Hi,

Dysplastic moles are quite common. Most patients (about 75%) referred to dermatology will get a benign result, about 20% will get a dysplastic (atypical - pre-cancerous) result whilst 5% get a malignant (melanoma) result. 

Dysplastic moles are benign moles whose cells are slowly starting to change and will eventually become malignant if not removed. If they are severely dysplastic they will do a second excision (wide local excision) to remove a margin of surrounding tissue to ensure that all the cells have been removed. This is a 'belt & braces' procedure so nothing to worry about. Once it's all removed it means there is nothing left behind to cause a future problem. 

Patients with a dysplastic mole tend to have a lot of moles (100+) and may experience another dysplastic mole in their lifetime so they will show you how to keep an eye on your moles & to contact them if you notice any subtle changes.

I hope this helps

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)

Hi JemG25  I'm a few weeks on from you then. I know how scary it is to hear the news of another op.  I too have had a mole removed. Mine was nodular 1.4mm removed on 20th June 9 stitches and that was that.....or so i thought.  2.5wks later called back to hospital for what I foolishly thought was a post op check and to have my stitches out. Nope - it's melanoma and it had spread beyond the margin too. The next hour was a whirlwind of being told all about the next operation and post care by plastic surgeons, dermatology and macmillan nurse. It was very overwhelming. To be honest I still can't get my head around it but as planned, I had wide local excision operation around my knee and also a lymph node biopsy in the groin at the same time. The morning of the surgery I had radioactive dye put into the wound to trace the nodes likeliest to have been affected IF the cancer had spread. That was 2 wks ago on 4th Aug. I'm 2wks post op and if I'm honest the wound looks like a horrific shark bite. Groin wound is healing nicely though. I'm still waiting my results to see if it had spread.  The plastic surgeon who told me initially I would need another op said that this wide local excision and lymph node biopsy was a "belt and braces" approach and although might seem excessive I later learnt how quick melanoma spreads so I'm glad they got me in and done.  I'm sure you will be just fine. It all sounds so much considering its just a small mole isnt it. But hey that's cancer. Anyhow all the best for the next op and here for you if you need to talk.