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Suspicious Mole Removed

Back view of woman’s neck and shoulders with multiple moles.

Quick Summary

  • A young mother from Ketchikan, Alaska came in concerned about a lifelong mole on her right cheek that had grown and changed color over time.
  • On exam, the mole measured 6 mm, was raised and smooth, and appeared fairly uniform with tan and beige areas.
  • Because she was leaving for Alaska the next morning, the clinic scheduled a same-day excision that took about 30 minutes.
  • The mole was removed and closed with absorbable sutures underneath and on top since she could not return for follow-up.
  • Pathology/assessment showed a few atypical features, reinforcing that long-standing moles with changes in size or color should be evaluated by a dermatologist and monitored with regular skin exams.

A young mother of four from Ketchikan, Alaska visited our clinic today to see Heather Haberman, my Physician Assistant. She was concerned about a mole that had been on her right cheek since she was a child. Over time, the mole had noticeably grown and changed in color, causing her and her family to be concerned.

Our inspection determined that the mole was 6 millimeters in diameter, raised, smooth, and fairly uniform in color with tan and beige in certain areas.

When we explained the mole should be excised (removed), she revealed that she was leaving for Alaska tomorrow morning. Knowing we only needed a half-hour for the surgery, we added her to our afternoon schedule.

Later that afternoon, we successfully excised the mole, putting in absorbable suture underneath and on top because she would not be able to return to the clinic.

Result:

It was good that we removed the mole because it did have a few atypical features after all.

Take away:

Even if a mole has been present for years, any change in color or size may be indicative of potential cancer and should be looked at by an expert dermatologist. Promptly consulting a skin cancer doctor is crucial for early detection and treatment. These specialists can assess the mole using advanced diagnostic techniques, ensuring any underlying issues are addressed effectively. Regular skin examinations are also recommended to monitor any new growths or changes over time.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a mole suspicious even if it has been there for years?
A mole that has been stable for years can still become concerning if it starts changing in size or color. In this case, a childhood mole on the right cheek had noticeably grown and changed color over time, which is exactly the kind of change that warrants an expert look. Even when a mole appears fairly uniform on exam, subtle changes can be meaningful.
You should have a mole checked promptly if you notice it changing in color or size. The takeaway from this visit is that changes can be indicative of potential cancer and are best evaluated by an expert dermatologist. Early evaluation matters because it can lead to earlier detection and treatment if something atypical is present.
First, the clinician examines the mole and documents features like size, whether it is raised, and color patterns (for example, this one measured 6 millimeters and had tan and beige areas). If removal is recommended, the mole can be excised in the office; in this case, the procedure took about a half-hour. Absorbable sutures were placed underneath and on top because the patient could not return for follow-up.
Yes—location on the cheek doesn’t protect a mole from becoming concerning if it changes over time. Here, a right-cheek mole that had been present since childhood grew and changed color, which led to an in-clinic evaluation and excision. The removed mole ended up having a few atypical features, reinforcing why changes should be taken seriously.
If a facial mole is changing in color or size, it’s reasonable to lean toward prompt evaluation rather than prolonged watching. In this case, the decision to excise was made after noting growth and color change, and the pathology showed atypical features. A dermatologist can help you decide based on what they see during the exam and whether removal is the safest next step.

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