What if it isn't a skin tag?
Then it isn't removed. Anything with an irregular border, uneven colour, recent change, bleeding, or a size above about 6mm is referred rather than treated. Some skin cancers can look like a harmless lump to an untrained eye, which is why nothing is removed without being examined first.
Can you remove a mole?
Not for cosmetic reasons. Removing a mole with heat destroys it, so nothing is left to send to a lab. If it was an early skin cancer, the chance to find out is gone. Your GP can look at it and arrange for it to be cut out and tested if it needs to be. Alicia will happily look at it and tell you what she thinks.
Does it hurt?
Skin tags don't usually hurt in themselves. Removal is done under local anaesthetic where needed, and Alicia talks you through it before she starts.
How many can you remove in one go?
Usually several. Most appointments take fifteen to thirty minutes, and tags in the same area can generally be done together. The first is from £50, and the price for the rest is confirmed before anything is removed.
Will it leave a mark?
Usually not. A small scab forms for a few days and should be left alone. A small pale spot is possible, and on black or brown skin the mark can be darker than the skin around it.
Will it come back?
A tag that's been removed doesn't usually grow back. New ones can still appear elsewhere, which is common as people get older.
Can you do one on my eyelid?
Yes, eyelids are one of the areas Alicia treats. She looks at the tag first, and if it's one she wouldn't remove here, she'll say so and tell you where to go instead.
Why won't the NHS remove it?
Because taking off a harmless skin tag counts as cosmetic. In Lincolnshire the NHS may remove one that bleeds regularly, keeps getting infected, causes constant pain or affects your sight. If that sounds like yours, ask your GP before you book anything.
Can I do it myself at home?
The NHS advises against it unless a GP has recommended it, because of the risk of infection, bleeding and scarring. It also skips the step that matters most: someone checking that it really is a skin tag.
Who will remove mine?
Alicia Marsland, a registered nurse with seventeen years in clinical practice. She examines and removes every skin tag herself.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. Skin tag removal here is for adults aged 18 and over.