London Skin Clinic

Private Mole Removal on Harley Street, London

At London Skin Clinic, we specialise in expert mole removal treatments designed to address both cosmetic and medical needs.

Expert Mole Removal and Aftercare

Our team of highly skilled plastic surgeons employ advanced techniques, including surgical mole removal and LASER, to provide safe and effective care for every patient.

Our Prices for Mole Removal Services

Initial Consultation Cost

£100

Mole Removal

£350

Additional Mole Removal

£200

Histological analysis

£180

What Is a Mole, and Why Remove It?

A mole, medically known as a Melanocytic Nevus, is a type of skin lesion that occurs due to the abnormal growth of pigmented cells, called melanocytes, in a concentrated area on the surface of the skin. 

Moles can show up anywhere on the body, typically, they present themselves in shades of brown or black. They can appear both flat and raised, and come in different shapes and sizes. London Skin Clinic specialise in the highest standard of treatment for moles on the face and treatment for moles on the body.

Moles are typically benign, meaning they are not cancerous, however, they can sometimes become cancerous (Melanoma). Therefore, it is highly advised to have moles professionally removed to rule out cancer for peace of mind. 

People also opt to have moles removed for cosmetic reasons and to improve their mental health. The presence of a mole, especially if on the face, can cause confidence issues and anxiety. Mole removal treatment helps patients regain their confidence and feel better about their skin.

Client Success

I recently had a mole removed by Dr. Gilleard at London Skin Clinic, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the experience. From the moment I arrived, I felt completely at ease. Dr. Gilleard was highly professional and knowledgeable taking the time to explain the procedure thoroughly so I knew exactly what to expect. The removal itself was quick and completely painless. He ensured the area was treated with care and provided clear aftercare instructions, which made the healing process smooth and straightforward.”

A raised pigmented mole on the jawline of a bearded man before treatment, and the same site one month after CO2 laser removal showing a flat pink mark where the mole was

Medical Mole Removal Methods

We offer both mole removal surgery and non-invasive procedures for handling beauty spot removal and treatment of moles on the body.

Our highly esteemed skin specialists team at London Skin Clinic are expertly skilled in mole removal and will tailor your treatment to best suit your individual needs. The mole removal methods that we carry out at the clinic include:

Surgical Excision

Laser Mole Removal

Shave Excision

Surgical Excision

This procedure entails surgically cutting out the mole, along with a small border of surrounding skin, and closing the wound with stitches. It is commonly performed for larger or potentially concerning moles that require laboratory analysis to check for cancer.

Narrow margin excision involves surgically removing the mole along with a small (2mm) margin of surrounding skin. Stitches are typically placed along a natural skin crease to help minimise scarring. 

This technique offers the most predictable cosmetic result and allows the mole to be sent for histological analysis. It is often the preferred method when there is any uncertainty about the diagnosis, or when a controlled scar outcome is desired.

Laser Mole Removal

This procedure involves using a high-energy laser light to target and remove the mole.

It is ideal for smaller, flat moles that are clearly benign or moles in cosmetically sensitive areas of the body.

At London Skin Clinic, in order to leave the most inconspicuous scar after mole removal and reduce the chance of recurrence, we use a DEKA Smartxide CO2 laser to remove the lesion, and where the scar would benefit we add vascular modulation with the DermaV laser at two weeks. Where pigment remains, a further CO2 treatment is used rather than a second device.

Shave Excision

A less invasive approach than surgical excision, shave excision removes the mole level with the skin and leaves its base behind. It is quicker, needs no sutures and leaves a flatter mark — but it is used only where the lesion is raised and clearly benign.

It is not used for a pigmented lesion where melanoma is a possibility. Breslow thickness is measured from the granular layer of the epidermis to the deepest tumour cell, and it determines the width of the definitive excision and whether a sentinel lymph node biopsy is offered. A shave that transects the base destroys that measurement, so the report can only state a minimum depth — which risks under-staging the patient. Where there is any doubt, the lesion is removed whole by narrow-margin excision. 

Healing is usually straightforward, but there may be a risk of pigment recurrence or a slightly uneven surface, as the deeper part of the mole may not be fully removed. If the mole is deep, surgical excision will most likely be advised.

What to Expect from the Mole Removal Process

Step One: Assessment

Consultation at London Skin Clinic is on a 1-2-1 basis. Your assessment with one of our consultant plastic surgeons, Onur Gilleard or Reza Alamouti. During this initial consultation, our specialists will thoroughly assess your mole and discuss the most suitable removal method based on its characteristics and your individual preferences.

