FACIAL NEVI AND SKIN GROWTH REMOVAL

Evaluation and Removal of Facial Moles and Benign Skin Growths

Facial nevi (moles) and other skin growths may be removed for medical reasons, functional concerns, or cosmetic improvement. Patients may seek treatment because a lesion is changing, repeatedly irritated, catches during shaving or grooming, or simply because they would prefer to have a benign facial growth removed.

The face requires particular consideration when selecting a removal technique. Lesion type and depth, diagnostic certainty, facial anatomy, skin characteristics, healing pattern, and cosmetic goals all influence the treatment approach.

At International Vein & Skin Institute, each lesion is evaluated individually before treatment. Removal techniques may include CO₂ laser-assisted shave removal, CO₂ laser ablation or evaporation, surgical excision, and vascular laser treatment, depending on the lesion being treated.

All procedures are personally performed by Dr. Jozef Tryzno, MD, with more than 25 years of experience in dermatologic surgery and laser-based skin procedures.

EVALUATION AND TREATMENT PLANNING

Facial moles and skin growths vary considerably in appearance, depth, tissue composition, and behavior. Evaluation begins with identifying the type of lesion and determining whether it can be treated directly or whether diagnostic biopsy or histopathologic examination is needed.

Lesions commonly evaluated and treated include:

Raised flesh-colored or pigmented nevi
Seborrheic keratoses
Cherry angiomas and other vascular lesions
Sebaceous hyperplasia
Actinic keratoses
Skin tags, cysts, and milia

Treatment planning considers:

Lesion size, depth, and anatomic location
Skin type and degree of sun damage
Patient age and healing characteristics
Wrinkle pattern and surrounding skin texture
Diagnostic certainty and malignancy risk
Medical history, medications, and scar history
Occupational or lifestyle factors affecting healing

On facial skin, treatment planning involves not only the lesion itself but also how the surrounding skin is likely to heal and how the treated area will blend with adjacent tissue.

CHOOSING THE APPROPRIATE REMOVAL METHOD

Several removal techniques are available at IVSI. The method selected depends on lesion type, depth, location, diagnostic requirements, healing considerations, and treatment goals.

Different techniques offer different advantages in terms of complete removal, tissue preservation for histopathologic examination, surface contouring, scar pattern, and cosmetic blending with the surrounding skin.

CO₂ LASER–ASSISTED SHAVE REMOVAL

CO₂ laser-assisted shave removal combines tangential removal of the raised portion of the lesion with controlled CO₂ laser treatment of the remaining lesion base.

The lesion is removed at the dermal level without placement of deep sutures, and the treated area heals by secondary intention. CO₂ laser treatment of the base provides hemostasis and allows additional treatment and contouring of residual visible lesion.

This technique is commonly used for selected raised facial nevi and benign skin growths. In high-movement areas of the face, avoiding a sutured linear closure may reduce the effects of repeated muscular tension on the healing wound and provide improved cosmetic blending with the surrounding skin.

Some nevi, particularly intradermal nevi, extend deeper within the skin. With laser-assisted shave removal, a small amount of residual nevus tissue may remain, and partial regrowth or recurrence can occur over time.

The choice between CO₂ laser-assisted shave removal and surgical excision considers the lesion characteristics, facial location and movement, expected healing and scar pattern, and cosmetic treatment goals.

CO₂ LASER DESTRUCTION / EVAPORATION

CO₂ laser destruction or evaporation is used for selected small, superficial benign facial lesions and skin growths. Unlike laser-assisted shave removal, tissue is removed through controlled laser evaporation of the tissue.

This technique provides:

Precise, controlled tissue removal
Excellent hemostasis with minimal bleeding
Controlled treatment of small or superficial lesions
Healing by re-epithelialization without sutured closure

Temporary redness and color differences are expected during healing. Treated areas may initially appear pink or slightly lighter than the surrounding skin, and when multiple lesions are removed, the skin may temporarily appear “spotted.” These differences generally become less noticeable as healing progresses and the treated areas blend with the surrounding skin.

The depth and extent of treatment are adjusted according to the type of lesion, facial location, and skin characteristics.

SURGICAL EXCISION

Surgical excision removes the lesion through its full depth together with a surrounding margin of skin and is used for selected deeper nevi, larger lesions, or lesions where complete removal and histopathologic examination are important.

