We offer surgery for a wide range of benign skin problems, including moles, warts, cysts and skin tags. Precise and quick treatments that allow you to return to your normal activities in no time at all.
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Surgery for benign skin problems
Also known as: Skin lesion removal, excision of skin lesion, removal of benign skin lesions
Easy access
Call us today to book an appointment
Fast refferal
Get seen and treated within 14 days
What is it for?
Removing skin problems that are harmless
Surgery for benign skin problems consultation at The London Clinic
Surgery for the removal of benign skin problems (sometimes called skin lesions) is usually simple and painless, and often takes just minutes.
Depending on your skin problem, your consultant may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
- Complete excision (excision biopsy), where the whole skin lesion is cut out and removed.
- Partial removal (shave biopsy), where your surgeon cuts across the base of your lesion so it’s level with your surrounding skin.
- Freezing (cryotherapy), that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill off your lesion.
- Laser therapy, that uses a very strong beam of light to remove your lesion.
- Heat treatment (electrocautery), that involves the tip of a probe which is heated up by an electric current and used to burn off a skin lesion.
- Scooping away (curettage), where your surgeon uses a spoon-shaped surgical instrument to gently scoop away your lesion.
As well as receiving first-class treatment at The London Clinic, you’ll also benefit from personalised care that puts your wellbeing at the heart of your experience with us.
Contact us today to find out more about our range of surgical procedures for benign skin problems and start your five-star treatment journey.
FAQs
Mole removal
The removal of your mole will usually be done in one of two ways:
- Complete excision – Your surgeon numbs the area where your mole is. They use a surgical blade to cut out the whole mole and some healthy skin around it. They then close the wound with stitches and cover it with a dressing.
- Shave biopsy – This procedure is used more often for small moles.
After numbing the area where the mole is, your surgeon uses a small blade to shave off the mole. You normally don’t need stitches after this type of surgery.
We send removed moles to a laboratory to be tested for skin cancer, even if they look benign.
Cyst removal
A cyst is like a small balloon under the skin. If it’s pricked and emptied, it fills up again. So the successful removal of a cyst requires the whole ‘balloon’ to be removed.
To do this, your surgeon will first use a local anaesthetic to numb the area where your cyst is. They’ll then make a small cut over the cyst and remove the ‘balloon’ from under your skin.
Your surgeon will stitch your skin together, making your scar as minimal as possible.
Wart removal
Depending on what type of wart you have and where it is on your body, your surgeon may suggest one of the following treatment options:
Complete excision – Your surgeon numbs the area where your wart is and uses a surgical blade to cut out the whole wart. They may then destroy the root of the wart by freezing it or by using an electric needle that superheats the skin.
Freezing (cryotherapy) – Using cotton wool or a spray, your surgeon freezes your wart with liquid nitrogen. This causes the cells in the wart to die. A scab then forms, which usually falls off one to two weeks after treatment.
Laser removal – A very strong beam of light is used to carefully target the wart. This leads to the blood supply to the wart stopping. The wart then naturally falls off after a few weeks.
How long it takes for you to recover from your surgery will depend on the type of operation you have and how fit and healthy you are before surgery. But most people can return to their normal activities the same day as their surgery.
How long it takes for your wound to heal following your surgery will again depend on your operation and your general health. Usually, it takes around two to three weeks for most wounds to heal.
One of our world-leading plastic and reconstructive surgeons will oversee your treatment at The London Clinic.
Before your surgery, your dedicated care team will guide you through what to expect, talk about your recovery plan and answer all your questions.
Most surgeries take less than 30 minutes, and you’ll typically be able to go home shortly after yours.
However, some people may need to have day surgery. This means you’re admitted to the hospital on the day of your surgery and usually go home a few hours after your procedure.
Whether you’re treated as an outpatient or a day patient, we recommend you arrange for someone to take you home.
This is because you may feel some discomfort, and it may take a little time for the medication you receive to wear off.
Once you’re ready to leave The London Clinic, your care team will give you advice to follow at home to help you have a speedy recovery.
You’ll also be able to contact your care team at any time if you’ve got a question or need advice.
Consultants
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
Timeline
We aim to get you treated without delay and back to your normal life as quickly as possible. Typically, this involves the following steps:
Book an appointment
Our dedicated appointments team will arrange for you to meet with one of our renowned consultants.
Diagnosis and treatment plan
At your appointment, your consultant will examine your skin problem and discuss your treatment options. If surgery is needed, they may be able to carry it out at the same meeting.
The day of your surgery
If you require to come back to The London Clinic for your surgery, your care team will welcome you, talk you through your procedure and get you ready for your surgery.
After your surgery, your consultant will find out how you’re feeling and talk through how your treatment went.
Aftercare
You'll stay at The London Clinic until you've recovered well from your surgery. Your care team will also give you advice about any pain medication you may need, dressing changes and possible side effects.
Follow-up
You'll have a follow-up appointment with your consultant to check everything is going as expected and you're happy with the result of your surgery.
You may also need to return to The London Clinic for the removal of any stitches. If your skin lesion was sent to be tested, you’ll receive the results from your doctor when they’re ready.
Treatment options
Surgery is one option we offer for a benign skin problem. Your consultant may also recommend one or more of the following treatments, depending on your skin problem and general health. Photodynamic therapy Skin lesion removal cream or gel
Why choose The London Clinic?
Trusted for over 90 years, The London Clinic is an independent charitable hospital that reinvests into care, research, and support for those who can’t easily access private treatment.
The UK’s largest independent hospital
More patients choose The London Clinic than any other.
Top-rated by real patients
4.86/5 from over 1,600 reviews on Doctify and over 4.5 on Google.
Full intensive care on-site
World-class 13-bed ICU for expert support if your care becomes complex.
Investing in clinical excellence
Backed by Northwestern, we equip our teams with cutting-edge medical equipment.
0% Finance Options
We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.