Step Two: Mole Removal Surgery

  • The area is cleaned with antiseptic.
  • Anaesthetic is applied/injected
  • The mole is shaved/removed surgically
  • The wound is dressed/stitched closed.

Step Three: Recovery

Aftercare for mole removal treatment is generally straightforward, with minimal downtime or interruption to your lifestyle. Our clinic provides comprehensive aftercare support ensuring optimal healing and cosmetically pleasing results.

Step Four: Histology

Where the lesion’s features warrant laboratory examination, the tissue is sent for histological analysis and the result is typically available within 3 to 7 days. If the result is benign you are notified by email. If it is pre-malignant or malignant you are telephoned before the written report is sent, so a significant result is never first read in an envelope. Any melanoma is referred into an NHS skin cancer multidisciplinary team, which is a national requirement rather than a local preference.

What This Clinic Actually Does — The Numbers

Most clinic pages describe a procedure. These are our own figures, and they answer questions a price list cannot.

Mole and lesion removals per year2,000
Method used60% surgical excision · 30% CO2 laser · 10% shave
Sent for histologyAbout 25% — a clinical decision, not routine
Of lesions removed on suspicion, abnormal on histology60%
Cosmetic removals where histology found something unexpectedAbout twice a year
Lesions removed in one appointment1–3 usual, 6 maximum
Appointment lengthAbout an hour

The limit on how many can be done at once is not the clock. It is the total safe dose of local anaesthetic and how many healing wounds one person can reasonably look after at the same time.

Complication Rates, Published

Infection2%
Bleeding requiring a return visitUnder 1%
Wound edges separating2%
Pigment returning after shave removal10%
Pigment returning after laser15%
Patients who have something done about the scar afterwards10%

That last figure is the one worth reading twice. One patient in ten comes back about the scar — usually treated with a steroid injection, fractionated CO2 laser, DermaV vascular laser, or a combination. It is a normal part of the service rather than a failure, and knowing it in advance is better than discovering it.

“The biggest factor the patient can control for a good scar is keeping the wound as still as possible for the first two weeks after surgery.”

Mr Onur Gilleard, Consultant Plastic Surgeon

What We Will Tell You That Others May Not

The scar can be more noticeable than the mole. It is the most common surprise after mole removal — some scars widen, become raised, or stay pink for months despite good technique. Where a patient’s expectation of an invisible result cannot be met, the honest advice is not to remove the mole at all.

“The most common misconception is that a mole removed by laser leaves no visible scar.”

Mr Onur Gilleard, Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Some cases belong somewhere else. Where a lesion needs complex skin cancer surgery with staged margin control — certain cases of lentigo maligna, or high-risk facial skin cancers — a specialist Mohs unit is often the better choice, and we will say so rather than take the case.

Cosmetic removal is legitimate, and it is still surgery. Removing a benign mole because you dislike it is a perfectly reasonable choice, provided you understand the trade. Some perfectly ordinary moles are removed by patients who had not appreciated that the permanent scar might bother them more than the mole did.

If It Needs a General Anaesthetic

Complex lesions are not referred out. Where a case needs a general anaesthetic — a large lesion, a difficult site, several at once — it is booked into the clinic’s own main operating theatre at 101 Harley Street, with the clinic’s own anaesthetists and equipment. The setting and the anaesthetic change; the surgeon does not.

Which Method Suits Which Mole

The lesion decides the method, not preference and not price. Assessment with dermoscopy comes first, and the technique follows from what that assessment shows.

The lesionMethod usedWhy
A pigmented mole where melanoma cannot be excludedNarrow-margin excision — 2 mm margin with a cuff of fat beneathRemoves the lesion whole, so the pathologist can measure how deep it goes
A raised, clearly benign mole catching on clothing or a razorShave excisionQuick, no sutures, flat result
A small, flat, clearly benign lesion in a cosmetically sensitive siteCO2 laser, with vascular modulation at two weeks where the scar would benefitLeaves a flat mark rather than a line — at the cost of having nothing to examine, and with a higher rate of pigment returning
A facial mole where the scar matters mostExcision closed along a natural skin creaseThe most predictable cosmetic result, and the tissue can still be examined
Anything the surgeon is not certain aboutExcision with histologyIt is the definitive answer, and on the trunk and limbs the cost of reaching for it is small

This is worth asking any clinic directly, because a clinic that offers only one method will tend to find that method suitable. Removal here is carried out by a consultant plastic surgeon, and where excision is the right answer it happens at the same appointment rather than after a further referral.