How it is performed:

Local anesthesia is administered
Incision is performed using a surgical CO₂ laser in cutting mode
The lesion is removed with a surrounding margin
The wound is closed with sutures, with layered closure used when appropriate
Removed tissue is submitted for histopathologic examination

Surgical excision results in a linear scar. On facial skin, the orientation and design of the excision are carefully planned with consideration of natural skin lines, wrinkle pattern, surrounding skin texture, facial movement, and wound tension to help the resulting scar blend as favorably as possible with the surrounding skin.

For some facial lesions, surgical excision provides the preferred balance of full-depth lesion removal, histopathologic examination, and predictable closure. For others, particularly in high-movement areas, laser-assisted shave removal with secondary-intention healing may provide better cosmetic blending.

PIGMENT LIGHTENING — SELECTED BENIGN NEVI

For selected flat, benign pigmented nevi, pigment-targeting lasers such as PicoSure® may be used to lighten visible pigmentation without removing the lesion itself.

This treatment affects color rather than lesion size or depth and does not reduce the bulk of a raised nevus. Multiple treatments may be needed, and complete pigment elimination cannot be guaranteed.

Because the lesion remains present, diagnostic certainty is important before pigment-altering treatment. Biopsy may be recommended before treatment when appropriate.

That's enough. The detailed discussion of future growth, recurrent pigment, representative biopsy, etc. belongs in physician counseling.

STAGED COSMETIC TREATMENT — SELECTED CASES

For patients with multiple facial nevi or skin growths, treatment may be performed in stages.

A staged treatment plan may include:

CO₂ laser-assisted removal of larger nevi using shave removal or surgical excision with sutured closure
CO₂ laser-assisted shave removal or ablation of smaller lesions
After healing, laser treatment for scar optimization, residual redness, pigmentation, or overall skin rejuvenation, when desired and appropriate

This approach allows the treated areas to heal before the cosmetic result is reassessed and additional treatment is selected.

Stop there. The rest of that current section is counseling/consent material.

I think that gets us back to the original website philosophy: enough information for an interested patient to understand why IVSI's approach is thoughtful and individualized, but not so much that they feel they are reading a consent form before they have even scheduled an evaluation.

TREATMENT OF VASCULAR FACIAL LESIONS

Some facial skin growths are vascular rather than melanocytic or keratotic and require a different treatment approach.

Vascular laser treatment may be used for selected lesions such as:

Cherry angiomas
Small pyogenic granulomas
Selected superficial vascular lesions

These treatments target hemoglobin within abnormal blood vessels rather than removing tissue through excision or ablation. The laser and treatment parameters are selected according to the type, size, depth, and vascular characteristics of the lesion.

Some vascular lesions may require more than one treatment or a combination of procedural techniques, depending on their size and depth.

👉 Learn more about Vascular Lesions

YOUR ROLE IN PROPER HEALING

Post-procedure care is an important part of the final result. Healing tissue must be protected from trauma, friction, picking or scrubbing, excessive moisture, irritating skin products, and premature sun exposure.

After CO₂ laser-assisted shave removal or laser destruction, the treated areas may initially appear red, pink, crusted, or lighter than the surrounding skin. When multiple lesions are treated, the face may temporarily appear “spotted” while the individual treatment sites heal and gradually blend with the surrounding skin.

Sun protection is particularly important because newly treated and newly healed skin is susceptible to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and prolonged discoloration.

Wound care is tailored to the procedure performed. Some treatment sites are managed with ointment and open wound care, while others may be protected with a custom transparent dressing during the early healing period. Detailed wound-care instructions and follow-up recommendations are provided after treatment.

IMPORTANT PROCEDURAL CONSIDERATIONS

Certain factors may influence the choice of treatment, including:

Personal history of skin cancer
History of hypertrophic or keloid scarring
Patient age and skin type
Lesion behavior or diagnostic uncertainty

Destructive or cosmetic treatments are not performed when malignancy has not been excluded. Diagnostic biopsy may be recommended before treatment.

Medical necessity and insurance coverage are determined separately based on the diagnosis, reason for treatment, and individual insurance plan.

SKIN LESION EVALUATION

A skin lesion evaluation helps determine the diagnosis, treatment options, and appropriate removal method based on the individual lesion and treatment goals.

📞 Call (847) 518-9999 to schedule a skin lesion evaluation with Dr. Jozef Tryzno, MD.

Medical Disclaimer
This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace individualized medical evaluation. Treatment recommendations depend on clinical findings, diagnostic requirements, and patient-specific factors. Outcomes may vary, and no specific medical or cosmetic result can be guaranteed.

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