Moles, cysts, lipomas and skin tags are common, benign lesions that can cause you irritation, discomfort or cosmetic concern.
Surgical removal gives you a precise, straightforward way to treat or diagnose these lesions, usually under local anaesthetic with very little recovery time.
Procedure Time
30 – 90 minutes depending on size, number, complexity and location.
Anaesthetic
Local anaesthetic
Recovery
Most people return to normal activities within 24 – 48 hours; wounds heal over 1 – 3 weeks.
Full Results
Once the wound has healed and the scar has settled, usually within several months.
Excision allows lesions to be examined under the microscope, confirming whether they are benign.
Removing raised or prominent lesions reduces catching, rubbing and repeated trauma.
Small lesions can be removed with minimal scarring, improving your confidence in areas that feel visible or bothersome.
Most procedures are day-case treatments, so you can immediately get back to normal daily activity.
Complete excision of cysts, lipomas or moles lowers the chance of the lesion returning.
We support you through surgery and beyond
Your consultation focuses on assessing the lesion, understanding whether removal is recommended for medical, psychological and cosmetic reasons, and explaining the available options. Your surgeon will examine the area, discuss whether the lesion should be sent for pathology, and outline what to expect from healing and scarring. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and agree on a personalised plan.
The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic. Once the area is anaesthetised, the lesion is surgically removed. Depending on the size and depth, the wound may be closed with dissolvable sutures, non-dissolvable stitches or left to heal naturally (only usually if scraping off the lesion will give you the best outcome). A light dressing is applied before you go home. You should arrange a lift home and avoid driving for 24h after a local anaesthetic procedure.
Keep the area clean and dry until the first dressing review, usually at 5 – 7 days. If non-dissolvable stitches are used, they are removed within 7 – 14 days, depending on the location. Mild swelling or tenderness is normal and settles within a few weeks. Most people return to work within 1 – 2 days. Avoid stretching the area or soaking the wound until it has fully healed. Scars continue to soften and fade gradually over several months.
At The Antler Clinic, your care is led by Mr David Izadi, an experienced Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon whose work combines advanced surgical expertise with a calm, honest, and patient-centred approach.
With over 20 years of specialist surgical experience, Mr Izadi has extensive expertise in the assessment and surgical management of a wide range of benign skin lesions, including cysts, lipomas, moles (naevi), skin tags, dermatofibromas, seborrhoeic keratoses, and other skin lumps and bumps. As a core member of the Warwickshire Skin Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), he is highly experienced in assessing skin lesions and distinguishing benign conditions from lesions that may require further investigation or treatment for suspected skin cancer.
His expertise as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon means that every procedure is planned not only to remove the lesion safely and effectively, but also to achieve the best possible cosmetic outcome. Where there is any uncertainty about a diagnosis, appropriate investigations and histological analysis can be arranged to provide an accurate diagnosis and complete peace of mind.
Mr Izadi performs meticulous skin surgery using advanced plastic surgical techniques designed to minimise scarring, preserve healthy tissue, and optimise healing. Every consultation begins with a detailed assessment and discussion of your concerns, ensuring that treatment is tailored to your individual needs and goals.
Whether you are seeking reassurance about a skin lesion or considering removal for comfort, cosmetic, or functional reasons, you can be confident that you are receiving expert care from a surgeon with extensive experience in both skin lesion surgery and skin cancer management.
A quick guide to the things most people want to know before and after their procedure.
Raised, unsightly or bothersome moles can be removed safely under local anaesthetic. If there is suspicious appearance of the mole, you will be advised to have the tissue sent for histological analysis.
Most people return to normal activities within 24 – 48 hours of their surgery. Full healing takes 1-3 weeks, depending on the mole’s location.
Cysts, lipomas, skin tags and other benign lumps can be removed precisely and comfortably under local anaesthetic.
Local anaesthetic keeps you comfortable during a mole removal procedure. You may feel some mild tenderness afterwards, but this is normal and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
If the mole is excised, the full thickness of the skin can be removed down to the underlying fatty layer.
After mole removal, you should avoid getting the wound wet too soon, exposing your wound, getting the wound contaminated, and excess activities (e.g., exercise or heavy lifting) until the first post-operative check.
If fully excised, a mole cannot become cancerous. New or changing moles elsewhere should still be checked.
Lumps don’t always need to be removed, and many are harmless. We recommend removing them if they are painful, growing, repeatedly inflamed or cosmetically unwanted, impacting your self-esteem.
Lumps greater than 5cm or with suspicious features will need to be sent for histological analysis.
Cysts can recur if the cyst wall is not fully removed. That’s why we always make sure that we’ve done a complete excision to reduce this risk.
