Why People Seek a Private Mole Check
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, and melanoma — the most dangerous form — is far more treatable when caught early. Yet NHS waiting times for a routine skin lesion review can stretch to months, and many GPs are not trained in dermoscopy (the magnified clinical examination of moles).
A private appointment at Lambert Medical Practice offers a same-week assessment by a GP with clinical training in dermatoscopy, with immediate results and — where appropriate — same-day removal of benign lesions.
The ABCDE Rule: What Your GP Is Looking For
Before any decision about removal, your GP will assess your mole against established clinical criteria. The ABCDE rule is the most widely used framework for identifying features associated with melanoma risk:
A — Asymmetry
One half of the mole does not match the other. Benign moles tend to be roughly symmetrical.
B — Border
Irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred edges. Benign moles typically have smooth, well-defined borders.
C — Colour
Multiple shades within a single lesion — mixed browns, blacks, reds, whites, or blues — rather than a uniform single colour.
D — Diameter
Larger than 6mm (roughly the size of a pencil eraser). Though size alone is not diagnostic.
E — Evolution
Any change — in size, shape, colour, or symptoms (itching, bleeding, crusting) — over weeks or months. Evolution is often the most important feature.
A single feature alone is not necessarily alarming, but any combination, or any mole that is changing, should be reviewed promptly.
What Is Dermoscopy?
Dermoscopy is a non-invasive examination technique that uses a handheld magnifying device (a dermatoscope) with polarised light to visualise structures beneath the skin surface. It is not visible to the naked eye. With dermoscopy, your GP can assess:
- Pigment network patterns (regular vs irregular)
- Presence of regression structures or white scar-like areas
- Vascular patterns and blue-white veils
- Whether peripheral dots and globules are evenly distributed
Dermoscopy significantly improves the accuracy of mole assessment compared to naked-eye examination alone and is considered standard of care for any clinical mole review.
After the Assessment: Three Possible Outcomes
1. Reassurance and discharge
The mole is clearly benign on both clinical and dermoscopic assessment. No action is needed. If you're monitoring several moles, your GP may recommend a baseline photograph for future comparison.
2. Benign but removal requested
The mole is assessed as benign but you'd like it removed — for cosmetic reasons or to eliminate uncertainty. Removal can be arranged at the same visit or a planned follow-up appointment, depending on location and size. All removed tissue is sent for histological analysis.
3. Urgent NHS referral (2-week-wait)
Features suspicious for melanoma are identified. Your GP will refer you via the NHS 2-week-wait suspected cancer pathway. The mole will not be removed in clinic — it needs assessment by a specialist with appropriate surgical margins and full histology. Your GP will complete the referral immediately.
How Mole Removal Works
If your mole is assessed as benign and you choose to have it removed, the procedure depends on the mole's characteristics:
- Shave excision: For raised, protruding moles — the mole is shaved flush with the skin surface under local anaesthetic. Leaves a minimal flat scar.
- Ellipse excision: For flat moles where deeper removal is preferred — a small oval of skin is removed and the wound closed with sutures. Leaves a fine linear scar.
Both are performed under local anaesthetic (a small injection to numb the area), take around 15–20 minutes, and are well tolerated. You can drive home and return to normal activities the same day. The excised tissue is always sent to a pathology laboratory for histological analysis as a routine safety measure.
Book a Mole Check
If you have a mole that's changed, is new, or is simply causing concern, a private appointment at Lambert Medical Practice provides a thorough dermoscopic assessment and, if appropriate, same-day removal. No GP referral is required.