Im a scrub tech and a first assist student (o.r. mumbo jumbo) and I have a personal friend thats a plasty
Heres the deal.
Most moles are not 'superficial'. They have 'roots' depending on the roots depth depends on how big the incision will be, and how big the scar will be. The will make a straight line, dig out the mole, and its roots, and suture a clean line with the stitches very close together. She will most likely have a very little scar. but she WILL have a scar.most likely she wont even be able to see it. (Sun causes scars to turn purple and become 'raised'.Obey the law of no sun or wear bullfrog after the procedure...) and the worst part of the procedure will be the local anesthetic (numbing injection- OUCH!) They can do it in the office no problem- actually, I cant see them doing it any other way really.
she can get her insurance to pay for it by having her doctor write that it was red and changed color in the last few months. Also maybe that it is painful in some way, or maybe she scratched it accidentally and its never been the same.. anything that makes the insurance think that it needs to be removed and sent to the lab. The procedure ends up basically being a biopsy. Depending on your insurance you may be able to get a plastic md to do it. Some ins. will only pay for a derm.
Its not that big of a deal. Tell your friend to go for a consultation, but they cant tell how deep the root is until they get in there.
I had a mole removed in my plasty friends office(he did it as a favor) and when he went in it had major roots and he had to make a larger incision. Luckily it was right along my hairline (which meant that my sunglasses and everything irritated it) and the scar was so tiny, and now its invisible anyway.
Happy Mole removal!
Jessica
