Mole biopsy - is this normal?

Last Sep/Oct I went to the doctor about having a suspicious flat mole removed from my thigh and I was referred to the hospital/dermatologist quite quickly. The dermatologist looked at it and said it would be best for it to come off as it was a dysplastic mole. 

I had the surgery at the hopsital in November, but when I arrived I was seen by three nurses, one of which said they were a Clinical Nurse Specialist. I was kind of taken aback, as my 2 previous mole removals were done by a dermatologist. However, I didn't know what to do so I just went ahead with it. 

The mole was removed using an elliptical excision and I'm still waiting on results, but I'm left with a really horrible scar. When I looked at it 48 hrs after the surgery I noticed that there was a large divot/depression in my skin (about 5mm deep). It's like the mole was removed along with extra tissue and fat. The area is hard and flat. I am now six weeks post op and while the scar is healing, the divot/depression is still very much there and just as deep. This, on top of the worry of waiting for the results (apparently taking 12 weeks+) and the idea that I may have an even wider excision necessary, is making me feel very depressed. 

I am at the point where I don't know where to turn for advice. I know that having a bad scar/divot in my leg is minor if the biopsy results show that I have melanoma, but I can't help feeling upset with how my thigh now looks. 

My question is, is it normal to have a Nurse Specialist remove the mole without a dr/dermatologist present? And if so, is it normal for there to be a deep divot left in the skin after a ellpitical excision biopsy? I can't find hardly anything on the internet bout this. I don't know whether I'm right in considering complaining to the hopsital about this or not. Any advice is very much appreciated!

  • Hi LayneJayne19 and thanks for posting.

    It does sound as if you have a lot to think about at the moment.

    A clinical nurse specialist is able to remove your mole, and would have had specialist training so they were able to do this.

    An elliptical excision is the usual way to remove these types of moles.  The person removing it, will decide how wide the margin needs to be around the mole, depending on how it looks.  Sometimes it will be a small margin, sometimes it can be as wide as 2cm meaning that there will be a bigger deeper scar.

    After surgery it can be difficult to get used to changes in our bodies.  It can take several months for the scar to heal, and it will continue to change in this time.  There is a timeline here of what to expect and self help techniques, which you might find useful.

    It is always a difficult time waiting for results, we can often go over things, imagining the worst.  Some people find it helpful to keep busy.  There is some helpful advice here about ways to worry less, and how to control those thoughts that can keep us awake at night.

    If you would like to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline you can call us on Freephone 0808 800 4040, The lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Take care,

    Rachel