With the NHS rarely offering Minor Surgery, we can help you!
Dr Anthony O’Neill (GP) has over 30 years’ experience as a medical practitioner, and takes a special interest in the skin and its treatment.
He has carried out many minor surgery procedures, and can remove some moles, warts, cysts, skin tags at a reasonable price. All minor surgery is carried out at our Boxford clinic, under local anaesthetic, making it a comfortable experience.
How it works
Minor Surgery is available for all areas of the body and face. Skin blemishes such as warts, skin tags, and moles can be removed. Some ‘moles’ can be easily shaved off and cauterised, requiring no stitches. Others may need more comprehensive surgery with stitches and histology reports. Histology reports are when the removed lesion is looked at under a microscope at our local hospital, and a report is sent to us with details of whether it is anything to be concerned about. If it is, we will arrange further follow-up and treatment, as necessary.
Prices
| Skin tag removal Up to 5 | £295.00 |
| Skin tag removal 6 – 10 | £395.00 |
| Skin tag removal 11 – 20 | £495.00 |
| Campbell de Morgan spots (cherry angiomas) Up to 5 | £295.00 |
| Campbell de Morgan spots (cherry angiomas) 6 – 10 | £395.00 |
| Campbell de Morgan spots (cherry angiomas) 11 – 20 | £495.00 |
| ‘Mole’ removal by excision with stitches (plus £95 histology if required). | From £550.00 |
| ‘Mole’ removal by shave excision (plus £95 histology if required) with additional moles at £150 per mole (plus histology). | From £325.00 |
| Seborrheic Wart removal by shave excision, or curettage & cautery The cost depends on number and size of warts. An exact price will be quoted after seeing the photos or at consultation. | From £325.00 |
| Sebaceous cyst removal (plus histology if required) | From £550.00 |
| Viral Wart removal by curettage and cautery The cost depends on number and size of warts. An exact price will be quoted after seeing the photos or at consultation. | From £325.00 |
| Milia Removal The cost depends on number and size of milia. An exact price will be quoted after seeing the photos or at consultation. | From £95.00 |
| Consultation and examination of 1-2 moles | From £150.00 |
| Histology Per specimen | From £95.00 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you remove any type of mole?
The term ‘mole’ is often used by the general public to refer to different types of benign (harmless) pigmented skin lesions, such as seborrheic wart/keratosis, intradermal naevi, histiocytomas, and some malignant (cancerous) lesions such as melanoma, basal cell carcinomas (rodent ulcers) and squamous cell carcinomas.
It is important to have the ‘mole’ seen and diagnosed/identified by a doctor prior to having it removed.
If Dr O’Neill feels that it may be suspicious, then he may refer you to a specialist plastic surgeon or dermatologist via your GP.
Seborrheic warts and benign raised naevi can be ‘shaved’ off under local anaesthetic, but flat ‘moles’ or possible cancerous ones need to be ‘excised’ or cut out, which involves stitches.
Other raised lumps/bumps such as sebaceous/pilar cysts and lipomas can also be excised, involving removable stitches
Do I need to prepare anything beforehand?
Please bring a form of ID to your initial appointment and a list of any medication that you are currently taking, especially if you are on blood thinning medication.
Is the procedure painful?
Whether your mole or skin lesion is removed by excision with stitches, shave excision or curettage & cautery, the procedure is quick and shouldn’t hurt once the area is numb (which takes 2-3 seconds after injection). After the procedure, you may feel a little bruised or sore around the area for a few days. After cautery, there will be a superficial burn scab, which if kept dry and clean, should heal within 1-2 weeks, depending on location on the body (faces heal more quickly than legs).
What aftercare is provided?
All necessary aftercare is provided by the clinic, such as dressings and suture removal. A review is always offered, or the patient can call us at any time for advice/review, if concerned.
What are the risks?
Possible side effects/risks include wound infection, bleeding/bruising, keloid scarring, poor cosmetic result.
What does histology entail?
This entails sending the skin specimen that was removed to the local hospital path lab for analysis under a microscope. There is an extra charge for this. Usually the results will be available within 4-6 weeks, and a copy will be sent by email to the patient, after having been checked by Dr O’Neill.
What type of removal methods do you use?
Shave/curette and cautery (sealing with heat), and excision (cutting out leaving removable stitches (sutures).
Will I be able to drive afterwards?
Your procedure should not stop you driving on the same day, unless it involves numbing the fingers or hand. It may be possible to return to work after the procedure, but best to discuss that with the doctor.
Will I have a scar?
Yes, but usually after shave/curette procedures, the scar is flat and barely noticeable when covered with make-up (unless keloid occurs). Cutting surgery leaves a linear scar sometimes with stitch marks visible.
Will I need more than one procedure?
Raised naevi, if shaved off, can potentially gradually grow back, although in my experience, if they do, it is only very slowly, and they can be shaved flat again. Excised lesions do not usually regrow, unless incompletely removed.