Concierge dermatology · UK
Benign skin lesions - removed cleanly, on the same visit where possible.
Minor removal of moles, cysts, lipomas, seborrhoeic keratoses and skin tags - by consultant dermatologists and plastic surgeons under local anaesthetic, with histology on every excised specimen.
Why patients choose us
- 01
Consultant hands, not walk-in cosmetics
A named consultant dermatologist or plastic surgeon does the excision - not a nurse-led aesthetic list. The scar comes from the operator, not the location.
- 02
Histology on everything we remove
Every excised lesion goes to a histopathology lab. Silent basal cell carcinomas and dysplastic naevi are found this way - cosmetic-only shave-and-bin lists miss them.
- 03
Same-visit removal where safe
Straightforward lesions can be seen, consented and removed in one appointment. Complex or cosmetically sensitive sites get a proper planning visit first.
Indicative pricing
What private benign skin lesion removal costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our consultant network. Firm figures inside one working day, with cover checked.
In short
Formal excision with histology: £450–£850, home same visit.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin tag or seborrhoeic keratosis removal (per lesion) | £120–£280 | 5–15 min | Same visit |
| Shave or curettage excision of benign naevus | £300–£550 | 15–20 min | Same visit |
| Formal excision of naevus with histology | £450–£850 | 20–40 min | Same visit |
| Epidermoid or sebaceous cyst excision | £450–£900 | 20–40 min | Same visit |
| Lipoma excision (small to medium) | £650–£1,400 | 30–60 min | Same visit |
| Large or cosmetically sensitive lesion (face, hand, breast) | £950–£2,400 | 45–90 min | Same visit |
| Consultant dermatology or plastics consultation | £220–£380 | 20–30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by consultant, by the number of lesions removed at one sitting, and by whether the site is cosmetically sensitive. Histology is included in the excision price.
The problem
Not every lesion is the same, and neither is every removal.
Skin lesion removal quietly divides into three problems - is this actually benign, which technique gives the best scar, and does the specimen reach a pathologist. We answer all three before we book you in.
Confirm benign before you cut
Dermoscopy on every pigmented lesion, and a low threshold for referral if anything looks off.
Match technique to lesion
Shave, curettage, punch and elliptical excision each earn their place - the wrong choice gives the wrong scar.
Every specimen to histology
Non-negotiable. It is what turns a cosmetic service into a medical one.
The journey
From photo to histology - what happens, in order.
One consultant from first photo through excision, histology and scar review.
Phase 1 · Before
Photo, dermoscopy, consent
Phase 2 · On the day
Local anaesthetic and excision
Phase 3 · After
Histology, wound review, scar plan
- 01
Before
You send a photo and history
A clear close-up of the lesion, how long it has been there, whether it has changed, and any personal or family history of skin cancer.
- 02
Before
We come back with a plan
Within one working day: the right specialist (dermatology or plastics), the right technique, an indicative price and cover check.
- 03
Before
Dermoscopy review
A consultant reviews the photo and, where indicated, arranges dermoscopy before booking excision - so an unexpected melanoma does not get shaved off.
- 04
Before
Consent and clinical photography
Written consent covering scar, infection, recurrence and - for shave excisions - the possibility that residual pigment may remain.
- 05
On the day
Removal under local anaesthetic
Local anaesthetic, sterile drape, removal by the agreed technique. Ten to forty minutes for most lesions.
- 06
On the day
Aftercare in hand and home
Written wound-care, silicone gel and sun protection advice. Most people go straight home and back to work the same day.
- 07
After
Histology, wound review and scar plan
Histology at 1–2 weeks. Wound or suture review at 7–14 days. Scar review at three months for elliptical excisions.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to removal. Histology back in 7–14 days.
When it helps
When benign lesion removal is the right step.
Common presentations we see, plus the pigmented-lesion red flag that changes the pathway entirely.
-
Melanocytic naevus (mole) - cosmetic
A benign mole in an awkward or visible spot - where the request is cosmetic rather than clinical. Formal excision with histology is safest.
-
Epidermoid or pilar cyst
A cystic lump, often on the scalp, back or scrotum, that recurs after drainage. Full excision of the cyst wall stops recurrence.
-
Lipoma
A soft, mobile subcutaneous fat lump. Removed when painful, growing or awkwardly placed - with histology to confirm it is not an atypical variant.
-
Seborrhoeic keratosis
A warty pigmented lesion of middle age. Shave or curettage clears it; dermoscopy first to distinguish from pigmented BCC.
-
Skin tag (acrochordon)
A soft pedunculated tag, often in axilla, neck or groin. Snip or cautery in seconds under local anaesthetic.
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Dermatofibroma
A firm brown nodule, classically on the shin. Removed when symptomatic or when the diagnosis is uncertain.
-
Solar lentigo, syringoma and milia
Small pigmented or cystic lesions of the face. Consultant hands matter - the face is unforgiving of poor scars.
-
Red flag: changing, bleeding, asymmetric pigmented lesion
An enlarging, colour-changing, bleeding or irregular pigmented lesion is possible melanoma. Two-week suspected-cancer pathway, not routine list.
Procedure options
Technique depends on the lesion, the site and the scar you can live with.
The full menu - shave, curettage, punch, elliptical, cyst excision, lipoma excision, cryotherapy and laser - and where each earns its place.
-
Shave excision
For raised benign lesions where a flat scar is preferred to a linear one - fast, no sutures, but may leave residual pigment.
-
Curettage and cautery
A curette scoops the lesion, cautery seals the base - ideal for seborrhoeic keratoses, small nodular BCCs and pyogenic granulomas.