What Mole Removal Costs, and What Is Charged Separately

Removal is £350 for the first lesion and £200 for each additional lesion taken at the same appointment. The consultation is £100. Histological analysis, where the lesion’s features warrant laboratory examination, is £180.

Two things worth knowing before you attend. Histology is applied where the features warrant it rather than routinely on every removal — it is a clinical decision, not an automatic addition, and it is quotable in advance either way. And every figure above is fixed and quoted before treatment, so the cost of the appointment is known before it starts.

What “Same Day” Does and Does Not Cover

Examination, the decision and the removal itself happen in a single visit under local anaesthetic, and the appointment takes about an hour from start to finish. What cannot be compressed is the laboratory. Where tissue is sent for analysis the result takes 3 to 7 days, and no clinic can shorten that — a tissue specimen has to be fixed, processed, sectioned, stained and read by a pathologist.

If a lesion looks urgently suspicious, the NHS two-week suspected-cancer pathway through a GP is fast and is the right route. Paying privately does not move a genuinely urgent case forward. Where private care changes the timeline is the routine end: a lesion that is bothering you, one you want assessed without a wait, or one you want removed for appearance once it has been confirmed benign.

Where the Appointment Takes Place

Mole removal consultations are held at 101 Harley Street, London W1G 6AH, in the middle of London’s medical district and a short walk from Regent’s Park, Great Portland Street and Oxford Circus. London Skin Clinic also runs clinics in St Albans and Guildford, where the full range of surgical procedures — excision and shave removal — is carried out. Laser treatment and photographic mole mapping are available at Harley Street only.

Every removal is performed by a consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register — the assessment, the removal and the follow-up are carried out by the same person.

Whether you’re seeking mole removal for health reasons or cosmetic improvement, we are committed to ensuring your wellbeing throughout the process.

Mole Removal FAQs

Common Questions About Mole Removal

What is a mole?

A “mole” is the layman’s term for a pigmented lesion on the skin. The medical term is “Nevus”. A Nevus is caused by a benign proliferation of melanocytes, which are the pigment-producing cells in the skin. 

The reason why people develop moles is multifactorial and includes genetic predisposition, hormonal influences and sun exposure. Some moles are present at birth, but most develop during childhood and adolescence. 

Moles can show up anywhere on the body. Typically, they present themselves in shades of brown or black. They may be either flat or raised. They come in different shapes and sizes.

Why do people develop moles?

The precise cause of moles remains somewhat unclear.

Genetics are considered to influence who develops moles, and it is believed to occur during fetal development following a rapid proliferation of melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for skin colouring.

When melanocytes multiply rapidly, they tend to form clusters rather than dispersing, leading to the formation of moles on the surface of the skin.

Though not evidently visible at birth, most moles make their appearance within the first two decades of an individual’s life.

Are moles dangerous?

Moles are generally harmless, but in some cases, they are a type of skin cancer called melanoma. 

Melanoma is dangerous and potentially life–threatening. In addition, a previously harmless benign mole can turn into a cancerous melanoma.

It is advised that you get any large, deep feeling mole checked and analysed by a professional, just to be sure it is not cancerous.

When should a mole be removed?

There are several reasons to have a mole removed:

  1. Concerns about Skin Cancer

One of the reasons for removing a mole is if there are indications of skin cancer. Moles that undergo changes in colour, size, shape or texture or exhibit bleeding, itching or pain should be examined by a specialist. Detecting and removing them can play a role in effective treatment.

  1. Cosmetic Purposes

Some individuals opt to remove moles that are situated in a noticeable area and affecting their self–confidence.

  1. Discomfort or Irritation

Moles located in areas that experience irritation from clothing, shaving or jewellery can cause discomfort or pain. Getting rid of them can enhance comfort. 

  1. Reducing Infection Risk

If a mole is at risk of injury or is positioned in a way that makes it vulnerable to cuts or scrapes, removing it could lower the chances of infection.

  1. Peace of mind 

Having peace of mind is important when it comes to moles, even if they don’t seem harmful at present. 

Some people opt to have them removed if there’s a history of skin cancer in their family. If you’re worried about a mole, seeking advice from a consultant plastic surgeon is the best course of action. They can evaluate it and advise you on whether removal is recommended.

When should I see a doctor about my mole?

If a mole changes in colour, size, shape, or texture, it is recommended to see a doctor as these could be signs of malignancy. 

Also, if you do not like the appearance of your mole and are considering having it removed, then a specialist plastic surgeon can do this for you without the need for any hospital appointments.

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