Selected Skin Lesion Assessment & Cosmetic Removalin Brighton & Hove
A face-to-face assessment helps you understand whether cosmetic removal may be appropriate, what it could realistically achieve and what the next step may be.
Selected skin tags, seborrhoeic keratoses, milia and cherry angiomas may be considered for removal after a face-to-face assessment. New, changing, bleeding, irregular or suspicious lesions — and any lesion whose identity remains uncertain — are not removed. If a lesion is suspicious or unsuitable for cosmetic removal, you will be advised to see your GP or a dermatologist.
An assessment is not a promise of treatment. Its value is a considered decision: whether removal is reasonable, whether leaving the lesion alone makes more sense, or whether another medical opinion should come first.
The essentials, before the detail.
This page explains how selected skin lesions are assessed for possible cosmetic removal. It cannot identify a lesion from a description or photograph, and it does not promise that treatment will go ahead. Suitability is decided only after I have examined the lesion in person and discussed the relevant history with you.
- What the service is
- Face-to-face assessment and, where appropriate, cosmetic removal or reduction of a selected skin lesion.
- Named scope
- Selected skin tags, seborrhoeic keratoses, milia and cherry angiomas.
- What the assessment decides
- Whether the lesion appears suitable for cosmetic removal in this setting, what the likely trade-offs are, or whether you should see your GP or a dermatologist instead.
- What removal may achieve
- Removal or visible reduction of a suitable lesion. Complete clearance and an invisible result cannot be guaranteed.
- Healing
- Healing depends on the lesion, its location and the method considered. The likely course and possible visible mark are explained before any treatment decision.
- Number of sessions
- More than one treatment may be needed. A lesion may not clear completely and can recur.
- Key boundary
- New, changing, bleeding, irregular or suspicious lesions — and any lesion whose identity remains uncertain — are not removed.
- Alternatives
- Leave the lesion alone, seek GP or dermatology assessment, or consider another removal approach elsewhere if appropriate.
The value of the assessment is not measured by whether a procedure happens. It is measured by whether you leave with a safer, more realistic next decision.
If removal appears appropriate, I explain what it may achieve, how the area is expected to heal, what mark may remain and what the alternatives are. You can then proceed, defer or decide against treatment. All three are legitimate outcomes.
Full clinical guide
Assessment · suitabilityRealistic outcomes · healingRisks · alternatives
Skin lesion removal, explained properly.
This guide explains the boundary between cosmetic removal and a lesion that needs another medical opinion; which lesion classes may be considered at odNOVA; what a face-to-face assessment is for; and what healing, limitations and risks should be understood before any decision. It is general information, not a diagnosis of a mark on your own skin.
01Assessment before removal
A mark is not a diagnosis.
People understandably arrive with a name for a lesion: “a skin tag”, “a mole”, “a little red spot”. Those descriptions can be useful, but they do not establish what a lesion is or whether cosmetic removal is appropriate. A webpage, message or photograph cannot make that decision for you.
The first safeguard is a face-to-face assessment. If the lesion is new, changing, bleeding, irregular, suspicious or otherwise unsuitable — or if its identity remains uncertain — I do not remove it. I advise you to see your GP or a dermatologist instead.
Assessment first. Removal only when the decision makes clinical sense.
02What may be considered
Four named lesion classes. No open-ended list.
Selected skin tags, seborrhoeic keratoses, milia and cherry angiomas may be considered for removal. The name alone does not make a lesion suitable: each one still needs to be examined in person, and treatment is never guaranteed simply because a mark resembles one of these categories.
This page does not extend that scope to moles, an open-ended group of “similar” lesions or any mark that has not been assessed.
03When cosmetic removal does not go ahead
Some marks need a different first step.
Cosmetic removal does not go ahead when a lesion is:
- new;
- changing;
- bleeding;
- irregular;
- suspicious;
- uncertain in identity; or
- otherwise unsuitable for removal in this setting.
If any of those features applies, you will be advised to see your GP or a dermatologist for the appropriate next assessment.
Knowing when not to treat is part of the service.
04What happens at the assessment
The lesion and the person both matter.
I ask what you have noticed about the lesion, including whether it is new or has changed, bled or become irregular. I also review relevant health information, medicines and factors that may affect bleeding, healing, infection, pigmentation or scarring. I then examine the lesion in person and decide whether it appears appropriate for cosmetic removal in this setting.
The assessment does not guarantee treatment and does not replace GP or dermatology assessment where there is doubt or concern.
05The decision after assessment
Removal is one possible outcome.
The assessment can lead to one of three sensible decisions:
- the lesion appears suitable for cosmetic removal and you may consider treatment;
- the lesion is left alone because the likely benefit does not justify the healing, pigment or scarring trade-off; or
- you are advised to see your GP or a dermatologist before any cosmetic treatment is considered.
If treatment is an option, I explain the intended result, the limits, the risks, the likely healing process and the alternatives before you decide. You are under no obligation to proceed and may defer or decline treatment.
06Realistic outcomes
Removal does not mean invisible skin.
The intended outcome is removal or visible reduction of a suitable lesion. Results vary. A lesion may not clear completely, more than one treatment may be needed, and recurrence can occur.
Treatment also creates a healing site. Redness, colour change or a small mark can remain, and a scar is possible. The exact healing course depends on the lesion, its location and the method used. The honest question is whether the likely result is a worthwhile trade for you, not whether treatment can promise skin that looks untouched.
07Healing and recovery
The area needs time to settle.
The appearance and duration of healing depend on the lesion, its location, the method used and your individual response. A temporary visible healing site may be expected, and redness, colour change or a mark can remain.
The likely course should be explained for the exact procedure before you decide. This page does not provide a universal recovery timetable for an unidentified method.
08Risks and limitations
The risks should be understood before the benefit is accepted.
