Mole & Skin Lesion Removal in Brisbane
Surgical removal of moles, cysts and skin lesions by Dr Goutham Sivasuthan — every lesion sent for pathology, across Brisbane, Redland, Moreton Bay and Logan.
Surgical mole and skin lesion removal
Mole and skin lesion removal is the surgical excision of a mole, cyst or other skin lesion, with the tissue sent to pathology for examination. Dr Goutham Sivasuthan, a Brisbane general surgeon, removes moles and skin lesions under local anaesthetic as a day procedure — so you are awake, comfortable and home the same day.
People ask for a mole or lesion to be removed for three main reasons: a spot has changed or looks suspicious, a lump is catching, bleeding or irritated, or a lesion is simply bothersome cosmetically. Whatever the reason, surgical removal lets the whole lesion be examined under a microscope — the only way to be certain a mole is not an early skin cancer.
If a lesion is already known or strongly suspected to be a skin cancer, you may be better directed to skin cancer surgery (for basal and squamous cell carcinoma) or melanoma surgery. This page is about assessing and removing moles, cysts and skin lesions where the diagnosis is not yet confirmed.
When should a mole or skin lesion be removed?
A mole should be checked and considered for removal when it changes, and the simplest guide is the ABCDE rule. See your GP, a skin-cancer doctor or Dr Goutham promptly if a spot shows any of the following:
- Asymmetry — one half does not match the other.
- Border — edges that are ragged, blurred or irregular.
- Colour — more than one colour, or uneven colour.
- Diameter — larger than about 6 mm (a pencil eraser), though smaller spots can still matter.
- Evolving — any change in size, shape, colour, or a spot that itches, bleeds or will not heal.
Beyond suspicious change, removal is also reasonable for a mole or lesion that is repeatedly caught by clothing, razors or jewellery, one that is inflamed or painful, or a longstanding lump you would simply prefer gone. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, so a new or changing spot in an adult is always worth assessing rather than watching.
Moles, cysts and skin lesions we remove
Dr Goutham removes a wide range of skin and superficial soft-tissue lesions. Common examples include:
Moles (naevi)
Pigmented spots — removed when changing, suspicious, or for comfort/appearance.
Suspicious or atypical spots
Lesions that need a definitive diagnosis by excision and pathology.
Sebaceous & epidermoid cysts
Lumps under the skin that can grow, become tender or infected.
Skin tags & benign growths
Including seborrhoeic keratoses and other harmless but bothersome lesions.
Fatty lumps under the skin are a little different — these are usually lipomas, which have their own dedicated page. If you are not sure what your lump is, that is exactly what an assessment is for.
What does mole removal surgery involve?
Most moles and skin lesions are removed by excision under local anaesthetic in a treatment room or day-surgery setting. The area is numbed with a small injection, so the procedure itself is painless — you may feel light pressure but no sharp pain.
Dr Goutham chooses the technique that gives the safest result and the tidiest scar:
- Excision biopsy — the lesion is removed in a small ellipse of skin with a clear margin, then the wound is closed with sutures. This is the standard for any mole that could be a skin cancer, because it removes the whole lesion intact for pathology.
- Shave excision — suitable for some raised, clearly benign lesions, removing the lesion flush with the skin.
The whole appointment usually takes 20–45 minutes depending on the size and number of lesions. Larger or facial lesions, or lesions needing careful reconstruction, may be planned for a day-surgery list. You go home the same day with simple wound-care instructions.
Why every lesion is sent to pathology
Every mole or lesion Dr Goutham removes is sent to a pathology laboratory for examination — this is the single most important reason to choose surgical excision. Looking at a spot, even with a dermatoscope, can raise or lower suspicion, but only the microscope gives a definite diagnosis.
Pathology confirms whether a lesion is completely benign, or whether it is an early skin cancer such as a basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma. It also confirms whether the lesion was removed with clear margins. If pathology shows a skin cancer, Dr Goutham will talk you through the result and the next step — usually a wider skin cancer excision, or for melanoma a planned wide local excision. Catching a skin cancer at the mole stage often means simpler, smaller surgery.
Surgical removal vs cosmetic laser mole removal
Surgical excision is not the same as cosmetic laser or shave-only mole removal offered by some beauty and laser clinics. The crucial difference is pathology: laser destroys the lesion, leaving nothing to examine, so a skin cancer can be missed. Surgical excision removes the lesion intact and sends it for testing.
