Mole Screening - individual moles or whole body mole mapping

At Absolute Aesthetics we use the latest digital mole analysis equipment.

With it we are able to use it in 2 different ways:

• Screen individual moles for risk of malignant change
• Map the whole of the body so that we can see if any moles change with time

Screening individual moles

If you are worried about one, two or even a few individual moles, we can analyse each of them quickly and painlessly.

A high resolution digital "dermatoscope" is used - this is like a digital microscope for the skin surface. It is put on the mole and the digital image is taken and stored on the computer.

The specialised software then analyses the picture, looking for any signs of a malignant change.

Within seconds, the computer gives the result. This result is a number that indicates the risk of the mole actually being a malignant melanoma, or showing signs of changing into one.

If the mole is not at risk, we can keep the image and result so that if the mole changes at all in the future, we can compare the image then with that stored now.

Moles that show a little risk can either be re-scanned in a few months to see if there is any further change or, if you wish, can be excised by our Consultant Surgeon and sent off for laboratory analysis.

Moles that show moderate or high risk should be excised completely and sent off for laboratory analysis. Our Consultant Surgeon is very experienced at removing such moles. He is also a member of the BACD - British Association of Cosmetic Doctors - so that he takes great care in both removing the mole completely and he makes every effort to leave the best possible scar from a cosmetic point of view.

Mole Mapping - screening the whole body

Many people have a lot of moles spread over their body and would like to know if any of them are changing or are at risk.

Using the mole mapping software, we digitally image the body in 17 sections - including the sole of the feet where melanomas can occur and not be found easily.

The map can then be stored and any moles that are of concern to the patient can be individually screened as above.

The images can then be kept and for comparison with each subsequent mole mapping.

A mole mapping every 3 months allows us to compare the images in order to try to identify any new moles, or any moles that are changing in size or colour. These can then be individually screened as above.