The seam came apart after removing a mole, what should I do?

Hello. Recently they removed a nevus mole on my neck, put stitches, told me to walk with them for 10-12 days, I walked for 12 days, came to the hospital, they removed the stitches, and the wound at home opened up and became a huge hole, now it’s a before and after, is it necessary? should I go back to the hospital to get a new stitch? In the second photo, it’s white - it’s not pus, it’s a special powder that we were prescribed, I understand that it looks disgusting, but I need help.

Medical expert article

There are many methods for removing a mole, the most common being surgical. Let's consider the features of the procedure, indications for its implementation and possible consequences.

A mole is a skin growth. Its color (from light brown to black) depends on the number of melanocytes. Nevi are hereditary and can appear throughout life. If pigment cells are located in the deep layers of the skin, then convex moles are formed, if melanocytes are on the surface, then flat ones.

Such skin growths must be monitored. If they are large or have an unusual shape, then you should consult a dermatologist. Nevi up to 5 mm with smooth contours and uniform color are not dangerous and, as a rule, do not require removal. But their main danger is that they can degenerate into malignant formations - melanoma. Such formations must be urgently removed - excision.

Surgical removal of a mole is the most common and relatively cheap treatment method. It is suitable for destroying large and deep skin formations, but has a number of features.

1. High efficiency - allows you to remove a mole in one procedure.
2. The minimum of contraindications and the low cost of the operation make it accessible to many patients.
3. Low risk of relapse - since the nevus is completely removed, a repeat procedure is not required.
4. Safety – the procedure is carried out in a hospital setting under the strict supervision of a doctor.

1. Long-term wound healing and recovery - after surgery you will have to give up sunbathing and solarium for a long time.
2. Scars - the larger the wound surface, the higher the risk of scarring. In particularly severe cases, keloid scars may develop.

Surgery may be necessary if the mole is larger than 5 mm, has uneven color, uneven edges and irregular shape. The scalpel includes nevi that are constantly injured and cause discomfort or cosmetic inconvenience. If they are present, you need to contact a dermatologist who will determine the type of skin growth and the method of its removal.

[1], [2], [3]

Indications

Any operation, regardless of complexity, has its own indications. Excision is most often performed when malignant degeneration is suspected. Surgical removal of a mole is necessary if it:

1. Increased in size.
2. Has deep penetration into the skin.
3. Broke into several pieces.
4. Started to bleed.
5. It causes pain and is often injured.
6. Causes aesthetic inconvenience.

Despite the reasonable cost, excision is quite traumatic and can leave scars. But this method also has its advantages over more modern technologies: laser removal and cryodestruction. After surgery, the obtained materials can be examined for histology.

Excision prevents recurrence of skin growths, since areas of healthy tissue are captured. The procedure must be carried out only in specialized medical institutions, and not in beauty salons.

Preparation

Regardless of medical indications, preparations are made before the operation. First of all, the doctor explains the essence of the procedure, its possible complications and the nuances of the recovery period. After this, the patient takes a place on the couch. The neoplasm and the skin around it are treated with a disinfecting solution.

Anesthesia is mandatory to ensure that there is no discomfort during excision. Most often these are drugs with lidocaine (Anestakon, Xylocaine, Bactin, Zalactin-L). This does not take much time, but it reduces blood flow to the operated area. If there is a risk of bleeding, then Epinifrine is added to the local anesthetic.

After this, the mole and part of the healthy tissue are excised using a scalpel. The resulting wound is treated with a special solution and stitches are applied. The tissue obtained during the operation is sent for histological examination. At the end of everything, the doctor gives recommendations on skin care.

Surgical mole removal technique

Getting rid of nevi on the face and body is not only a cosmetic procedure, but also an effective method of preventing cancer. Surgical removal is used when dealing with deep and extensive growths or moles that have several segments. This is the only effective way to eliminate large tumors.

The technique for surgically removing a mole depends on its location and size. The procedure is carried out under local anesthetic and takes 40-60 minutes.

1. Cutting method without suturing - using a scalpel, the growth is cut off slightly below skin level. If bleeding occurs, the wound is cauterized and a local antibiotic is applied to stop it. A bandage is applied and recommendations for further skin care are given.
2. Excision with sutures – used to treat flat or dark moles. The doctor cleans the skin of the tumor and numbs the surgical surface. A scalpel is used to excise not only the mole, but also the surrounding tissue. Based on the depth of the operation, sutures are placed on the upper or deep layers of the skin. For this purpose, self-absorbable materials are used that do not require removal.

The healing speed usually takes 1-2 weeks. During this period, it is necessary to protect the operated area from any external influence.

Contraindications

Surgical removal of a mole is a cosmetic procedure, the advantage of which is the absence of absolute contraindications. This is explained by the fact that the operation is performed on a separate area of ​​the body. But there are a number of relative contraindications, let’s consider them:

1. Presence of infectious diseases.
2. Acute inflammatory processes.
3. Exacerbation of chronic diseases.
4. Pregnancy and lactation period.
5. Exacerbation of herpes.

In the presence of chronic diseases and after their relief, additional tests are required. This avoids complications and speeds up the recovery process.

[4], [5], [6], [7]

Consequences

Any operation can cause serious consequences. When using a scalpel on a nevus and applying sutures, the following pathologies are possible:

1. Scarring - during surgery, not only the nevus is removed, but healthy tissue is also affected. Based on this, the size of the scar depends on the size of the skin growth and the professionalism of the surgeon. Over time, scars lighten, making them less noticeable.
2. Keloid scars - most often occur in patients who have a tendency to form them. Appear after suturing large wounds.
3. Recurrence - a repeated skin defect is possible if the doctor did not completely remove the mole. Degeneration is not excluded in melanoma-hazardous formations.

