{
  "what": "Mole removal takes away a cluster of pigment cells, and the right method depends on how the mole looks under magnification, where its cells sit and where it is on the body. At Dr Sin Yong's practice on Orchard Road, Singapore, every mole is examined with a dermatoscope first; benign moles are removed by CO2 laser, radiofrequency or shave under local anaesthesia, red moles (cherry angiomas) are treated with R2 Glow, and any mole with atypical features is excised for histology or referred. Any removal leaves a mark, and the aim is for it to be flatter and paler than the mole.",
  "key_facts": [
    "Scope first: a dermatoscope at roughly tenfold magnification shows pigment network, dots, streaks and vessel patterns before anything touches the mole",
    "Methods: CO2 laser for benign flat moles; radiofrequency or shave for benign raised moles; excision for histology where a mole is atypical; stitches are used after excision",
    "Red moles: cherry angiomas are benign clusters of dilated vessels and are treated with R2 Glow, a long-pulsed laser absorbed by blood in small vessels",
    "Warning signs: the ABCDE rule, the ugly duckling sign, and in Asian skin a new dark spot on the palms, soles or under a nail",
    "Not used: freezing, mole removal creams, corrosive pens and salon cautery for a mole that may need histology",
    "Risks: a mark that can be depressed, raised, darker or lighter; regrowth if deeper cells remain; post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is more common in Asian skin",
    "Performed by: Dr Sin Yong personally, under topical or local anaesthetic"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Vestergaard ME, Macaskill P, Holt PE, Menzies SW. Dermoscopy compared with naked eye examination for the diagnosis of primary melanoma: a meta-analysis of studies performed in a clinical setting. Br J Dermatol 2008;159(3):669-676. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18616769/",
    "Kittler H, Pehamberger H, Wolff K, Binder M. Diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy. Lancet Oncol 2002;3(3):159-165. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11902502/",
    "Abbasi NR, Shaw HM, Rigel DS, et al. Early diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma: revisiting the ABCD criteria. JAMA 2004;292(22):2771-2776. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15585738/",
    "What to look for: ABCDEs of melanoma. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/find/at-risk/abcdes"
  ],
  "owner_url": "https://drsinyong.com/mole-removal-singapore/",
  "doctor": "Dr Sin Yong, aesthetic physician, Orchard Road, Singapore",
  "updated": "2026-10-30"
}