Dermatologists and plastic surgeons both perform mole excision. Both specialities are part of the core skin MDT. Complex or larger lesions, or if you are concerned about cosmetics, would be best managed by a plastic surgeon.
Most benign moles remain stable. Lesions that change in size, colour or shape should be reviewed promptly.
clear and transparent costs
You will receive a clear quotation setting out the cost of your treatment and what is included before you decide whether to proceed.
A new consultation is charged at £200.
Follow-up consultations are charged at £150, unless the appointment forms part of an agreed surgical package or postoperative follow-up pathway.
Consultation fees are payable regardless of whether surgery is subsequently arranged. A consultation provides assessment, advice and discussion of treatment options; it does not guarantee that surgery will be recommended or offered.
Patients are kindly asked to provide at least three working days’ notice if they need to cancel or rearrange an appointment.
Non-attendance, or cancellation with less than three working days’ notice, will incur a fee of £125. This fee reflects the clinical time reserved for the appointment and the difficulty of offering the appointment to another patient at short notice.
For self-pay patients, surgery is usually provided as a fixed-price package. This is intended to give patients clarity and reassurance about the cost of their planned procedure.
Your written quotation will confirm what is included. In most cases, the package price includes:
Hospital fees for the planned procedure
Surgeon’s fee
Anaesthetist’s fee, where applicable
Standard postoperative follow-up appointments relating to the procedure
Routine aftercare directly related to the planned surgery, as specified in your quotation
Package prices are based on the procedure agreed at the time of booking. If the surgical plan changes, if additional procedures are requested, or if further treatment is required outside the agreed package, additional fees may apply.
Self-pay surgical packages usually include a period of cover for the treatment of complications directly related to the procedure. The exact terms, duration and exclusions of this cover are set by the hospital where your surgery is performed.
Depending on the hospital, complication cover may apply for a defined period, which may be 6 or 12 months. Full details will be provided by the relevant hospital before surgery.
Complication cover is not a guarantee that all future treatment, revision surgery or additional procedures will be provided without charge. Cover may not apply to unrelated medical problems, pre-existing conditions, treatment required outside the hospital’s terms, or surgery requested for aesthetic preference rather than a recognised complication.
In an emergency, patients should seek urgent medical attention through the most appropriate service, including NHS emergency care where necessary.
Every effort is made to achieve the best possible outcome, but no surgical procedure can guarantee a specific result, perfect symmetry, invisible scarring or complete satisfaction. Healing, scarring, swelling and final results vary between individuals.
If revision surgery is required because of a complication, eligibility for cover will depend on the hospital’s package terms and the clinical circumstances.
If surgery has been performed to an appropriate clinical standard, but a patient remains dissatisfied with the aesthetic outcome or wishes to pursue further refinement, any revision or additional surgery will usually incur further charges. These may include hospital fees, surgeon’s fees and anaesthetic fees.
For skin cancer or skin lesion surgery, the aim is to remove the lesion completely with an appropriate margin. However, final clearance can only be confirmed after laboratory analysis of the tissue.
Based on Mr Izadi’s internal self-audit data, his incomplete resection rate for skin cancers is less than 3%. This figure is provided for general information only and does not remove the possibility that any individual lesion may require further treatment, depending on the type, size, site, behaviour and histological features of the skin cancer.
If histology shows that a lesion, including a skin cancer, has been incompletely excised, or if a skin lesion recurs further surgery or additional treatment may be recommended. This will usually incur additional fees, including hospital and surgeon’s fees, unless otherwise confirmed in writing.
Unless specifically included in your written quotation, additional costs may apply for investigations, scans, specialist opinions, extra procedures, further hospital admissions, prescriptions, dressings, garments, travel, accommodation, time off work or treatment unrelated to the planned surgery.
The written quotation and the hospital’s own terms and conditions will take precedence over any general information provided on this website.
Payment terms, deposits, cancellation policies and refund arrangements are determined by the hospital where your procedure is booked. These will be provided to you before surgery.
Surgery can only proceed once all required payments have been received and all relevant consent, preoperative assessment and hospital requirements have been completed.
To help make treatment more affordable, you may choose to spread the cost of your procedure through a personal medical loan with Chrysalis Finance. Subject to eligibility and approval, Chrysalis offers a range of flexible finance options, allowing you to pay for your treatment in manageable monthly instalments rather than a single upfront payment.
The hospitals we work with offer finance options through Chrysalis Finance. Please contact your chosen hospital directly for further information or to discuss any questions.
Mr Izadi is registered with the private medical insurers shown below. Coverage for consultations and treatment is subject to the terms of your policy and insurers approval.
Get in Touch
A consultation at The Antler Clinic is simply a chance to talk – to ask questions, explore your options, and decide what feels right for you.
You’ll leave with clarity, reassurance, and the same calm support that defines everything we do.
