m getting ready to deal with some removal in a few awkward spots, so I wanted to check.

So, based on everything I’ve seen and heard from all of you, my best advice is to stay far away from that old VA hospital over in Washington, D.C. if you're thinking about getting any mole removals done... 😁

Richard Thompson33 said:So, honestly, looking at what you guys have shared and what I’ve seen myself, my best advice is to stay far away from that old VA hospital over in D.C. if you're thinking about getting anything done to your moles. Just... don't do it.😁

😲 😁
Wait, how did you figure that out? One of those two friends I was telling you about actually went there... and while she's pretty happy with the results, my scar looks absolutely terrible!

Based on everything I’ve dealt with at that hospital, honestly? I wouldn’t recommend going there for anything—not even a minor scrape, let alone actual surgery...

If I actually broke my leg in their parking lot, I’d be begging them to just rush me somewhere else so I could get a cast put on properly!!

So, I had mine taken out on the 5th, and the incisions all went downward. It was done by a plastic surgeon near my ribs.
The scars turned out fine—pretty clean stitching, you can barely even see them. I just went to a specialist with a standard referral, and everything went smoothly.

placidgardener19 said:😲 😁
How did you know? One of those two friends I mentioned actually went there... she’s happy with the results, but my scar looks absolutely terrible...

How did I know? Because I'm just echoing your own experience and perspective. 😁 😠

Richard Thompson33 said:So, based on everything we've all been through, my best advice is to stay far away from that old VA hospital out in D.C. if you're looking to get a mole removed.😁

I couldn't agree more!
My daughter actually went there to have a mole taken off her back, and honestly, the scar is huge—it’s even stretched out over time. It looks just like a thick stretch mark right in the middle.
The procedure was done by their plastic surgery department.
She’s pretty chill about it and says if it doesn't bother her, it shouldn't bother anyone else, but I just can't help feeling bad for her.
Now I really need to find a specialist who can go in and fix it up for her!

magic said:Come on, just one more 🙂

Larry Bailey2, did you apply any ointment or just let them be after the fact?

I am preparing to have a few removed from some rather awkward spots, so I am curious.

Well, nothing special happened. The day I had them removed, I kept that little gauze pad my sister taped onto me for the following day—I didn't even dare shower my back because I was terrified, given it was my first time. By the next morning, I took it off and there were just tiny dry scabs. I didn't apply a single thing to them; they fell off quickly, and now you can barely even tell where they used to be.