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Dermatology · London

Private mole excision in London, by a consultant dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

Removal by a consultant - with dermoscopy first and histology on every excised mole. Not a cosmetic laser session that misses a melanoma.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What private mole excision costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£400-£850, results in 7-10 days.

Excision type Indicative range
Cosmetic mole removal (shave / curette) £250–£500
Diagnostic mole excision + histology £400–£850
Excision with plastic-surgery closure £700–£1,600
Wide local excision (confirmed melanoma) £1,500–£4,000
Multiple mole removal (same visit) £600–£1,800
Follow-up scar review £150–£300

Prices vary by clinic, by whether a dermatologist or plastic surgeon does the closure, and by how many lesions the laboratory has to process.

The problem

Cosmetic clinics remove moles. Doctors diagnose them.

A mole is a diagnostic decision before it is a cosmetic one. Dermoscopy first, excision by a consultant, and histology on every lesion - that is the difference between a routine mark and a missed melanoma.

  • Just want it gone?

    Fine - but not until a consultant has looked at it under a dermatoscope and decided the safest way to take it off.

  • Worried it is changing?

    Rapid change, itching or bleeding is a same-week appointment, not a cosmetic booking.

  • Been told it is nothing?

    If you are not reassured, a second look by a consultant dermatologist is a small cost for a real answer.

When it is the right step

When a mole should be excised.

Not every mole needs to come off. These are the situations where excision - done properly, with histology - is the right call.

  • Cosmetic removal

    A mole that is entirely benign but sits somewhere that catches, rubs or bothers you.

  • Changing or symptomatic mole

    Itching, bleeding or a shift in size, shape or colour - dermoscopy first, then excision.

  • Dysplastic naevus

    An atypical mole flagged on skin-check. Removed with a clear margin and sent for histology.

  • Basal cell carcinoma

    The commonest skin cancer. Usually excised, sometimes treated with curettage or Mohs.

  • Squamous cell carcinoma

    Excised with a defined margin and reviewed by MDT if invasive or high-risk.

  • Suspected melanoma (urgent)

    Excision biopsy within days, then wide local excision and MDT staging if confirmed.

  • Sebaceous cyst / seborrhoeic keratosis

    Benign but visible lumps and crusted patches - removed cleanly and sent for histology.

  • Red flag: rapidly changing, bleeding or ulcerated lesion

    Do not wait. This is a same-week urgent dermatology appointment, not a cosmetic booking.

Excision types

Not all mole removals are the same.

What each option on your quote is actually for.

  • Cosmetic shave / curette

    A superficial shave for a raised benign mole. Quick, but leaves a flat mark and is not used for pigmented lesions.

  • Diagnostic excision + histology

    Full-thickness removal with a small margin. The default when the mole needs a definitive answer.

  • Plastic-closure excision

    Excision closed by a plastic surgeon for a finer scar - worth it for the face, décolletage and hands.

  • Wide local excision (melanoma)

    Re-excision with a wider margin after a confirmed melanoma. Guided by Breslow thickness.

  • Multiple mole removal

    Several lesions removed in a single visit - same anaesthetic, one histology run.

  • Cryotherapy for keratoses

    Liquid-nitrogen freezing for actinic and seborrhoeic keratoses. Not used for pigmented lesions.

  • Curettage + cautery for BCC

    Scraping and cautery for low-risk basal cell cancers in appropriate sites.

  • Mohs micrographic surgery referral

    For BCC or SCC on the face where margin-perfect removal matters. Referral to a Mohs surgeon is the usual route.

Safety and aftercare

Safer, and easier, than most people expect.

Mole excision is safe and usually straightforward. The things worth knowing are what will scar, what should never be lasered, and how to look after the wound.

  • Local anaesthetic

    Every excision is done under local anaesthetic. You feel pressure and pushing rather than pain.

  • Every removal leaves a scar

    Small, but permanent. A plastic-surgery closure gives the finest line but does not erase the scar.

  • Pigmented lesions are excised

    A mole with pigment should never be lasered off - you lose the tissue that a pathologist needs to see.

  • Never a non-medical clinic

    A beautician or aesthetician removing a suspicious mole is how melanomas get missed. Always a doctor, always histology.

  • Sun protection during healing

    Keep the healing scar out of direct sun and use SPF 50 for six months to reduce pigmentation.

  • Dissolvable and non-dissolvable

    Which stitches you have depends on the site. Non-dissolvable come out at 7-14 days.

  • Showering rules

    You will be told when the dressing can come off, when to shower normally, and when to keep it dry.

  • Biopsy result in 7-10 days

    The wait is short but real. Ask for the result to be explained to you rather than simply emailed.

  • Red flags after excision

    Fever, spreading redness or worsening pain are uncommon - but if they happen, get in touch the same day.

Reading your report

A histology report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

Whatever was excised, the report keeps to the same four parts.

A UK consultant pathologist examining a skin excision sample under a microscope

A quiet reminder

Histology language is precise and can read coldly - ask for it to be explained in plain terms.

If anything is unclear, ask for it to be talked through before your follow-up.

  1. 01 Header

    Site and reason for excision

    Where the lesion was, your details, and the clinical question - cosmetic, suspicious, or confirmed cancer.

  2. 02 Technique

    Excision method and closure

    Which technique was used - shave, punch, full excision - and how it was closed, including margin taken.

  3. 03 Findings

    Dermoscopy and macroscopic

    Dermoscopy features, the naked-eye description, and what the pathologist saw down the microscope.

  4. 04 Impression

    The conclusion: read this first

    Benign, needs re-excision, or malignant - with an MDT pathway if it is skin cancer. Your specialist plans treatment from here.

Major UK private health insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Most policies cover mole excision when clinically indicated; cosmetic-only removal is usually self-pay.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about mole excision.

Quick answers on scarring, cost, referral, and how long histology takes.

  • Shave removal or full excision - which do I need?

    A shave removal is quicker and leaves a flatter mark, but it does not take the full depth of the mole. It is only appropriate for lesions that are clearly benign. Anything pigmented, changing or suspicious needs a full-thickness excision so the pathologist can see the whole thing.

  • Will I have a scar?

    Yes. Every excision leaves a scar - the aim is to make it as fine and inconspicuous as possible. A plastic-surgery closure on the face or décolletage typically gives the best result.

  • How much does private mole removal cost in London?

    A cosmetic shave is typically £250-£500, a diagnostic excision with histology £400-£850, and a plastic-closure excision £700-£1,600.

  • Do I need a GP referral?

    No - you can self-refer for private mole removal.

  • Will the mole be sent to the lab?

    If a clinic offers to remove a mole without sending it, walk out.

  • What happens if it is a melanoma?

    You go into an MDT pathway: wide local excision at a defined margin based on Breslow thickness, sentinel node biopsy where appropriate, and staging. Referral into this pathway is arranged by the treating team.

  • Can I drive myself home afterwards?

    Yes - a local-anaesthetic excision does not affect your ability to drive. Only if you have sedation, which is very unusual, will you need someone with you.

  • When can I shower?

    Usually 24-48 hours after the excision, keeping the wound dry as instructed. You will be given specific advice for your dressing and site.

  • How long do results take?

    Typically 7-10 days. Ask for the report to be properly explained and, if anything is unclear, for a follow-up rather than interpreting it alone.

  • When should I see a GP urgently instead?

    A mole that is changing rapidly, bleeding, ulcerated, or new after age 40 should be seen this week.

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