anyone had moles examined by a derm?

snowflakemom

I noticed within the past week that a mole I've had on my earlobe has gotten larger. Also in the past year, when I've gotten a pedicure I've been told that a mole I have on my calf "should be checked out" and my hair stylist also told me I should have one on the backside of my neck looked at (I swear I'm not really as mole-y as it sounds ) so I finally decided to make an appointment this week to go in and have them checked out. Has anyone gone in to have theirs examined? What is the process? I'm assuming they just look at them and if the mole looks suspicious they will do a biopsy and if not, just keep an eye on them?

Mrs Manners

I have my regular doc check mine each year at my physical. He removed/biopsied two last year that looked suspicious. One was deep enough that it required stitches after the removal. Both came back fine.

littlemermaid

I go once a year to have my moles checked out.  If my dermo sees one that looks suspicious she freezes it and slices it off and sends it into the lab.  Some docs will just take a piece of it and send it out.  I prefer to just have it removed if it looks out of the norm.

A-baybride

I have a couple times.  The best advice I can give you is to get a recommendation for a dermatologist that is serious about the medical aspects of his job, rather than the cosmetic.  I went to one in Malibu (that was recommended by a friend, but she had gone for acne, not moles) and discovered that their bread and butter was cosmetic procedures.  Although they were contracted with my insurance company, the lady in billing said they lost money when they had to deal with insurance, so they want to deem everything "cosmetic" so it won't be covered by insurance and they can bill their normal rates.  Every mole I showed the doctor, he just said, "we can remove that for $XX."  That was in 2006 and I have some moles I am concerned about, but I was so disgusted by that experience I haven't tried again to find a doctor who is actually concerned about cancer. 

Also, if the doctor doesn't biopsy them, you should take pictures of the ones you're concerned about with a ruler next to it so you know exactly how fast (or if) it's growing.  Good luck! 

JellymanKelly

Pretty much just what you said. They'll ask you some questions about changes in the mole, itching, bleeding, etc. If none of them look suspicious and they haven't changed, bled or itched, then they probably won't remove them.

lildevil968

I have mine checked every 6 months by my Derm. The whole process lasts about 15 minutes. They will have you put on a gown, and the dr. will look over your entire body. If they find something they will schedule you another appointment to have the mole removed.

Rebekah1021

When they begin to look funny to me, I go in and just have them removed by a derm. My derm says that it could totally look fine, but they never know unless it's under the microscope and a biopsy. I just assume get them taken off and deal with the small scar.

jlw2505

I see a derm once a year to check all my moles (I have a ton of age spots just like my grandma did!).  The whole thing takes 10 mins.  You go in, take off everything but your undies and put on a robe and lay on a table.  The derm looks at your entire body front and back plus on your head and the nurse writes down notes as the derm talks - mainly about anything that they want to make sure they are watching from year to year.  My SIL is a derm and she told me this is pretty standard to what is done (she gets the patients after this point, if anything is found).  SHe feels that it is good to get this body scan done annually if you have moles.