-
Punch excision
A circular blade takes the full thickness of small lesions - clean histology and a small linear scar.
-
Elliptical (formal) excision
A scalpel excision with an ellipse of surrounding skin, closed in layers - the standard for lesions needing definitive histology.
-
Cyst excision
Full removal of the cyst with its wall - the only way to stop recurrence of an epidermoid or pilar cyst.
-
Lipoma excision
A small incision, dissection of the lump from its capsule, and closure. Larger lipomas may need theatre rather than a minor-ops room.
-
Cryotherapy
Liquid nitrogen for viral warts, actinic keratoses and small seborrhoeic keratoses - no scar, but repeated visits and no histology.
-
Laser or electrocautery
For skin tags, small vascular lesions and dermatosis papulosa nigra - cosmetic clearance without a formal cut.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of dermatologists and plastic surgeons, we picked them.
Consultants across London and the major UK cities. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every specialist in our network.
-
Consultant dermatologists and plastic surgeons on the GMC specialist register
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Every excised specimen sent to an accredited UK histopathology lab
-
Dermoscopy available at the same appointment for pigmented lesions
-
Aftercare with silicone gel, scar advice and three-month review for excisions
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Skin lesion removal is one of the smallest operations we arrange, but scar, recurrence and histology deserve a proper conversation.
Local anaesthetic, minor-ops room
Most removals are done under 1% or 2% lidocaine, with adrenaline where safe. General anaesthetic is reserved for children and very large lesions.
Scar - the honest expectation
Every excision leaves a scar. Elliptical excisions leave a linear scar 3–4 times the lesion diameter. Shave excisions leave a flat mark that may repigment.
Infection under 2%
Wound infection is uncommon with a clean technique. Spreading redness, pus or fever needs same-day contact.
Bleeding and haematoma
Uncommon but troublesome on the scalp and beard area. Ten minutes of pressure almost always settles it.
Recurrence
Shaved naevi may repigment. Incompletely excised cysts recur. We say which technique carries which recurrence risk.
Nerve or vessel injury
Rare, but a real consideration on the face, hand and neck. Consultant anatomy knowledge is why we keep these out of nurse-led lists.
Unexpected malignancy on histology
Around 1–3% of clinically benign-looking pigmented lesions come back as dysplastic naevi, BCC or early melanoma. Which is why we always send.
Keloid and hypertrophic scarring
More common on the chest, shoulders and earlobes and in some skin types. Silicone gel from week two helps.
Red flags after removal
Spreading redness, fever, throbbing pain worsening after 48 hours, or a suture that opens - same-day call to the clinic team.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whether it was a shave, punch or elliptical excision, the note the specialist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Medical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the histology before your review, just ask.
- 01Header
Site, technique and lesion
Where the lesion was, what was removed and by which technique (shave, curettage, excision).
- 02Technique
Anaesthetic, closure and specimen
Type of local anaesthetic, closure (suture, glue, none) and how the specimen was orientated for the pathologist.
- 03Findings
Histology
What the pathologist reported - benign, dysplastic or malignant, and whether margins were clear.
- 04Impression
Scar plan and follow-up
Read this first: whether further excision is needed, when sutures come out, and the scar and sun-protection plan.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cosmetic removal is not usually covered by insurers. Clinically indicated removal (painful, bleeding, catching or suspicious lesions) is often covered - we confirm before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about benign skin lesion removal.
Quick answers on scars, cost, cosmetic versus clinical removal and histology.
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Can I have a mole removed for cosmetic reasons?
Yes - cosmetic removal of a benign mole is a straightforward request. We insist on dermoscopy first, because a small share of clinically benign-looking pigmented lesions turn out to be dysplastic or early melanoma. Every excised mole is sent for histology, whatever the reason for removal.
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Will removing a mole leave a scar?
Yes - every excision leaves a scar. An elliptical excision leaves a fine linear scar roughly 3–4 times the lesion diameter. A shave excision leaves a flat lighter mark that may repigment. Site matters - chest and shoulder scars widen more than face and eyelid scars.
-
What is the difference between a cyst, lipoma and skin tag?
A cyst is a keratin- or fluid-filled sac with a wall - it needs full excision of the wall or it recurs. A lipoma is a soft, mobile fat lump under the skin - removed through a small incision. A skin tag is a soft pedunculated tag, snipped off in seconds. Different problems, different techniques.
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How much does private benign skin lesion removal cost in the UK?
Roughly £120–£280 for skin tags and seborrhoeic keratoses, £300–£550 for shave excision, £450–£850 for formal excision with histology, £450–£900 for cyst excision and £650–£1,400 for lipoma removal. Larger or cosmetically sensitive lesions run £950–£2,400. Consultation is £220–£380.
-
Do you always send lesions for histology?
Yes - every excised specimen goes for histology to an accredited UK lab. This is the single most important reason not to have moles or lumps removed by an aesthetic list that treats them as cosmetic waste. Around 1–3% come back as something needing further treatment.
-
Is benign skin lesion removal available on the NHS?
Only when the lesion is symptomatic - painful, bleeding, repeatedly catching, or clinically suspicious. Purely cosmetic removal is not funded by the NHS. That is where private removal earns its place: same-visit clearance with histology on every specimen.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
Mole removal
Dedicated page on mole removal.
Learn moreCryotherapy treatment
Freezing for warts, keratoses and small lesions.
Learn moreCurettage and cautery
Scoop-and-seal technique for select lesions.
Learn moreDermabrasion
Surface resurfacing for scars and pigmentation.
Learn moreReconstruction after trauma
For larger or facial reconstructive needs.
Learn moreAll tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more