The likelihood of the above-described consequences is significantly reduced when treating moles with safer methods.

[8], [9], [10]

Complications

Surgical methods for removing moles, unlike alternative ones, have a high risk of complications. As a rule, these are painful sensations at the operation site, the appearance of scars and cicatrices. The procedure is not recommended for the face and other sensitive areas of the skin.

Most often, scars remain after surgery. This complication is inevitable, since cosmetic stitches are applied to the skin. Surgery is used if the mole is located on an inconspicuous area of ​​the body and the scar can be hidden.

Another complication is subcutaneous hemorrhage. Slight redness around the removed tissues disappears after 7-10 days. Since after excision the wound remains open, there is a possibility of infection. All patients are warned about this, and it is this factor that causes the choice of less traumatic methods.

[11], [12], [13], [14]

Rehabilitation period

After removal of a mole, as after any surgical operation, the patient faces a rehabilitation period. This implies special care of the wound surface. A wound forms at the site of the nevus; its size depends on the diameter of the removed material. Gradually it becomes covered with a crust, which falls off after 1-2 weeks. Young pink skin appears at the wound site and needs proper care.

Skin care features:

1. Do not wet the wound for 4-5 days, but maintain hygiene around the operated area.
2. Do not touch or tear off the crust that covers the wound, as the healing process is taking place underneath it, and if it is disrupted, it can cause a large scar.
3. Once the crust falls off and pink skin appears underneath, cover it from the sun.

After about a month, at the site where the mole was, the skin regains normal pigmentation. Pain may still occur for 1-2 months. Final healing depends on the individual characteristics of the body, but on average it takes 2-6 months.

Scar care

Healing of the skin after getting rid of a mole takes 2-4 weeks. During this period, it is necessary to treat the wound, and in the future, scar care will be required. After the operation, the patient may be prescribed wound-healing medications with antibiotics and mandatory skin treatment with brilliant green or potassium permanganate. If the operation was successful and medical recommendations are followed in full, then there are no undesirable consequences, that is, complications in the form of infection and bruising.

Within 5-10 days, a crust appears on the skin, which is replaced by young pink skin. Such areas must be protected from exposure to negative factors, especially from the sun. If it is impossible to hide the wound, then use sunscreen with a high level of protection before going outside. If you leave your skin unprotected, pigment spots may appear on it.

Surgical removal of a mole often leaves behind scars and scarring. In most cases, they resolve on their own, but if this does not happen, then the skin needs help. For this purpose, natural cocoa butter or a silicone patch is suitable (used only for medical prescription). If this does not give the expected result, then you should contact a cosmetic surgeon. After treatment, carefully examine your moles, especially if the removal was due to permanent injury to the nevus. Make sure that no changes occur.

[15]

Sick leave after surgical removal of a mole

Getting rid of nevi involves surgery and a long recovery period. Sick leave after surgical removal of a mole depends on its location and size, and the amount of work done. As a rule, patients are given leave from work for 1-2 weeks.

If the mole was large and sutures were placed, then the patient needs to go to have the wound dressed, and after it has healed, to have the sutures removed. Tissues obtained during surgery are sent for histology. Therefore, during the period of sick leave, the doctor familiarizes you with the results of this study. If there is evidence of degeneration of a skin lesion, the patient is registered to monitor the dynamics of moles and their treatment.

I am 22 years old. All my life I have had a mole on my back. It grew with me... In the end, the decision was made to remove it, as it began to darken and became quite large in size (about 1-1.5 cm). I chose a clinic not far from home, which is not cheap. Accordingly, it is believed that good specialists work there. An oncologist examined me and said that it could be removed. the procedure lasted about 10 minutes. They cut it with a scalpel and stitched it up. the next day I came for a dressing change and was scheduled to have the stitches removed (in 7 days). Every day I began to notice that the skin around the seam was turning red and it was painful to touch it. I went to this clinic, they looked. They said that it was time to remove the stitches and that for some reason I had started to fester. The doctor took a look and said to apply a bandage with ointment alone and this ointment will draw out all the pus. Well, I calmly went home, did things all day, and in the evening my husband and I decided to remove the bandage and treat it. They took it off... there was a hole on my back with a diameter of 2 cm... I ran there. Everyone started hovering around me, trying to calm me down, as it happens, they treated me and told me to come back in a day so that the doctor could take a look... While I was leaving, the girl from the reception desk shouted at me, “Pay for the bandage!!” ...I say, you know, let the doctor who gave me the infection there pay for the bandage, because I didn’t count on the additional expenses, and especially the hole in my back. In general, I came home. The next day, my husband and I again took off the bandage to wash the wound, and a piece of 5 mm foil fell out of it. I'm just in shock. I don’t know what to do and what to do next!! I don’t see the point in going there and swearing, since you can’t get anything back. And the doctor is elderly, I can’t run into a man who’s old enough to be my grandfather... at the same time, I went around the whole city looking for another oncologist, but I couldn’t get anywhere, they closed already, then I made an appointment for a week in advance.. Immediately All sorts of horrors come up about skin cancer, blood poisoning, etc... and I have a small child, still an infant. My husband, some kind of mattress, can only eat and sleep, and is not going to stand up for me. If someone else were in his place, he would have gone and tore everyone apart... Somehow, I don’t want to die anyway........I’m sitting there crying.