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dermatology procedure

Seborrheic Keratosis Removal

Options for raised skin growths that bother you or get in the way.

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A raised spot that catches on clothing or affects your confidence can be worth discussing. Fox Valley Plastic Surgery evaluates suspected seborrheic keratoses and explains your removal options. If you also have rough, sun-damaged spots, ask whether Levulan® Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy belongs in your treatment plan.

Contact our team to arrange an evaluation with Jay Garrow, PA-C. We welcome patients from Oshkosh, Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Fond du Lac and surrounding communities. Confirm where your evaluation and procedure will take place when scheduling.

Seborrheic Keratosis: Key Details

  • Procedure time: Depends on the method and number of growths
  • Anesthesia: Varies by technique; local numbing may be used
  • Recovery: Often limited for small treatments; aftercare still matters
  • Results: The growth is treated; healing and color changes take time
  • Combination procedures: Multiple benign growths; coordinated Levulan® therapy for eligible actinic keratoses
  • Approximate cost: Individual estimate after evaluation
Medical illustration of a raised seborrheic keratosis on the skin

UNDERSTANDING YOUR CONCERN

What is a seborrheic keratosis?

Seborrheic keratoses are common benign skin growths. They may look waxy, rough or as though they are sitting on top of the skin. Their appearance can overlap with other lesions, including skin cancer. An examination is important before deciding that a spot is harmless or choosing a removal method.

Reasons to arrange a visit

  • A raised growth irritated by clothing or jewelry
  • A spot that repeatedly becomes uncomfortable
  • A growth you would like treated for its appearance
  • A lesion that is changing or whose diagnosis is uncertain

YOUR TREATMENT PLAN

Choose treatment after the spot is evaluated

A confirmed seborrheic keratosis often does not require treatment. When removal is appropriate, options may include shave removal, electrocautery or other superficial techniques. Your provider will discuss the approach suited to the growth, its location and your skin tone. A suspicious spot may need a biopsy before treatment.

Do not assume that every brown or raised spot is a seborrheic keratosis. A changing, bleeding or unusual growth should be examined before removal.

 

WHAT HAPPENS AT YOUR VISIT?

1. Evaluate. Review the growth, symptoms, medical history and any prior testing.

2. Discuss. Talk through observation, testing or treatment, expected healing and costs.

3. Plan. Arrange the procedure or any further evaluation, then review follow-up.

Bring your medication list and any biopsy reports. Tell us about blood thinners, allergies and previous healing problems.

AFTER YOUR PROCEDURE

Recovery & healing

The treated area may form a crust or need a dressing as it heals. Follow the instructions for your treatment and avoid picking at the site. Temporary or lasting changes in skin color can occur, and scarring is possible. Your provider will discuss these risks before you decide.

You will receive instructions specific to your care. Contact the office with concerns about worsening pain, redness, drainage or bleeding. Do not stop prescribed medications without instructions from your treating clinician.

PLANNING OTHER CARE

Can treatments be combined?

Some patients have raised seborrheic keratoses along with rough actinic keratoses caused by sun exposure. An evaluation helps distinguish these concerns and plan care for each.

Ask about coordinating removal with Levulan® Blue Light Therapy. Your provider will determine the treatment order and whether separate appointments are needed.

SEBORRHEIC KERATOSIS REMOVAL + LEVULAN®

Two treatments. One personalized skin care plan.

Address bothersome raised growths and eligible precancerous sun spots through coordinated care at FVPS.

RAISED BENIGN GROWTHS

Seborrheic Keratosis Removal

Removal focuses on individual growths that are irritated or unwanted. After confirming the diagnosis, your provider selects a technique such as shave removal or electrocautery.

ELIGIBLE PRECANCEROUS SPOTS

Levulan® Blue Light Therapy

Photodynamic therapy combines a topical light-sensitive medication with specialized blue light to treat eligible actinic keratoses. These rough, sun-related spots differ from benign seborrheic keratoses.

Each treatment has a distinct purpose. Levulan is not an established treatment for removing seborrheic keratoses themselves. Suspicious lesions need evaluation, and sometimes a biopsy, before treatment.

