AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2600 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Question Hi, since 3 years ago I had this mole appear on my bottom lip, since then it has grown in size and is now pretty big round and dark. The doctor checked it out and said its okay and theirs no chance of cancer. My friend told me to get it removed by a laser, would you please give me information about getting the mole on my lip removed laser surgically, and the possible side effects and harms it can cause on my lip, ok thanks
Answer Dear Jay,
Thanks for writing to me. There's lots more info about plastic surgery at my sit, www.bodysculpture.com.
Despite the hope that lasers can magically remove growths without leaving scars, the larger issue is that there are two main ways of removing raised moles: you can "shave" them off (ie, cut them off to make them flush with the skin level) or excise them (cut them out completely). The first method is the simplest and is appropriate if the mole is raised. The second removes the mole completely, but results in a longer scar. Ideally, all scars are thin and flat, but it doesn't always work out that way, so it's smarter to proceed with the first method and then, if you're unhappy with the result, the second (since you cannot obviously do it the other way around). Whether the growth is removed by a scalpel, scissors or laser does not any difference, in my opinion, for moles such as these. It's fine to use a laser, but it's not necessarily better than "cold steel" - and it can cause burns, deeper scarring, redness, etc.
