Alison in KY Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 My just turned 12 year old has 5 moles that need to be removed. This girl is not tough...she freaks out first then asks questions later kind of girl. She wants the dermatologist to take care of this at her office. The derm.'s policy is to only do 3 spots at a time. We are considering pushing to have all 5 spots removed at once. I know it will be rough on her, but I think it will be worse if we have to go back twice. Our other alternative is going to a hospital and she is totally against that one. Has anyone ever had multiple moles removed at once an regretted getting them all done? Alison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I had one removed. For anymore, I'd much prefer being completely knocked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I have only had moles removed individually. Each time I had them cut out. some doctors were more skilled than others. I have a lovely scar on my arm form one. the Dr. that removed one just below my eye did a beut job. You cannot even see the scar. Each and every mole had something wrong with it ( they were starting go grow like crazy) but none of them were cancer. Why does she need to have so many removed all at once? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I wouldn't have more than 3 removed at a time. That's a pretty standard thing dermatologists go with. The derm may not want to remove all 5. There is some research that suggests that people who are just naturally mole-y are healthier in general because the moles help remove toxins from your system. I'm not clear on how, but that's what they've found. So most derms will not want to remove them unless they are bothersome, changing, or just don't lookright to the dermatologist. Also, be sure the derm is a good one. I had one that was kind of rough and left scars. My current one is so gentle. I never feel a thing and there is never a scar. I've had one mole come back pre-cancerous as has Melody (when she was 11). Those needed more tissue removed which does leave a scar no matter what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Is this the first time they're being removed or biopsied? If I were having them done on the face, I'd see a plastic surgeon unless you know for sure that the derm is highly skilled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I've only had one removed, and it was so easy and painless, I could have had 10 removed and it wouldn't have made a difference to me. It was on my arm and done by a general practitioner. We don't have any dermatologists in our town. I imagine they have the limit of 3 for a reason, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I've had 10+ removed. Will they be removed by shaving or excision? The shaving involved a numbing shot at the site and then shaving the mole off with a very flexible razor blade. Not bad at all. The excision was a shot, cutting it out, and stitches. Not bad either, you just have stitches to take care of and remove. I have had three removed at one time and it really was no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I've never had more than three removed at one time, and never had more than one pre-cancerous cut out at one time. Maybe it has something to do with whatever is in the numbing shots? Neither procedure was painful. The shots sting a bit, but then I felt nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 There is some research that suggests that people who are just naturally mole-y are healthier in general REALLY? This is awesome. I have tons of moles! The shaving involved a numbing shot at the site and then shaving the mole off with a very flexible razo blade. Not bad at all. I had some weird little non-mole bump that my (moley!) doctor told me was not a mole but like a clogged pore or something, anyway it was on my nose for a couple years and I hated it! Anyway she cut it off with a razor blade, basically. I had a numbing shot. It worked. It was a bit ugly for a couple days, but a success! I also had a few skin tags burned off. I don't know why I get them when pregnant. That is my only bump removal experience. Alison, I hope your daughter is okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I have a feeling it is either about the lidocaine shots or insurance. I've had three done, and other than the lidocaine stinging, they aren't a big deal at all. I had to go in three separate times, though, because of insurance... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I've had half a dozen out over the years. The injections to numb the mole hurt, but not the mole removal. I am not sure I'd want 5 done at once, although 'looking forward' to a second round is not appealing either! When dd needed surgery after an accident, the district hospital put something on her hand before we transferred to the children's hospital so that her hand was numb by the time they got to her and she did not feel the needle going in. Can they give you some sort of topical anaesthetic cream to apply beforehand? Maybe they do that routinely now, but they didn't when I had it done and the injections were not fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I had one and it was no big deal. He cut it out, then cauterized it. The scar looks like a cigarette burn (not on my face). Ask if the dr will use the numbing spray before the shot. That takes all the pain out of the shot. We had a ped that used it for all the immunizations and it was wonderful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I had one and it was no big deal. He cut it out, then cauterized it. The scar looks like a cigarette burn (not on my face). Ask if the dr will use the numbing spray before the shot. That takes all the pain out of the shot. We had a ped that used it for all the immunizations and it was wonderful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alison in KY Posted May 23, 2013 Author Share Posted May 23, 2013 This doctor and the office is very gentle, I've had 2 done myself there. It will be cutting and stiches on each one, and the worst part is the needle stick because the numbing agent will sting. She is really mole-y (glad to hear that could be a good thing) but these 5 spots are irregular shaped and darker...and that's what they look for in moles changing to become cancerous. They do not have laughing gas, but we can get her a prescription for something to relax her (which I plan on doing). Going to the hospital and getting an IV really upsets her, so she wants to go this way with it. My husband wants to insist they do all 5 at once, simply to get it all over with and so that she won't have to go back through the shots again. He wants to do this so much that he's willing to switch doc's and go out of town. I'm more the do what the doctor thinks girl here. His point is that he doesn't want a traumatized daughter going back to the doc's office for round 2 of something that she would already know made her sore, etc. And again, this kid I my wimpiest. Other than a few shots, she's never even had her finger pricked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 If they are on her face or neck, please take her to a reputable plastic surgeon to have it done. I had one done last year and it was painless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I had four removed at once a few years back in a doctor's office. For some reason, the process made me feel very light-headed. It was not the pain, which was just the shot to deaden the area. It was the feeling of cutting and pulling that completed wigged me out. I felt sick to my stomach and like I was going to pass out. The moles were on my chest and back. I've done natural childbirth so pain is not a stranger to me, but this was different. If I had it to do over, I would appreciate a valium or something. I don't know if everyone has this reaction or not. Also, I would much rather do it all at once than have two appointments. Mine were removed with a punch tool. They did involve stitches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lea1 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I have had lots of them removed over the years, some were cancerous and some were not, some shaved off and some cut with stitches. I have to go back in today to have some stitches removed. When I had this last one done, I ended up feeling very shaky because of the amount of lidocane they had to use. I think i would talk to the doctor about your concerns and see if she feels it is wise to do them all at once (and if not, why not). If it is only for insurance rules, then I would push for it. It could be some other reason that really makes sense though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Ask for some pain meds to use prior to the procedure along with something to relax her. I would say the 3 mole rule is an insurance issue as much as anything. Maybe the doctor can bill you for 2 office visits in the same 24 hours, but I have seen that cause billing issues so I can understand if they do not want to do it. I had 3 removed last week and have 3 more that are coming off in 45 minutes. LOL They were just a pinch from the pain med, cut and the cauterized. In the past I have had 3 that required incisions. The lidocaine hurt a bit more for those because they have to go deeper to get it in the right spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I've had four done at a time on multiple occasions. Issues can be with healing....it can be uncomfortable sleeping when you've had both arms and you're a side sleeper! I would ask why they don't want five done at once. I'd be okay with it. I've had stitches and shavings and punch biopsies. And I'm in to the dermatologist tomorrow! Wear sunscreen and make your kids do the same! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alison in KY Posted May 24, 2013 Author Share Posted May 24, 2013 I found out that they only do 3 at a time for insurance coverage. They said insurance would cover more removed on another day, but not the same day. They want us to check with a general surgeon about having it done.m well see, but thanks for the comments, I feel better about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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