Surgery for benign skin problems
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.
Quick facts
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
Treatment overview
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.
Why choose The London Clinic
Excellence in one place
We operate as teams of experts with world-class resources dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of medical care. You are surrounded by the latest treatments and advice with everything you need to get back to your best health.
Personal care, every time
Exceptional patient care is a way of life for us. Our nurses, clinicians and support teams are dedicated to the care of a very small number of patients, so have more time for you. They’ll be with you every step of the way, tailoring your care around you and giving the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing you’re in the best hands.
Effortlessly simple
We work together as one to guide you through each step of your experience, with complexities unravelled and answers readily to hand. Your personal treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
What's included in your package?
Choosing The London Clinic means your treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
Your treatment package will include:
- Enhanced pre-admission assessment
- Your treatment with our complete care team at your fingertips
- Personalised aftercare and follow-up
We want you to be in control of your health. That’s why we also offer optional services such as comprehensive recovery packages and extra touches for you to choose from during your stay with us.
How to pay
- You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally
- You can pay for yourself (self-pay)
- If you’re paying for yourself, we have finance options available with Chrysalis
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.