Factsheet |Minor Surgery
Many people have moles, warts and skin tags and for the majority they are not a problem because of where they are or that the individual is not bothered by them. However, some moles, warts and skin tags are much more visible, particularly when on the face, and can cause the individual some embarrassment and distress. Warts can also cause irritation because they can rub and catch on clothing. In these cases, the individual may wish to seek medical advice about the options for dealing with the unwanted lesion.Generally these lesions can be removed by ‘minor surgery’ i.e. in a clinic under local anaesthetic, as opposed to a hospital and under general anaesthetic.
There are three main ways of removing moles and warts with minor surgery; freezing the lesion (Cryosurgery) so it dies and drops off; removing the lesion with a hot wire (Cauterisation); removing the lesion with a scalpel (Excision). The method used will depend on the type and size of lesion and your practitioner will advise you on the best method.
What is a mole? A mole is a blemish on the skin where clusters of cells called ‘Melanocytes’ grow instead of being evenly distributed throughout the skin. Almost everyone has between 10 and 50 moles on various parts of their body. When we are young, they are mostly skin coloured, so we don’t notice them, but as we get older, they darken and increase in size. They darken through exposure to the sun (UV light) and can sometimes be the origin of skin cancer cells due to over-exposure to the sun. |
What is a wart? Between 8-10% of the population have warts of some kind. There are various types of wart, but those found most often are ‘Common’ warts and ‘Plantar’ warts which are found on the soles of the feet and are also known as Verrucas. Women are more likely to have warts than men, and children more likely than adults. They are caused by a virus (HPV) which is carried by most humans. Whilst warts are not generally a health risk in themselves, they are extremely contagious, both to other parts of the body and to other people. Common warts are clusters of cells which have been affected by the HPV virus. They are usually round and very often raised above the skin. Plantar warts (Verrucas) on the soles of the feet are generally flat and grow into the foot due to the body’s weight. This can make them very painful. |
What is Cryosurgery? The practitioner will use liquid Nitrogen to destroy the mole or wart tissue by freezing it. This process may need repeating after 2-3 weeks to completely remove the unwanted tissue. The process will usually affect some of the surrounding tissue, so it can be quite painful so a Local anaesthetic is usually used. The procedure will usually take 10-15 minutes. |
What is Cauterisation? This process uses a hot wire, usually in a loop which removes the mole or wart, and cauterises the skin behind it to prevent bleeding. This process can be painful and will leave a scab which will eventually drop off as the skin heals. A local anaesthetic is usually used and the procedure will generally take 10-15 minutes. |