For any mole that is pigmented, changing or that you have not had checked, an intact surgical excision with pathology is the safer choice — and it is the standard of care recommended in Australia. A neat surgical scar is a small price for the certainty that nothing has been overlooked.
Recovery and scar care
Recovery from mole and skin lesion removal is usually quick and straightforward. Most people return to normal activity the same or next day, with only mild tenderness at the site for a few days.
- Keep the wound clean and dry as advised — usually for the first 48 hours.
- Sutures are typically removed at 7–14 days, depending on the site (face heals fastest, back and limbs take longer).
- Avoid heavy lifting or vigorous exercise that stretches the wound while it heals.
- Protect the healing scar from the sun and follow our written post-operative care guidance.
Every surgical removal leaves a scar, but Dr Goutham plans the incision to follow natural skin lines and minimise its appearance. Your pathology result is usually available within about a week, and we will contact you to discuss it.
Considered, surgeon-led skin lesion care
- ✓general surgeon. — moles and lesions removed by a fully qualified surgeon, not a technician.
- ✓Every lesion to pathology. — a definite diagnosis, never a guess.
- ✓One clear pathway. — if a cancer is found, your wider excision is handled in the same practice.
- ✓Tidy, planned scars. — incisions placed along natural skin lines.
- ✓Local anaesthetic, day procedure. — comfortable, awake and home the same day.
- ✓Brisbane-wide. — consulting and operating across Brisbane, Redland, Moreton Bay and Logan.
Mole & skin lesion removal FAQs
How is a mole removed?+
Most moles are removed by surgical excision under local anaesthetic. The skin is numbed, the mole is cut out with a small margin of normal skin, and the wound is closed with sutures. The mole is then sent to pathology to confirm it is benign and was completely removed.
Does mole removal hurt?+
The procedure itself is not painful because the area is fully numbed with local anaesthetic. You may feel a brief sting as the anaesthetic goes in, then only light pressure. Afterwards the site may be mildly tender for a few days, which simple pain relief settles.
Will mole removal leave a scar?+
Any surgical removal leaves a scar, but Dr Goutham plans the incision to follow natural skin creases so the scar is as discreet as possible. Most scars fade considerably over 6–12 months. Sun protection during healing helps the scar settle.
How long does mole removal take?+
A single mole or skin lesion is usually removed in a 20–45 minute appointment, including numbing and dressing the wound. Removing several lesions, or larger and facial lesions needing reconstruction, may take longer or be planned as a day-surgery procedure.
Why should a mole be sent to pathology?+
Sending the mole to pathology is the only way to be certain it is not an early skin cancer. Examining a spot by eye or dermatoscope estimates risk, but microscopic examination gives the diagnosis and confirms the lesion was removed with clear margins.
What is the difference between surgical and cosmetic (laser) mole removal?+
Surgical excision removes the mole intact so it can be tested by pathology. Cosmetic laser removal destroys the mole, leaving nothing to examine, so a skin cancer could be missed. For any pigmented or changing mole, surgical excision with pathology is the safer option.
Can a mole grow back after removal?+
A mole removed completely by surgical excision should not return. A mole removed only superficially (for example by shave or laser) can sometimes regrow pigment. If any spot returns or keeps changing at a treated site, have it reviewed.
Do I need a referral to have a mole removed?+
A GP referral is recommended — it lets you access Medicare rebates and means your GP is kept informed. If you have noticed a changing or suspicious mole, ask your GP for a referral to Dr Goutham, or contact our rooms for guidance.
What happens if my mole turns out to be a skin cancer?+
If pathology shows a skin cancer, Dr Goutham will explain the result and arrange the next step in the same practice — usually a wider excision for basal or squamous cell carcinoma, or a planned wide local excision for melanoma. Finding a cancer early at the mole stage often means simpler treatment.
Should I have a full skin check too?+
Yes. Removing one mole does not check the rest of your skin. A regular full skin examination by your GP or a skin-cancer clinic is recommended, especially in Queensland, so that any other suspicious spots are found early.
Caring for South-East Queensland
Dr Goutham consults and operates across Brisbane, Redland, Moreton Bay and Logan — care close to home.
Trusted resources
Last medically reviewed by Dr Goutham Sivasuthan, specialist surgeon — June 2026.
Have a mole or lump checked
If you have a changing mole, a bothersome lump, or a lesion you would like removed, Dr Goutham can assess it and remove it safely with pathology. Ask your GP for a referral or contact our rooms.