Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
Get started today
Book a Consultation
The removal itself is quick: most single moles are excised in 20 to 40 minutes, and the actual
cutting takes only a few of those minutes. The rest is preparation — cleaning, numbing with local anaesthetic, and
careful closure. You are in and out in a single same-day visit and can usually drive yourself home. The longer
timeline is the healing, not the procedure: sutures out at one to two weeks, and the scar maturing over
several months.
How Long the Procedure Takes
For a single, straightforward mole, allow 20 to 40 minutes in the room. That breaks down roughly
as: a few minutes to clean and mark the area, a few more for the local anaesthetic to take effect, two to ten
minutes of actual excision, and the remainder for careful suturing and dressing. Booking time is a little longer
because it includes your consultation and consent.
What Affects the Time
- Size and depth — larger or deeper moles take longer to excise and close.
- Location — sites with thin or mobile skin (face, near the eye) need more careful closure.
- Number — having several moles removed in one visit naturally extends the appointment.
- Method — a shave removal is faster than a full excision with sutures.
Anaesthetic and Comfort
Mole removal is done under local anaesthetic, so you stay fully awake and the area is numb. You
may feel a brief sting as the anaesthetic is injected, then only light pressure during the procedure itself —
no pain. Because there is no general anaesthetic, there is no grogginess afterwards and most people return
straight to normal activities.
The Healing Timeline
This is where the real time is spent. Expect non-dissolvable sutures to be removed at 7 days (face) to 10–14 days
(body); the wound to close within two to three weeks; and the scar to continue maturing and fading for several
months. Following the aftercare guide
— and protecting the scar from sun — makes a real difference to the final result. The full procedure is covered in our
mole removal guide.
Common Questions
- Is mole removal done in a single visit?
- Yes. For most moles, assessment and removal are completed in one same-day visit under local anaesthetic. Only occasionally — for example a complex or facial lesion needing planning — is removal arranged for a separate appointment.
- Can I drive home afterwards?
- Usually yes, because only local anaesthetic is used and you remain alert. The exception is a mole near the eye or in a position where the dressing affects your vision or comfort while driving.
- How long does it take to remove several moles?
- Each additional mole adds roughly 10 to 20 minutes depending on size and site. Removing several in one session is efficient and is priced per mole; your surgeon will confirm the plan and cost at your assessment.
Share this Post
