I would suspect it is more expensive. I had a procedure recently done by a dermatologist for this very thing, but since it was totally handled by insurance, I never even got a bill.
In my case, we had thought it could be cancerous...but it was actually a wart not a mole (though who would have known..it wasn't like any wart I'd ever known). It was minimally painful, and the most pain was about an hour or two after it was done. Thereafter, there was no pain...oddly.

What a relief, a wart and not cancer! Phew! It sure is hard to know sometimes, better safe than sorry.

How do you know, Else, that both of the moles are benign? That cannot be said with certainty until the moles have been removed and sent to a pathologist. (And in California, where I live, it is the law that anything removed from a person's body must be sent to pathology.)

When folks are considering surgery, the advice that is always given is to go to a surgeon (of the appropriate specialty) that has done a lot of that particular surgery. The more experience, the better.

I would use a dermatologist, general surgeon, or plastic surgeon.

Ditto what Lindsey said: the doctor can't be certain without removing or doing a biopsy whether they are cancerous or not. I wouldn't even consider letting a family practice doctor cut on me, especially not my face. Find a good dermatologist -they do this daily.

My brother is a dermatologist M.D., and a DVM (an animal doc.). He keeps both licenses. He neutered my Mom's cat, and the cat was jumping around & playing afterwards (in the same day). I took my cat to another veterinarian .. my cat was sick for days after the surgery. A dermatologist knows the techniques for best wound-healing and scar-reduction, plus risk for melanoma. He removed some aged spots on my Dad's face, and zero scars ... I never know that my Dad had surgery.

My brother is board-certified dermatologist, and that's what you want. To be board-certified they have to update their trainings with seminars, courses, and passing exams in their specialty. A general doctor with less dermatology experience and without being BOARD-CERTIFIED in that specialty, can't do as good of a job. When it comes to your face, go to the best doc.

Here's an excerpt from American Board of Medical Specialities "Certification by an ABMS Member Board involves a rigorous process of testing and peer evaluation that is designed and administered by specialists in the specific area of medicine."

My brother, as a board-certified dermatologist, gave discounts to poor people and those without insurance when he had his own practice. Now he joins a group practice, so he no longer gives discounts.

OK, you all have me convinced. Thank you! And you're right, we cannot know for certain, but it's looking pretty good (had them for a whole lot of years w/ no changes, look "normal" etc. but it is still true that nobody can say for sure until they're tested. I guess I'll be searching for a more specialized doctor. Thanks!!!!

Google Apricot Kernels. I take 1 per 10 lbs body weight to prevent cancer. Read the reviews on amazon. Moles will dry up and fall off.

Else, I go to a board certified dermatologist. It's important to go to a real MD of course, but when mine told me (after freezing a pre-cancerous sore on my cheek) that she wanted me back in a month, and if it's not better she was going to do a biopsy and that would disfigure my face. Well, that caused me to look for alternatives so I'm giving the Apricot Kernels a try. I also got some 100% oregano oil. I'll try anything natural prior to having her cut up my face. The biopsy may come back begnign, but the destruction will be done. She has me on Retin A also. I'm starting to be a fan of natural remedies. Drugs have side effects and some aren't easy to live with, so I do a lot of web searching and read a lot of reviews on natural remedies. Good luck to you!

I appreciate your help, Suzi! I've never heard of what you're suggesting, but I'll look into it. Thanks!

Please obtain medical advice from legitimate medical sources.

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/laetrile

Suzi said her Board Certified dermatologist told her that, "she was going to do a biopsy and that would disfigure my face."

A Board Certified dermatologist should know how to remove a mole without disfiguring your face. ALL "stuff" removed from a live human's body is to be sent to pathology, which is, essentially, doing a biopsy.

If your dermatologist cannot remove a mole without disfiguring your face, she should refer you to another Board Certified dermatologist who has a subspecialty in plastic/reconstructive surgery, or refer you to a facial plastic surgeon.

I have had three cancerous growths removed from my face -- forehead, side of my nose, and very close to the inner corner of one eye. My Board Certified dermatologist referred me to a Board Certified dermatologist who specializes in Mohs surgery for the one near my eye (because it was so close to the tear duct), but my regular (Board Certified) dermatologist removed the other two. None of them caused my face to be disfigured in the least. Unless you know where to look, and look closely, you wouldn't know anything had been done.

I'm still working on my pre-skin cancers from the INSIDE with 2 natural (no side effects) solutions that have been used for thousands of years. They aren't moles, just reddish sores that cover well with make-up but don't seem to get well. The dermatologist warned me there will be a dent on my face if she does the biopsy.

I would definitely get more opinions if it comes to that and look for a dermatologist that is certified in plastic surgery also. Nice to know you had those things removed with no problems.

Appricot Kernal Warning - Serious Side Effects: Cyanide Toxicity & Poisoning

(1)

(2)

(3)

Acute cyanide intoxication due to apricot seed ingestion.

J Emerg Med. 2013 Feb;44(2):e285-6.

Akıl M, Kaya A, Ustyol L, Aktar F, Akbayram S.

I had a mole removed by a regular physician, he basically just carved it out and left a large scar. Not recommended for the face for sure.

It's only toxic to cancerous cells and must be taken in moderation. It's a personal choice and has been used for thousands of years. All that info you just posted is all over the web, plus many cases of cures. You decide. I made my decision. I only injest 15 per day. People in Persia eat them as a snack... the little baby green ones right off the tree!

"It's only toxic to cancerous cells"

Needless to say, saying cyanide is only poisonous to cancerous cells is like saying fish live in the sky. Of course if you think you understand the risks and make a choice to do whatever treatment you feel is correct, that is your right to do so.

Wikipedia says this treatment for cancer is textbook quackery, with numerous sources. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amygdalin

Also, saying only drugs have side effects and "natural" cures are side effect free is also nonsense.

My mom had a small pearly white "pimple" on side of her face, didn't go away in 2 weeks & she went to dermatologist , he was sure it was "nothing" biopsy came back that it was cancer & since right on the bone in front of the ear 2 weeks radiation to be sure it hadn't spread. She went on to live another 50 yrs.

I live in Canada. Moles are called skin tags here. Unless they are extremely tiny a GP cannot remove them. The patient has to see a Dermatologist or a Plastic Surgeon - and the price for removal is determined by the size and number of moles to be removed. Our Ontario provincial plan does not pay for skin tag removal and neither does the office plan - and the amount cannot be claimed on income taxes although under our system the amount is really a small tax credit anyway.

It is very hard to get into see a derm or PS for such a procedure. But should a patient want Botox or something like that they would be in the next day. Go figure. I paid $500 last time to have a few moles burned off by a PS. I had previously paid $200 to a derm. The PS was better. Actually he had removed a large mole from my nose several years ago and it did not leave a scar at all. But all moles have to be looked at to determine if the moles themselves would be less prominent than the resulting scars. I have a few other flattish moles and while they could be removed the scars would look worse, so we are leaving them alone.

It is a lot easier to see a specialist in the U.S - and I would do so and see what the specialist says about possible scarring. The sad thing is of course is that I could burn some of them off myself - if they were small enough.

Skin tags are different from moles. Following are pictures of skin moles.

I do believe you are mistaken and the bottom row are pictures of melanoma

mine didnt look like any of the above although it was very, very black and tiny! On upper arm.

Depending on the size of the mole and the way it is done -- as well as how well you heal. Your skin's health. Many variables. I had a small one on my cheek removed due to it starting to get bigger...it was basically shaved off. Small unremarkable indent. Barely noticeable. For it was really small to begin with. Can notice if I bring attention to it. Only. :)

Best of luck to you. (aka "worriedone)