Mole Removal .....
TRiley12-26-2003, 08:20 AMPlease DeleteSaraly12-26-2003, 09:36 AMIf you're concerned about the moles you should be evaluated by a Dermatologist. He will advise you as to whether they should be removed for medical reasons. You can have them removed because you don't like them but your insurance probably won't pay for the removal unless the doctor says they were removed for medical reasons. If the moles are in places where they are easily irritated the doctor may say the removal is medically warranted. The actual removel is simple and painless. The only thing you feel is a slight sting when you get the injection to numb the area. The scar depends on the size of the mole. You may have a tiny little hole that's covered with a bandaid until it heals with almost no scar or mark at all or , if the mole is very large, you may need a stitch or two to close it. In any case, if you have a good Dermatologist, the scarring should be hardly noticeable.TRiley12-26-2003, 12:32 PMPlease DeleteSaraly12-26-2003, 12:55 PMIt depends on your doctor and your insurance. My doctor is in Manhattan and I have very good insurance ( if there's really such a thing anymore) and I'm only allowed to have two removed per visit. The price varies too depending on where you live and how prestigious your doctor is. On the upper East side of Manhattan the price is high, about $450.00
but insurance covers 80%. The same procedure in a lower economic area could be as little as $150.00. Most doctors will remove cosmetically ugly moles and just fill out the form saying they were suspicious. You will also have to pay the lab for a biopsy because anything removed has to be biopsied. If you have so many moles it's a good idea to see a dermatologist regularly to monitor them for any malignant changes, that would be just in the "better safe than sorry" category. Both of my children are checked every year.rubindj12-28-2003, 10:47 PMAlthough certain doctor's charge more for the same procedure, it is very rare that if they are in your insurance plan that the insurance will pay more. The actual charge is usually based on the following -- location of the mole, location of the physician, size of the mole, cancerous or non-cancerous, and complexity & type of removal.
Charges can range from $80 for a small non-cacerous mole located on your chest which is treated cryotherapy in a rural area, to $800 (and up) for large cancerous moles on the face requiring an excision and labratory examination. There is no reason why your doctor shouldn't tell you what the cost will be (or at least an estimate) if you ask.lidia0912-30-2003, 03:13 AMHi Everybody
I think everybody's maybe forgetting that we're talking UK/US healthcare, which can be very different. In the UK we get everything done free on the NHS except of course if you wish to take the private option. I've had lots of moles removed & it all came free of charge, only because I've had a malignancy though.
Here, you only get referred to a dermatologist if you actually need one, because of some abnormality of your skin. You can't just phone the local hospital & ask to see one, you have to be referred by your GP.
I shouldn't imagine the doc will readily remove your moles for cosmetic reasons only TRiley. If there's any abnormal-looking ones, you can be sure they'll go though. You also have to consider the scars which inevitably will be bigger than the moles were. I've had dodgy-looking moles removed from my legs & one of the scars in particular is a mess. The doctor inserted internal dissolving stitches which didn't dissolve, started up an infection & it took 8 weeks for it to heal. The mole which was there before was far less offensive to the eye!
I'm glad you're going to see your doc though. Let us know how you got on.
Lidia
:)
but insurance covers 80%. The same procedure in a lower economic area could be as little as $150.00. Most doctors will remove cosmetically ugly moles and just fill out the form saying they were suspicious. You will also have to pay the lab for a biopsy because anything removed has to be biopsied. If you have so many moles it's a good idea to see a dermatologist regularly to monitor them for any malignant changes, that would be just in the "better safe than sorry" category. Both of my children are checked every year.rubindj12-28-2003, 10:47 PMAlthough certain doctor's charge more for the same procedure, it is very rare that if they are in your insurance plan that the insurance will pay more. The actual charge is usually based on the following -- location of the mole, location of the physician, size of the mole, cancerous or non-cancerous, and complexity & type of removal.
Charges can range from $80 for a small non-cacerous mole located on your chest which is treated cryotherapy in a rural area, to $800 (and up) for large cancerous moles on the face requiring an excision and labratory examination. There is no reason why your doctor shouldn't tell you what the cost will be (or at least an estimate) if you ask.lidia0912-30-2003, 03:13 AMHi Everybody
I think everybody's maybe forgetting that we're talking UK/US healthcare, which can be very different. In the UK we get everything done free on the NHS except of course if you wish to take the private option. I've had lots of moles removed & it all came free of charge, only because I've had a malignancy though.
Here, you only get referred to a dermatologist if you actually need one, because of some abnormality of your skin. You can't just phone the local hospital & ask to see one, you have to be referred by your GP.
I shouldn't imagine the doc will readily remove your moles for cosmetic reasons only TRiley. If there's any abnormal-looking ones, you can be sure they'll go though. You also have to consider the scars which inevitably will be bigger than the moles were. I've had dodgy-looking moles removed from my legs & one of the scars in particular is a mess. The doctor inserted internal dissolving stitches which didn't dissolve, started up an infection & it took 8 weeks for it to heal. The mole which was there before was far less offensive to the eye!
I'm glad you're going to see your doc though. Let us know how you got on.
Lidia
:)