General and Laparoscopic Surgery
Mole and Skin Lesion Removal in Nigeria
A mole or skin growth is cut out whole under local anaesthetic and sent to the laboratory, and the skin is stitched in a neat line. It takes under half an hour. Cutting it out, rather than burning or shaving it, is what lets the laboratory say what it was.
Also called: Mole excision, Skin lesion excision, Excision biopsy, Skin tag and growth removal
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Published price
₦150,000
Fixed all-in rate, one lesion under local anaesthetic
Day case. Histology included.
What the price covers
- Surgeon and procedure room
- Local anaesthetic
- Histology on what is removed
- Dressings
What it does not cover
- The first consultation
- A wider excision if the histology shows one is needed
- Cosmetic treatment of flat dark spots, which is a dermatology question rather than a surgical one
Related prices
Each further small lesion at the same sitting
₦50,000
Lesion needing a flap or skin graft to close, under general anaesthetic
₦400,000
What would change this price
- More than one lesion at the same sitting, priced per lesion above
- A large lesion, or one on the face, that needs a flap or graft to close
- A histology result needing a wider excision afterwards
If an HMO is paying, the case needs prior authorisation before admission. Bring your HMO number to the first consultation and the desk will start it. If the plan declines, you are told the cash price before anything is booked.
Who this is for
- A mole that has changed in size, shape or colour, or has an irregular edge or more than one colour
- A new dark mark on the sole of the foot, the palm, or under a nail, which is where melanoma most often appears in Black skin
- A mole or growth that bleeds, itches or will not heal
- A lesion that catches on clothing or is cut when shaving
When it is not the right answer
- The small dark raised spots common on the cheeks of Nigerian adults (dermatosis papulosa nigra), which are harmless and treated by a dermatologist rather than cut out
- A mole you want gone purely for appearance on the chest, shoulders or jaw, where keloid risk is highest, until the scar risk has been talked through
- Warts, which usually respond to treatment without surgery
The pathway, step by step
- 1
Examination₦35,000
The lesion and the rest of your skin are looked at, and the decision is made whether it needs removing at all.
- 2
Removal under local anaesthetic
Fifteen to thirty minutes. The whole lesion is removed with a small margin of normal skin and the wound is stitched in a line.
- 3
Home straight after
With a dressing and written wound care.
- 4
Stitches out and the histology result₦25,000
At seven to fourteen days, depending on where it was.
Recovery, realistically
Day 1 to 2
Mild soreness. Keep the dressing dry for forty eight hours.
Week 1 to 2
Stitches out at about a week on the face and up to two weeks on the back or legs.
Months after
The scar is pink at first and fades over months. Thickening is treated early if it starts.
Risks you should be told about
- A scar longer than the mole itself, because a line heals better than a circle
- Keloid, in skin prone to it
- Infection or bleeding
- A histology result that needs a second, wider excision
Every operation carries risk. A surgeon who lists none is not being straight with you. Yours will go through these with you before you consent.
Questions people ask
Can it be burnt or shaved off instead?
Burning, acid or a blade shave destroys the tissue the laboratory needs to see. For a mole that has changed, that can hide a melanoma until it has spread. Cutting it out whole is the safe way.
Which moles should I worry about?
Any mole that is changing, bleeding or itching, and any new dark mark on the sole, the palm or under a nail. Those are worth showing to a doctor within weeks rather than months.
Will it leave a scar?
Yes, a fine line usually about three times the length of the mole. If you form keloids, say so first, because it changes the plan.
How soon is the result?
Usually within one to two weeks, given to you at the review when the stitches come out.
Prices shown are Mezo cash prices in naira and were last checked on 11 October 2026. They are what you would be quoted for the standard case described here. Your final quote follows an examination, because the right operation for you may not be this one.