Since my first day on this site I have made many threads and posts inquiring a bump on my nose that has been there for years (about 5 now).

 

Here's what it looks like:

 

 

Recently I went to a dermatological cosmetic specialist, and told him how it used to be a cyst, and apparently scar tissue has developed it into a hypertrophic scar. For the first time, after going to countless dermatologists, asking what it could be, he said "its probably a mole"

 

Today I went to a plastic surgeon to ask about it, and he too agreed that it was probably a mole. Apparently moles can be skin-colored too. He suggested a solution for it, and I use the term solution very loosely.

 

 

1) a depiction of my nose from the side

 

2) A microscopic image of the bump. As I assumed, it is merely the tip of the iceberg, and the majority of it is under my skin.

 

3) He suggested making a football shaped cut around it to entirely remove it out.

 

4) Of course, this would leave a scar on my nose, perhaps more noticeable than it is now.

 

He highly suggested not to go this route to remove it, and he was preaching to the choir. Since its a mole, the best solution would be to "shave it off" according to him and the other dermatologist. But, considering the mass of it underneath the skin, it may just grow back after a couple months, and perhaps bigger and uglier than before. He also said shaving may leave a hyperpigmented scar on my nose.

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see the risks outweigh the benefits. But he said these are risks, not inevitable side-effects. I can roll the dice and hope things go well, or I can learn to live with this thing that is the bane of my existence. The thing I don't understand though, is if this is a mole, people remove moles from their faces all the time, they don't seem to have these risks, why do I have them? I'm really lost, and I am going to make a decision that may scar me (literally and figuratively) for the rest of my life. So I'm going to muse hard about it, and sleep on it, before I make the decision to shave it off or not. What do you guys think?

Have you decided to shave it? I saw your other post regarding your experiment with vinegar. It looked as though your bump was resolved. Did it come back? I think that you got two diagnosis from two separate doctors with the same consensus. I don't understand where your hesitation lies? Did the doctor believe your bump could return even bigger? You need to feel it in your gut what the right decision will be. You need to put your trust in the doctor and just hope for the best. Thats all we can do in life is try, and see. I am hoping you have faith in the doctor, as the skill of the doctor often leads to good results. If you have confidence in him, then I say go for it.

Can we renew this thread? We really need to see some before and afters I have the same problem. I have heard now from several doctors that electrocautery to shave the surface of the nose is the best. Its just fibrous tissue from the cystic acne --i.e. it's scar tissue and must be shaved down.

Bumppppppp

Has anyone gotten anywhere with this? I have bumps on my nose where cystic pimples used to be (so i think these are scars with fibrous tissues) and other bumps that are completely skin colored with pores in the middle (which I think are enlarged oil glands). I've only had electrocautery done on the scar ones but unfortunately, they just seem to grow back even though the doctors claim that they shouldn't. I'm currently seeing one of the "top" dermatologists in Boston so we'll see how this goes....Anyone else have any luck at all?

Bumppppppp

Has anyone gotten anywhere with this? I have bumps on my nose where cystic pimples used to be (so i think these are scars with fibrous tissues) and other bumps that are completely skin colored with pores in the middle (which I think are enlarged oil glands). I've only had electrocautery done on the scar ones but unfortunately, they just seem to grow back even though the doctors claim that they shouldn't. I'm currently seeing one of the "top" dermatologists in Boston so we'll see how this goes....Anyone else have any luck at all?

 

How long does it take them to grow back? Does the area look completely flat until they return?

It doesn't look completely flat but it is definitely flatter especially when u look at it from some angles. It usually starts to grow back after the wound scabs heal and fall off. It's been 1.5 weeks and im using tazorac on it and it looks pretty dried out with a chance it wont grow back. Hopefully the boston dermatologist was just a straight up boss and did it really really well. I'll see though.

So they grow back right away then. Scars are said to do that. The ones with the pore in the middle may not grow back, so that's good.

Maybe if they go deep they don't grow back...? I've heard of shots for raised scars, I think it was 5 FU something. If you search for it, you'll recognize it with the 5 fu. Maybe you can try that if this doesn't work.