Age Spot Removal

Age spots or seborrheic keratoses are skin lesions that result from the noncancerous overgrowth of the epidermis. They are more common in older adults but can develop in younger people as well.

Seborrheic keratoses usually appear on the face or other body parts that have chronic sun exposure. They are usually firm and have a yellow, pink or brown colour, with a warty surface.

People choose to have their age spots removed either for cosmetic reasons or when there is discomfort or irritation.

Treatment

Cryotherapy is a freezing treatment using liquid nitrogen which works best for thin lesions. Electrocautery is the alternative method for removing age spots that are larger or thicker. There will be some scabbing for 7-10 days, and occasional post treatment pigmentation that is transient. Most patients will heal with no scarring, leaving even and smooth skin. We always use numbing cream or numbing injections to reduce the discomfort during the quick procedure.

Cyst Removal

Sebaceous cysts are benign skin growths that develop from the oil glands in the skin. They are most common on the face, back, and scalp, and can occur at any age but are more common in adolescents and young adults. Although harmless, cysts can sometimes enlarge, or become red, hot and painful if infected.

Sebaceous cysts can usually be diagnosed by your Dermatologist based on their appearance alone. Cyst removal is also a common procedure done in our clinic, for patients concerned about the appearance, or symptoms associated with their cysts.

Surgical Cyst Removal

Minimal excision technique - instead of simply squeezing out or draining the contents of the cyst, we use this excision method which results in a very low rate of recurrence. This is because the entire cyst wall and cyst contents are removed, minimising the risk of the cyst coming back. Following numbing injection to the treatment area, a small cut is made on the surface of the skin to remove the much larger cyst below. The resulting scar is usually small and cosmetically pleasing.

If a cyst becomes infected, it can become red, painful and swollen. An infected cyst is usually first treated with oral antibiotics, steroid injections or drainage. We aim for complete cyst removal to prevent it from recurring, although that remains a small risk.

Mole Removal

Moles, or naevi, are benign growths on the skin. They can be flat or raised, smooth or bumpy, and they come in all different colours.

Most moles are completely harmless and do not require removal. However, some moles may develop into skin cancer. Therefore, it is important to check your moles regularly for changes in size, shape, colour and texture. If you notice any changes in a mole on your skin, see a Dermatologist to determine if it needs further monitoring or treatment.

Harmless moles can also be removed for aesthetic reasons.

Surgical Mole Removal

Suspicious moles - can be removed by surgery for further analysis to rule out an underlying skin cancer. Surgery involves cutting out the mole and removing it completely. This is usually a quick procedure done under local anaesthetic. This will leave a small scar that fades over time.

Harmless flat moles – these can be removed with a pigment laser and usually require 1-2 treatments. This is done under local anaesthesia and is a quick and satisfyingly effective procedure. Scarring is not common after the procedure.

Harmless raised moles – surgery or laser removal can be used to remove them. If you choose the surgical route, recurrence is rare but there will be a small scar that fades over time. Alternatively, lasers can be used to remove these safely and effectively. There is a risk of recurrence when raised moles are removed by laser. A small depressed scar can sometimes remain.

Pincer or Ingrown
Nail Removal

Abnormal nails such as ingrown or pincer nails can be painful, unsightly and cause discomfort. During nail avulsion and CO2 laser ablation, the entire abnormal nail or sides of the nail can be removed under local anaesthetic. The nail matrix can then be ablated with CO2 laser to minimise recurrence of the abnormality.

Skin Biopsies

Skin biopsies are a common way to identify the cause of skin conditions and issues. A small sample of skin is removed under local anaesthetic and sent to the laboratory for analysis.

To identify cancerous cells on the skin

To determine if a mole or lesion is benign or malignant (cancerous)

To diagnose unusual rashes, infections or skin lesions

Skin Excision

Skin excision is a surgical procedure used to remove a section of skin for cosmetic or medical reasons. It is frequently performed to remove and prevent the spread of skin cancers such as melanomas, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.

It is also used to remove lesions for diagnostic testing, aesthetic reasons or if a lesion is symptomatic. Sometimes the resulting wound may leave a scar. Scars can be treated with lasers by your dermatologist once healing is complete. Most skin surgery can be done at our on-site day surgery theatre in the clinic.

Skin Lumps and
Bumps Removal

Many people suffer from lumps or bumps on the surface or deeper in the skin layers. Unfortunately, these skin bumps rarely disappear on their own. If you have any concerns, get the lumps and bumps examined by your dermatologist, who can advise on the most suitable management be it for health or for cosmetic reasons.

Common Procedures

Cryotherapy is a freezing treatment using liquid nitrogen at -196 degree Celsius. Commonly used to treat warts or age spots.

Electrocautery refers to the use of an electrical device to burn off lumps and bumps on the surface of the skin.

Lasers are special machines that use laser beams of specific wavelengths to treat different targets in the skin. Can be used to remove unwanted hair, pigment, vessels, and to improve skin texture and pore size.

Surgery refers to the cutting out of tissue for diagnosis or removal purposes. Skin lesions protruding from the surface of the skin can be shaved with a sharp blade. Skin lesions deeper in the skin may need to have a sample taken using the punch biopsy technique. Alternatively entire lesions may be cut out using the excision technique.

Skin Tags

Skin tags are benign growths of the skin. They are soft, small and hang from a thread-like stalk or pedicel. Skin tags are made of fibrous tissue and can appear on any part of the body, but most commonly occur on the neck, armpits, groin and eyelids. They are harmless but are unsightly and sometimes get caught and cause discomfort.

Skin Tag Removals

Snip excision and electrocautery is a simple procedure we use involving numbing the treatment area with either anaesthetic cream or an injection, followed by snipping and electrocautery of the skin tags. There will be some scabbing for 7-10 days, and occasional post treatment pigmentation that is transient. Most patients recover with no scarring.

Wart Removal

Warts are small bumps on the skin that appear due to an infection with a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). These warts usually develop when HPV enters through a cut or abrasion in your skin or through direct skin-to-skin contact. Warts can appear anywhere on the body and usually look like small, hard, rough bumps. They are typically flesh coloured or pinkish, but they can also have black or grey spots in them.

Treatment for Wart Removal

Most people will first try applications of special acid solutions and creams to remove the wart. When that fails, more effective treatments can be recommended.

Cryotherapy is a freezing therapy that uses liquid nitrogen to destroy the warts.

Shave and electrocautery is a procedure we use for warts that protrude from the surface of the skin. These warts can be shaved with a sharp blade, and the base burned with an electrical device.

CO2 laser - Stubborn warts, especially those on the soles of feet or around fingers, toes and nails, can be lasered off using a CO2 laser. These stubborn warts can also be treated with MMR immunotherapy.