Mole, wart and skin tag removal in Dubai

Dr. Olivera Nikolis may recommend cryotherapy for selected benign and pre-malignant skin concerns, including but not limited to:

Viral Skin Lesions:

• Common warts (Verruca vulgaris) — rough, raised growths commonly appearing on hands and fingers 
• Plantar warts — warts on the soles of the feet that may cause discomfort when walking
• Flat warts (Verruca plana) — smaller, smoother warts often appearing on the face or legs

Benign Skin Growths:

• Seborrhoeic keratoses — benign, often brown or black growths that appear waxy or scaly
• Skin tags (acrochordons) — small, soft, flesh-coloured growths attached to the skin by a thin stalk
• Cherry angiomas — small, bright red bumps caused by dilated blood vessels

Pre‑malignant and Sun‑Damaged Lesions:

• Actinic keratoses (solar keratoses) — rough, scaly patches caused by cumulative sun exposure; these lesions have the potential to progress to squamous cell carcinoma if left untreated 
  

Other Dermatological Indications:

• Milia — small, white cysts commonly appearing on the face
• Certain forms of hyperkeratosis — thickening of the outer layer of the skin

Important note: Cryotherapy is not suitable for all skin lesions or all patients. Before recommending treatment, Dr. Nikoliс will conduct a thorough clinical assessment to confirm the diagnosis and ensure cryotherapy is appropriate for your specific concern. Lesions with atypical features may require biopsy before any treatment. 

Cryotherapy is a quick, in-clinic procedure typically completed within a single short visit. Here is what you can expect:

Step 1 — Assessment and Consent 
Dr. Olivera Nikoliс will examine the lesion, confirm the diagnosis, and explain the procedure, including expected outcomes and possible risks. You will have the opportunity to ask questions before providing informed consent, in compliance with DHA patient consent standards.

Step 2 — Preparation
The treatment area will be cleansed. No anaesthesia is required for most cryotherapy procedures, as the freezing itself numbs the area. For particularly sensitive areas or larger lesions, a local anaesthetic may be discussed.

Step 3 — Treatment
Using a cryogun or cotton-tipped applicator, Dr. Nikolis applies liquid nitrogen directly to the lesion for a controlled period (typically 5–30 seconds). The duration and number of freeze-thaw cycles are tailored to the type, size, and depth of the lesion.

Step 4 — Immediate Aftercare
You will receive clear aftercare instructions. The treated area may sting or burn briefly during and immediately after application. Swelling, redness, and the formation of a blister or crust are normal and expected responses to treatment.

• Immediately after treatment — The treated area may appear red, swollen, or blistered. A stinging or burning sensation typically resolves within 10–20 minutes
• Healing period — A blister or crust (scab) will form over the treated lesion. This usually falls off naturally within 1 to 3 weeks, revealing fresh, healthy skin underneath
• Final result — Once healed, the treated lesion is typically gone or significantly reduced. Some patients may require a second session for optimal results, depending on the type, size, and depth of the lesion
• Scarring risk — When performed correctly on suitable lesions by an experienced practitioner, the risk of scarring is low. Dr. Nikolis uses precise technique to minimise impact on surrounding healthy skin
• Pigmentation changes — Temporary lightening (hypopigmentation) or darkening (hyperpigmentation) of the treated area may occur, particularly in patients with darker skin types. These changes usually resolve over several months

• Hospital-Grade Safety Standards
: ELEMENTAL is a DHA-licensed day surgical hospital. All procedures, including cryotherapy, are performed under strict infection control and sterilisation protocols
• Experienced Dermatology Specialist
: Dr. Olivera Nikolis is a DHA-licensed dermatology specialist with extensive clinical experience. She does not simply perform procedures — she diagnoses first, then treats only when clinically appropriate
• Quick, In-Clinic Procedure
: Most cryotherapy treatments are completed within a single short visit — often in under 15 minutes. You can return to your daily activities immediately after the procedure, with only simple aftercare required
• Non-Surgical, Minimally Invasive
: Cryotherapy requires no incisions, no sutures, and typically no anaesthesia. This makes it a convenient option for patients seeking effective treatment with minimal disruption to their daily lives
• Private, Comfortable Setting
: Your consultation and treatment take place in a calm, private environment. Dr. Nikolis takes time to answer your questions and ensure you understand every step of the process

To help you make an informed decision, it is important to understand what cryotherapy is not:

• Not a laser — Cryotherapy uses extreme cold, not light energy
• Not for all lesions — Some lesions require different approaches, including surgical excision, electrocautery, or laser therapy
• Not a treatment for vascular conditions — For conditions such as spider veins or telangiectasias, other modalities may be more appropriate
• Not a substitute for histopathology — If a lesion has atypical features, Dr. Nikoliс may recommend biopsy before any treatment
• Not for deep or cancerous lesions — Suspected skin cancers or deeply invasive lesions require surgical excision with histopathological examination

Like any medical procedure this has risks, and your doctor explains them to you at the consultation, before you give consent.

There is no single technique for removing skin lesions, and the method is not chosen by preference. It follows what the lesion is, where it sits, and whether the tissue needs to be examined afterwards. That is decided at the assessment, with dermoscopy where the lesion is pigmented.

Cryotherapy — controlled freezing

Liquid nitrogen is applied to the lesion, freezing it so that the treated cells break down and the tissue separates over the following one to two weeks. It suits viral warts, verrucae, skin tags and some superficial keratoses. No incision and no stitches, and each lesion takes seconds to treat — but the tissue is destroyed rather than removed, so nothing can be sent for examination.

Electrocautery — controlled heat

A fine probe carries a controlled electrical current that generates heat at its tip, and that heat is applied directly to the lesion. It is not a laser: the energy is thermal and applied at the point of contact, which makes it precise on small raised lesions with minimal effect on the surrounding skin. It suits skin tags, small benign growths and seborrhoeic keratoses, and it seals small vessels as it works, so bleeding is minimal. Local anaesthetic is used where the lesion warrants it. As with freezing, the tissue is destroyed in the process.

Surgical excision — when the tissue must be examined

The lesion is cut out under local anaesthetic and closed with sutures, and the tissue is sent for histology. This is the method used whenever a pigmented lesion needs to be examined, when the diagnosis is not certain from dermoscopy, or when a lesion has changed. It leaves a scar, and that is the trade-off: a scar in exchange for a diagnosis.

Why this matters for moles specifically

A mole is not treated like a skin tag. It is examined with dermoscopy first, and if removal is indicated the method is chosen so that histology remains possible where it is clinically necessary. Freezing or burning off a pigmented lesion removes the ability to examine it — and the examination is the part that matters. A clinic that offers to remove any mole on the day, without assessment, is offering convenience at the expense of that.

All procedures are performed by DHA-licensed dermatologists at ELEMENTAL Day Surgical Center in Jumeirah 1, Dubai. In compliance with DHA Standards for Medical Advertisement Content: no result is guaranteed, and individual responses vary.

At ELEMENTAL this treatment is carried out by Dr. Olivera Nikolic, Specialist Dermatologist.

Cost and your next step

Excision with histology, per specimen — from AED 1,920 for a lesion up to 1 cm, from AED 2,530 for 1–3 cm, from AED 3,030 above 3 cm, under local anaesthesia.

Where sedation is clinically appropriate — from AED 4,530 for 1–3 cm and from AED 5,030 above 3 cm. Larger or deeper lesions are quoted separately.

Every excised lesion is sent for histology. The final figure is given to you in writing before anything is scheduled.