Radiofrequency mole and skin lesion removal is safe and has a low rate of complications. Even without special aftercare, most people are satisfied. Looking after your wound as it heals over the next few months will further increase the chance of an excellent cosmetic result.
You can further reduce the risk of scarring and speed the wound healing by following these principles.
- Prevent the wound from drying out and forming a thick scab
- Reduce the risk of infection
- Encourage growth of healthy scar tissue
- Prevent the scar tissue from becoming elevated
- Return to the clinic for a follow-up visit and possible scar prevention treatment
For the next 2-3 days
Your wound is a small “crater” in the skin. For 2-3 days it’s at risk of infection if it gets contaminated or wet.
Over this period:
- Keep the dressing in place for the next 3 days. If your wound has been treated with LED low level light therapy (see below), you can remove the dressing after 2 days.
- Don’t immerse the wound underwater (e.g. swimming, bath, spa). You can briefly expose the dressing to water while showering.
- Avoid strenuous exercise or hot environments. Try not to expose the wound to sweat.
Removing the dressing
Your dressing consists of a small piece of alginate—a special dressing made from seaweed—which enhances wound healing, slows bleeding and absorbs fluids. The alginate is covered with an adhesive plastic film which keeps most, but not all, water and fluid out of the open wound.
If you return to the clinic for LED light treatment (see below), we will remove the dressing at your first follow-up visit.
If you haven’t returned to the clinic, you can remove your dressing after 3 days. When removing the dressing, gently apply water to soak off any stuck-on padding.
If your mole was removed from somewhere hairy or difficult to apply a dressing, we might use a spray-on film dressing instead. This film needs to be kept dry for 3 days. After that, it will gradually dissolve as you wash the area normally.
After removing the dressing
Apply silicone gel (e.g. Epicyn) directly to the wound twice daily. We usually supply complimentary Epicyn gel on the day of your procedure.
In the first 1-2 weeks after removing the dressing, you might notice the following:
- Redness around the edges of the wound: a normal reaction to any wound due to increased blood flow.
- Exudate: straw-coloured watery fluid “weeping” from the wound. It varies from person to person, but it’s a normal part of wound healing. It does not mean the wound is infected.
- Granulation tissue: red or dark pink tissue at the base of the wound. This is new skin which matures to match the appearance of the surrounding skin. Sometimes granulation can become overgrown and raised. If this happens, it can be treated if you return to the clinic.
- Slough: a yellowish film on the base of the wound. This is sometimes a sign that the immune system is removing bacteria from the wound. Gently remove it by wiping with clean gauze and water. If the slough doesn’t come off easily, don’t scrub or wipe the wound. We recommend using Epicyn gel, which helps lift off and separate slough from the wound.
During this period, don’t apply antiseptics (even “natural” ones) or vitamin E cream to the wound. If you use Epicyn gel, it will help the wound heal and prevent infection. If you are concerned about infection, bleeding or bruising, please contact the clinic so a doctor or nurse can assess the wound.
Pathology results
If your doctor performed a biopsy procedure, pathology results should be available within 7 days. You’ll receive a text message and or email when your results are ready.
Four to six weeks after your procedure
In the next few weeks, a crust or scab may develop over the surface of the wound. This is a normal part of wound healing.
Wounds generally have a better cosmetic result if a scab doesn’t form. Using silicone gel frequently can help reduce the amount of scab formation. However, don’t be concerned if your wound does develop a scab. If a scab forms, don’t pick at it to remove it.
After four weeks, your wound should look like a pink flat mark, as shown in the photos below.
Follow-up consultation
We usually ask you to return to the clinic 4-6 weeks after your radiosurgery procedure.
At this visit, your doctor will examine the area using a dermoscope to check for early signs of scar overgrowth. In most cases, the doctor will reassure you that the wound is healing normally, and no further medical procedures are required.
It’s important that you attend this appointment, since it’s much easier to treat scarring at this early stage—before it has a chance to become established.
The risk of scarring and abnormal skin pigmentation is higher in young people (under 30) with darker skin, including people of Asian or African descent. If you are in one of these groups, your follow-up visit is particularly important for reducing the risk of long-term scarring.
Scar treatments
In some cases, there may be signs of excessive pigmentation or fibrous tissue formation, which could lead to a raised scar. If these early signs are visible, we can provide treatment, which could include:
- fractional laser treatment
- BBL intense pulsed light
- steroid injections into the scar
- cryotherapy
Most of these need to be repeated over a course of 2-3 treatments. In most cases, we provide these treatments at no extra cost to you, as long as we feel they are improving the appearance of your scar.
There’s a small chance your mole hasn’t been completely removed. In this event, we usually offer a complimentary further mole removal procedure.
Longer term management
The full process of wound healing and skin remodelling takes many months and progresses through several stages.
Over the next few months, redness around the wound gradually fades. During this period, you can reduce the risk of scarring by applying silicone gel twice daily for up to 3 months.
Don’t be alarmed if your redness doesn’t fade quickly—it can take up to two years for some people.
Don’t forget to keep the area well protected from the sun as your skin recovers.
Please get in touch if you have any concerns.