Skin lesion and cyst removal with Dr. Henry Sandel
Skin Lesion & Cyst Removal
Moles, cysts, and other growths removed with the same attention to the scar that any facial procedure gets — because on the face, how it heals matters as much as what comes off.
At a glance
Surgeon
Dr. Henry Sandel
Anaesthesia
Local, in the office
Time
Usually under an hour
Closure
Layered, with fine suture
Sutures out
Within a week on the face
Pathology
Sent where warranted
What we remove
Moles, skin tags, epidermoid and sebaceous cysts, lipomas, and other benign growths — on the face, the scalp, the neck, and elsewhere. Some are removed because they catch on a razor or a collar, some because they have become inflamed, and some simply because of how they look.
Anything with features that warrant it is sent for pathology. If a lesion turns out to need wider treatment, Dr. Sandel works alongside dermatology and handles the reconstruction afterward.
Why a plastic surgeon
A growth can be taken off in many ways. What differs is the closure. Incisions are planned along the natural creases and shadow lines of the face, the deeper layers are closed so tension sits below the skin rather than on the scar, and fine suture is used on the surface.
A cyst needs its full lining removed rather than just drained — drainage relieves the swelling but the cyst returns. That is worth knowing if one has already been drained elsewhere.
Most removals are done in the office under local anaesthesia and take well under an hour. Sutures come out within a week on the face, a little later elsewhere.
Lesion removal before and after.
Commonly removed
Moles, raised or flat.
Epidermoid and sebaceous cysts.
Lipomas.
Skin tags.
Other benign growths on the face, scalp, and neck.
Worth having looked at
It is changing
A lesion that has changed in size, colour, shape, or border should be assessed rather than watched.
It keeps coming back
A cyst that has been drained before will usually return until the lining is removed.
It is in the way
Growths that catch on a razor, a collar, or a comb, or that become sore and inflamed.
Any lesion that is changing, bleeding, or new should be seen promptly rather than watched.
Insurance
Medically necessary care is often covered.
Removal of an abnormal skin lesion, a suspicious mole, or a skin cancer is medical rather than cosmetic care, and insurance typically covers it. Pathology is sent on every specimen, and those results are part of the medical record supporting your claim.
Dr. Sandel is an out-of-network provider. If your insurance company offers you out-of-network benefits, you could be reimbursed for the medically necessary portion of your care. We will give you the medical notes, procedure codes, and diagnostic codes to help with this process.
Bring it in and we will look.
Many lesions can be assessed and removed at the same visit.