The relevant risks depend on the lesion, its location and the method considered. Before treatment, the discussion may include:
- redness, stinging, swelling or tenderness;
- a scab or crust during healing;
- temporary darkening or lightening of the skin;
- a persistent mark or scar;
- incomplete removal or regrowth;
- infection; and
- bleeding.
Results and healing cannot be guaranteed. Before you decide, you should know the risks relevant to the exact method and how concerns about healing would be assessed.
09When treatment may be unsuitable or deferred
Suitability is broader than the lesion itself.
New, changing, bleeding, irregular or suspicious lesions — and any lesion whose identity remains uncertain — are not removed. Treatment may also be unsuitable or need to be deferred where the skin condition, medical history, medicines, healing or scarring risk, pregnancy or breastfeeding change the balance of benefit and risk.
These factors require individual assessment rather than a universal contraindication list for an unidentified method. Tell me about your health, medicines and previous scarring so the decision is based on the whole picture, not the appearance of the lesion alone.
10Aftercare
Aftercare must match the procedure actually chosen.
This page does not give universal aftercare for an unidentified method. Before treatment, you should know what the healing site may look like, how to protect it, what to avoid and when and how to seek clinical help.
The written instructions for the exact procedure take priority over general website information.
11More than one treatment and recurrence
One procedure is not a promise of final clearance.
Some lesions may need more than one treatment. Incomplete removal or regrowth can occur, and removing one lesion does not prevent another from developing elsewhere.
If a treated lesion persists, returns or changes, it should be reassessed before any further treatment is considered. Repeat treatment is not automatic.
12Alternatives and no treatment
Sometimes the best decision is to leave it alone.
Alternatives include leaving the lesion untreated and monitoring it, seeking assessment from your GP or a dermatologist, or considering a different removal approach elsewhere if that is more suitable.
13The value of an assessment
A useful consultation does not have to end with a procedure.
You do not need to arrive knowing what the mark is or what treatment you want. The purpose of the assessment is to decide whether cosmetic removal is appropriate in this setting, explain the likely trade-offs and give you an honest next step.
If the answer is “not here” or “not yet”, the assessment has still done its job.
14Questions patients ask
Selected skin lesion assessment & removal — answered.
Can a webpage or photograph tell me whether my lesion is safe?
No. A webpage, message or photograph cannot identify a lesion or confirm that cosmetic removal is appropriate. That decision requires a face-to-face assessment. New, changing, bleeding, irregular or suspicious lesions — and any lesion whose identity remains uncertain — are not removed, and you will be advised to see your GP or a dermatologist.
Which lesions may be considered for removal?
Selected skin tags, seborrhoeic keratoses, milia and cherry angiomas may be considered after a face-to-face assessment. The name or appearance alone does not guarantee suitability, and this page does not extend the service to an open-ended group of other lesions.
Will you remove any mark that bothers me?
No. Removal is considered only when the lesion appears suitable for cosmetic treatment in this setting. New, changing, bleeding, irregular or suspicious lesions — and any lesion whose identity remains uncertain — are not removed, and some lesions that appear suitable for cosmetic removal are still better left alone.
Does an assessment mean treatment will happen?
No. The assessment decides whether removal appears reasonable, whether leaving the lesion alone makes more sense, or whether you should see your GP or a dermatologist. You may also defer or decline treatment even when it is considered appropriate.
Will removal leave a mark or scar?
It can. Treatment creates a healing site, so redness, colour change or a small mark may remain and a scar is possible. The intended outcome is removal or visible reduction of the lesion, not a guarantee that the skin will look untouched.
How long does healing take?
Healing varies with the lesion, its location, the method used and your individual response. The likely course is explained for the exact procedure before you decide; this page cannot provide one reliable timetable for every method.
Might I need more than one treatment?
Yes. More than one treatment may be needed, complete removal cannot be guaranteed and recurrence can occur. A lesion that persists, returns or changes should be reassessed before further treatment is considered.
What are the main risks?
The risks depend on the lesion, its location and the method considered. They may include redness, colour change, bleeding, infection, incomplete removal, regrowth and a mark or scar. The risks relevant to the exact procedure are discussed before treatment.
What should I do after treatment?
Follow the written aftercare for the exact procedure. Before treatment, you should know what the healing site may look like, how to protect it, what to avoid and when and how to seek clinical help.
What if I decide not to proceed?
That is entirely acceptable. An assessment is not an obligation to have treatment. Leaving the lesion alone can be a sensible outcome when it does not trouble you or when the likely benefit does not justify the healing, pigment or scarring trade-off.
15References and sources
References & sources
The public safety boundary on this page is based on current UK patient guidance and the clinic’s active consent framework. These sources do not diagnose a lesion on your skin.
- NHS — Moles. Available at: nhs.uk/conditions/moles.
- NHS — Skin tags. Available at: nhs.uk/conditions/skin-tags.
- NICE — Suspected cancer: recognition and referral (NG12). Available at: nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12.
- British Association of Dermatologists / SkinHealthInfo — Seborrhoeic keratosis. Available at: skinhealthinfo.org.uk/condition/seborrhoeic-keratosis.
This page provides general information about face-to-face assessment and possible cosmetic removal of selected skin lesions. It is not individual medical advice and it cannot identify or declare a lesion safe. New, changing, bleeding, irregular or suspicious lesions — and any lesion whose identity remains uncertain — are not removed at odNOVA; you will be advised to see your GP or a dermatologist.
Written by
MPharm · Pharmacist Independent Prescriber · MSc Cosmetic & Aesthetic Medicine · PGDip Dermatology in Clinical Practice
Bring the mark. Leave with a more considered next step.
Treatment is one possible outcome. Leaving it alone or seeking another medical opinion may be the right one.
