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.
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Healing after seborrheic keratosis removal is quick and depends on the method. After a shave excision, a
scab forms within a few days and falls off at about 5 to 7 days, leaving a pink mark that fades to normal
skin colour within 2 to 3 weeks. After CO2 laser it is similar, settling over
3 to 4 weeks, and after cryotherapy a dark crust falls away within a week with the redness fading over
about 3 weeks. Here is the full timeline for each method and how to look after the area.
Healing After Shave Excision
Shave excision is the most common method. The wound is covered with a Kaltostat dressing for about 3 days,
which absorbs any blood and encourages healing. By day 3 a scab has formed; it falls off after about 5 to 7
days, leaving a pink mark underneath. Over the next 2 to 3 weeks the pink mark fades until it is
the colour of the surrounding skin.
Healing After CO2 Laser
After laser, Vaseline is applied and the area is left uncovered. A scab usually forms within
24 hours and falls off after 4 to 7 days, leaving a pink area. Within 3 to 4
weeks the pink settles to a colour similar to the surrounding skin.
Healing After Cryotherapy
After freezing, the spot becomes a dark crust within about 2 days, which gradually falls off within a
week, leaving a pink or red base. Over the next 3 weeks or so the redness fades. In darker skin types
there may be some lightening of the skin (hypopigmentation); usually by around 2 months no mark can be
seen.
Aftercare and When to Seek Help
Whatever the method, keep the area clean, do not pick the scab (let it come away on its own), and protect the healing skin
from strong sun while the pink mark settles, as a fresh mark can darken with sun exposure. Most marks fade completely. Get
in touch if the area becomes increasingly red, painful, swollen or starts to weep, which can suggest
infection. How likely a growth is to return after each method is covered in
do seborrheic keratoses grow back?,
and the methods are compared in our complete removal guide.
Common Questions
- How long does seborrheic keratosis removal take to heal?
- Quickly. After a shave excision the scab falls off at 5 to 7 days and the pink mark fades over 2 to 3 weeks. Laser settles over 3 to 4 weeks, and cryotherapy over about 3 weeks once the crust has gone.
- Should I pick the scab off?
- No. Let the scab come away on its own; picking it can delay healing and increase the chance of a mark or infection.
- Will it leave a mark?
- Usually only a temporary pink mark that fades to normal skin colour over a few weeks. In darker skin types cryotherapy can occasionally leave a lighter patch, which is why shave excision is often preferred.
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