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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Skin tags (acrochordons) are small, soft, harmless growths of skin that hang from a thin stalk, most often where skin rubs against skin — the neck, armpits, eyelids, groin and under the breasts. They are caused by friction, and are more common with age, pregnancy, and conditions linked to insulin resistance such as type 2 diabetes. They are not dangerous and never need removing for medical reasons — but many people have them removed because they catch, snag or simply bother them. The safe options are cryotherapy, electrosurgery, surgical excision or laser, done by a clinician; home removal risks bleeding, infection and scarring. This guide covers what causes skin tags, when to take note, how they’re removed, and what it costs.
What Skin Tags Are
A skin tag is a benign overgrowth of soft tissue — loose collagen and blood vessels wrapped in skin — attached by a narrow stalk (peduncle). They range from 2 mm to a centimetre or more, are usually skin-coloured or slightly darker, and are painless unless caught or twisted. They are extremely common, especially after 40. Crucially, they are not contagious and not cancerous — though it is worth being sure a growth is a skin tag and not something else (see are skin tags dangerous?).
Skin Tags vs Other Growths
Several common growths get mistaken for skin tags, and telling them apart matters because they’re treated — and assessed — differently:
- Wart — rough and firm rather than soft, caused by a virus (HPV) and contagious, unlike a skin tag.
- Mole — usually flatter and pigmented; a mole that changes should be assessed for melanoma, which a skin tag is not.
- Seborrhoeic keratosis — a waxy, “stuck-on” brown growth that’s also benign but looks quite different up close.
- Milia or cysts — firm bumps under the skin rather than a stalked tag hanging from the surface.
The key practical difference is the stalk: a true skin tag dangles from a narrow base. If a growth is flat, pigmented, firmly rooted, bleeding or changing, have it checked rather than assuming it’s a tag — confirming the diagnosis is part of every consultation.
What Causes Skin Tags
The main driver is friction — skin rubbing on skin or clothing — which is why they cluster in folds. Contributing factors include:
- Age — they become more common through middle age.
- Pregnancy — hormonal changes and weight gain make them more likely; see skin tags in pregnancy.
- Weight — more skin folds mean more friction.
- Genetics — they often run in families.
- Insulin resistance — strongly associated with multiple skin tags (more below).
If you’re suddenly developing many, our guide on why you’re getting so many skin tags explains when that’s worth investigating.
When Skin Tags Are a Health Signal
Skin tags themselves are harmless, but having multiple tags — especially around the neck and armpits — is associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, and can be a marker for an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. This is a recognised clinical association, not a cause for alarm: it simply means that if you’ve developed many skin tags, it’s reasonable to have your metabolic health reviewed by your GP. We cover this in skin tags and insulin resistance and what skin tags can be a warning for.
How Skin Tags Are Removed
At London Skin Clinic, removal is a quick “see and treat” procedure, usually same-day, by a consultant. The method is matched to the tag:
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cryotherapy | Freezing the tag with liquid nitrogen so it drops off. | Small tags away from delicate areas. |
| Electrosurgery | A fine heated tip removes the tag and seals the base. | Small-to-medium tags; minimal bleeding. |
| Surgical excision | Snipping the tag at the base with sterile instruments. | Larger tags; allows analysis if needed. |
| Laser | Laser energy removes the tag precisely. | Delicate or cosmetically sensitive areas. |
For tags in tricky spots like the corner of the eye, method and precision matter even more. The difference between shaving and excision is explained separately.
“I had a tag removed from under my arm and was really nervous about the process, but the team made me feel so comfortable and calm that it was such a simple process. Would definitely recommend.”
On the Day and Aftercare
Removal itself takes only minutes per tag. After confirming the diagnosis and numbing the area where needed, the consultant removes the tag and you can go straight back to your day — there’s no general anaesthetic and no downtime. You may have a tiny scab or a small pink mark where the tag was; this settles over one to two weeks.
