Mole Excision

• One method of mole removal is excision. A cosmetic surgeon will clean the mole and the surrounding area, apply an anesthetic and use her scalpel to remove the mole and some of the adjacent skin. According to Cosmeticsurgery.com, stitches are usually required. The surgeon will place them either on the top layer of the skin or deeper within the skin structure.
  
  Excision not only removes the topical appearance of the mole, but also the underlying skin structure. A scab will form and will fall off in a week or two. The procedure poses a risk of potential scarring. These scars, however, usually fade over time.
  
  

Mole Shaving

• For superficial moles, the surgeon may use his scalpel to shave off the mole. Then he will cauterize the area to stop any bleeding and apply a topical antibiotic to stop any infection from occurring.
  
  While shaving removes the surface of the mole, causing it to disappear, the underlying skin structure remains, so the mole may grow back over time. As with mole excision surgery, a scab will form and will heal within one to two weeks. There is a risk of scarring with this procedure, but these scars normally fade over time.
  
  

Laser Therapy

• Superficial facial moles can be successfully removed with laser therapy. During this procedure, the cosmetic surgeon will use a beam of light on the mole. The skin will absorb the light and break up the pigment. This pigment will fade over time. You will usually need to have three laser treatments to remove one mole.
  
  After the procedure, the area will look darker. This darkness fades rapidly and the mole will fall off within one week of the treatment. The risks of scarring are very minimal.