How much does mole removal cost, and what actually sets the price

How much does it cost to remove a mole?

It is impossible to give one number, because one number does not describe exactly what is done. People who search for "mole removal price" or "mole removal cost" usually find a single figure next to the words "starting from". But that figure does not tell you how many lesions it includes, which method is used, whether there are stitches, or whether the tissue is sent to a laboratory. Two quotes with the same number can describe completely different procedures.

At Dr. Dana Buchbut's clinic, prices are not published on the website. You can request the price list by phone or by WhatsApp message, with no obligation, and the exact quote is given after the lesion has been seen. If you would first like to know how the removal itself is done, the full explanation is on the mole removal page.

What sets the price of mole removal?

Six things determine most of the cost. Some depend on the lesion itself, and some on what happens before and after the removal.

Number and size of lesions

Removing one small lesion is different from removing several lesions in the same visit, and also from a large lesion that needs a wider excision. When several lesions are removed, it is worth asking whether the price is per lesion or per visit, and whether each one is sent for testing separately.

Location of the lesion

A mole on the face, nose, lip or eyelid requires more delicate work and planning of the direction of the incision, because any mark is more visible. Areas where the skin is under tension, such as the back and shoulders, also affect the method and the need for stitches. There is a separate page on facial moles: removing a mole on the face.

Removal method

The two main methods for removing a mole are shave removal and excision with a scalpel, and according to Cleveland Clinic, laser, cautery and freezing are generally not recommended for a mole, because no sample is left for testing and the lesion is more likely to come back². Shave removal suits raised, superficial lesions and does not require stitches. Excision removes the lesion in full and is closed with stitches. In a randomized trial comparing the two in raised, non-pigmented moles, recurrence of the lesion was seen only in the shave group⁴. In other words, the method is chosen according to the lesion, and it also affects the time, the materials and the follow-up.

Pathology test

A removed mole is usually sent for a histological test in a laboratory, because this is the only way to know for certain what the lesion was¹. A study of lesions excised on the assumption that they were benign recommended routine testing mainly for solid, pigmented or injured lesions, in other words exactly for moles³. The test carries a laboratory cost, and it is important to know whether it is included in the quote or charged separately. How to read the result is explained on the pathology report page.

Stitches, dressing and follow-up

After an excision there are stitches, and sometimes a follow-up visit to remove them or to check the wound. The Maccabi health fund guide to minor excision of a skin lesion describes local anesthesia, sending the tissue for testing, and a follow-up visit about one to two weeks after the procedure⁶. It is worth asking whether the follow-up visit and stitch removal are included, and whether delivering and explaining the pathology result is part of the service.

The examination before removal

Before any removal, the lesion is examined, usually with a dermatoscope, to make sure it has no warning signs. This is the part that decides whether to remove it at all and by which method. In some quotes the examination is a separate line item, and in others it is included. It is worth knowing in advance.

Why is a cheap removal without pathology a false saving?

Because if the lesion was destroyed and not tested, there is no way to know what it was. The German guideline on laser treatment of the skin states that laser treatment of pigmented melanocytic nevi is not recommended⁷, and Cleveland Clinic explains that methods that destroy the tissue leave no sample for testing². If what looked like a harmless mole was in fact something else, the opportunity to diagnose it in time has been lost.

There is a financial price too. A lesion that comes back after partial removal needs further investigation, sometimes another excision, and a recurrent lesion can look worrying even under the microscope. So the right comparison is not "how much does the removal cost", but "how much does a removal cost after which you know what was removed".

This is doubly true for creams, plasma pens and home products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has collected reports of serious skin injuries, including burns and scars, after the use of unapproved products for removing moles and skin tags⁸. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends having lesions removed by a doctor, partly to reduce infection, bleeding and scarring⁹. Today's saving can become tomorrow's scar treatment.

Medical or cosmetic removal: what difference does it make to the cost?

A lot. The reason for removal determines who pays. A mole with a warning sign, one that is changing, bleeding or constantly getting injured, is a medical reason for investigation, and then you can go through your health fund. A known benign mole that bothers you only because of how it looks is a cosmetic removal. Even in the public system in the UK, the NHS writes that harmless moles are usually not treated with public funding, and that they can be removed at a private clinic for a fee⁵.

In Israel, the terms vary between health funds and between supplementary insurance plans. What the health fund websites say, and what the route through the health fund looks like, is detailed on the mole removal through your health fund page. If you have private insurance, it is worth finding out in advance what it requires in order to consider reimbursement, for example a receipt, a referral or a pathology result.

What questions should you ask about any quote?

Seven questions let you compare quotes by what is actually included in them. You can ask them anywhere, including with us.

1. Who examines the lesion before removal, and who removes it? A doctor, and with what training.
2. Which method will be used to remove the mole, and why that one? Shave, excision or another method, and what that means for scarring and recurrence.
3. Is the tissue sent for pathology, and is the test included in the price? If the answer is "we don't send it", it is worth asking why.
4. Are there stitches, and who removes them? And is the follow-up visit included.
5. Is the price per lesion or per visit? And what happens if several lesions are removed on the same day.
6. What happens if something is not right after the removal? Whom do you contact when you have a question about the wound.
7. What is included in the written quote, and what is charged separately? Better to know before than to find out after.

Which signs in a quote should raise a red flag?

Such a sign is a reason to ask, not proof that something is wrong.

• Removal without a prior examination. A quote that starts with a price rather than an examination skips the most important step.
• "Laser for every type of mole". Laser may suit certain lesions that are not moles, but for a pigmented mole it is not recommended, because nothing is left to test⁷.
• No pathology. As explained above, this is a saving that may turn out to be expensive.
• A promise that "no mark will be left". Any procedure on the skin can leave a mark. The goal is the smallest possible mark. What is normal in a scar is explained on the scar after mole removal page.
• Pressure to decide on the spot. Removing a benign mole is almost never urgent, and you can take your time and ask for a written quote.

And what about skin tags and other lesions?

There too, the cost depends on the number, the location and the method, but the main difference is pathology. Small skin tags, benign non-pigmented lesions or seborrheic keratosis are often removed with methods such as cautery, and they do not always need to be sent to a laboratory, because the clinical diagnosis is clear. Even then, the decision is made after an examination. When there are many small lesions, the practical question is how many can be removed in one visit and how long healing takes. There is a full page on skin tags: skin tags.

How is it done at Dr. Dana Buchbut's clinic?

First an examination, then a quote, and only then removal. Dr. Dana Buchbut, physician (M.D.), examines the lesion herself, visually and with a dermatoscope, and explains whether it needs to be removed, by which method and why. If removal is appropriate, she performs it herself, and a removed mole is sent for pathology testing. The quote details what is included, including the follow-up visit.

The clinic does not perform mole mapping. Anyone with a suspicious mole, or many moles that need monitoring, is referred for examination by a dermatologist. For the warning signs, see suspicious mole. You can request the price list on WhatsApp, with no obligation, and the clinic is in Ramat HaHayal, Tel Aviv.

The information on this page is general educational information only and is not a substitute for an examination, diagnosis or personal medical advice. A decision about treatment is made only after an examination.