Aftercare is simple: keep the area clean and dry, avoid picking any scab, and protect a healing site on the face from strong sun. Larger tags removed by excision may have a single small suture; most don’t. Contact the clinic if you notice spreading redness, increasing pain or discharge — uncommon, but worth a quick check.
How a same-day skin tag removal works at our Harley Street clinic — cleaning the area, local anaesthetic, careful excision and dissolvable stitches, with minimal scarring.
Why Not to Remove Them at Home
It’s tempting to tie off, cut or freeze a skin tag yourself, but home removal carries real risks: bleeding (tags contain a blood vessel), infection, incomplete removal, and scarring. Cutting a tag near the eye or groin is particularly hazardous. Just as importantly, a clinician confirms the growth really is a harmless skin tag and not something that needs checking. The dangers of DIY kits and tools are detailed in DIY skin tag tool safety, and what can go wrong in skin tag removal gone wrong.
Cost at London Skin Clinic
- Initial consultation: £100
- Skin tag removal: £200 for the first tag
- Each additional tag in the same visit: £125
You’re given the full cost before anything proceeds — see skin tag removal cost in the UK and how many can be removed in one session. Book same-day skin tag removal.
Can You Prevent Them?
You can’t always prevent skin tags, but reducing friction (well-fitting clothing, keeping skin folds dry), maintaining a healthy weight, and managing blood-sugar control all help lower the tendency to form new ones. They don’t usually grow back once properly removed, though new ones can appear elsewhere — see can skin tags grow back?
What People Ask on Reddit — A Surgeon’s Honest Take
Skin-tag threads (especially for London) circle the same few frustrations. Here are honest answers.
“Private prices seem chaotic — nobody quotes clearly. What does it actually cost?”
That’s a fair complaint, and it’s exactly why we publish fixed prices: £100 consultation, £200 for the first tag, £125 for each additional tag in the same visit, confirmed before anything proceeds. Beware quotes that start low and climb on the day — ask for the total, including consultation, up front.
“Will the NHS just remove it?”
Generally not — skin tag removal is considered cosmetic, so the NHS won’t usually fund it unless a tag is causing a specific medical problem. A GP rarely removes them either, which is why most people go private.
“Can I just tie it off with thread or use a Cryotag kit from the chemist?”
Please don’t tie off or cut a tag near the eye, or freeze one blindly — tags contain a blood vessel, so home attempts risk bleeding, infection and scarring, and a kit can’t confirm the growth is actually a harmless tag. A quick clinic visit is safer and usually settles it the same day.
“It’s near my eye / it’s an anal tag — can that be done?”
Delicate sites need the right technique. A tag at the eyelid margin is removed with particular care, and perianal tags are treated too — but anything that might not be a simple tag (or an internal issue) is assessed first and referred where appropriate.
Your Questions, Answered
- Are skin tags dangerous?
- No. Skin tags are benign and not cancerous. They only cause problems if they catch, bleed or become irritated. It is worth having a growth checked to confirm it is a skin tag and not another lesion, but a true skin tag poses no health risk.
- Does skin tag removal hurt?
- Removal is quick and well tolerated. Local anaesthetic is used where needed, so you feel little or nothing. There may be brief mild stinging with cryotherapy or a small amount of soreness afterwards, which settles quickly.
- Can I get skin tags removed on the NHS?
- Generally not — the NHS considers skin tag removal cosmetic and does not usually fund it unless a tag is causing a specific medical problem. Most people have them removed privately; see our guide on NHS vs private removal.
- Does having lots of skin tags mean something is wrong?
- Multiple skin tags, especially on the neck and armpits, are associated with insulin resistance and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. It is not a cause for alarm, but it is a reasonable prompt to have your metabolic health reviewed by your GP.
- Will skin tags grow back after removal?
- A properly removed skin tag does not grow back. However, new tags can form in the same area or elsewhere if the underlying factors — friction, weight, insulin resistance — persist. Removal treats the tag, not the tendency to form them.
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