How we coordinate your care

  1. Evaluate your skin. Identify the growths and sun-related spots you want assessed.
  2. Match each concern to a treatment. Discuss removal for confirmed seborrheic keratoses and PDT for eligible actinic keratoses.
  3. Plan the timing and aftercare. Treatments may require separate visits so removal sites can heal appropriately.

Planning for Levulan recovery

PDT can cause redness, swelling, stinging and peeling. The practice’s blue light therapy page describes a typical recovery of 3–7 days. Follow your team’s light-avoidance instructions, including avoiding sunlight and bright indoor light for at least 48 hours after treatment. Sunscreen alone does not prevent the light sensitivity caused by the medication.

Your provider will review your medications, suitability for PDT and instructions for both procedures.

INSURANCE & SELF-PAY OPTIONS

Know your costs before treatment

We accept many insurance plans and offer self-pay options. Your estimate depends on the evaluation, procedure, size and location of the growth, and any laboratory testing.

Medically necessary treatment may be covered, subject to your plan’s terms, deductible, copay and any authorization requirements. Cosmetic removal may not be covered. Verify your provider’s network status with your insurer.

Removal and photodynamic therapy have separate costs and coverage requirements. Ask for an estimate for each part of your plan and whether consultation, pathology or follow-up charges apply. See our blue light therapy page for current PDT pricing.

Questions to ask before your procedure

  • Does my plan require prior authorization?
  • What are my insurance and self-pay options?
  • Does the estimate include the office visit and follow-up?
  • Will pathology be billed separately?

Call 920-233-1540 to discuss the next step.

WHY FOX VALLEY PLASTIC SURGERY?

Medical care with attention to appearance

Jason Garrow

Your care starts with evaluating the growth and recommending an appropriate plan. When removal is recommended, we discuss the approach, closure and expected healing.

Our practice offers office-based procedural care for a range of medical and cosmetic skin concerns, with wound care guidance and follow-up. Schedule an evaluation with Jay Garrow, PA-C, and bring your questions.

Schedule your surgical dermatology evaluation

Frequently Asked Questions

Are seborrheic keratoses cancerous?

A confirmed seborrheic keratosis is benign. Some other lesions can resemble one, which is why evaluation is important.

Can several growths be treated together?

Sometimes. The number, location, treatment method and skin-healing considerations determine what is appropriate in one visit.

Can removal be combined with Levulan® Blue Light Therapy?

Yes, when you have both confirmed seborrheic keratoses and actinic keratoses suitable for photodynamic therapy, your provider may coordinate both treatments. Levulan treats eligible actinic keratoses; it is not an established treatment for removing seborrheic keratoses. Procedures may be scheduled separately to allow appropriate healing.

Are seborrheic keratoses and actinic keratoses the same?

No. Seborrheic keratoses are benign skin growths. Actinic keratoses are precancerous spots associated with sun exposure. Because different lesions can look similar, an examination guides diagnosis and treatment.

Will both treatments happen at the same appointment?

Not necessarily. Your provider considers the treatment areas, removal technique, healing and light precautions before recommending a schedule. Ask about a coordinated plan when booking; an evaluation does not guarantee same-day treatment.

Will removal change my skin color?

The area can become lighter or darker after treatment, and a change may persist. Discuss this risk, especially if you have a history of pigment changes after skin treatments.

Can the growth return?

A treated growth may recur, and new seborrheic keratoses can develop elsewhere. Contact the office if the treated spot returns or changes.

Can treatment be performed at my first visit?

Same-day treatment may be possible when it is medically appropriate, sufficient time is available and insurance requirements allow it. Self-pay procedures may also be performed at the first visit when appropriate. An evaluation does not guarantee same-day removal.

Will the tissue be sent to a laboratory?

We strongly recommend pathology examination of removed growths when a specimen is obtained. It helps confirm the diagnosis. Your provider will explain when testing is medically necessary and whether declining it is appropriate. The laboratory may bill separately; ask about charges before treatment.

Will removal leave a scar?

Removing skin creates a wound, and healing creates a scar. Its appearance depends on the method, location and your healing. Your provider will discuss closure, aftercare and possible color changes. Scar-free results cannot be guaranteed.

Where will my appointment take place?

Confirm the location of your evaluation and any procedure with our scheduling team. Fox Valley Plastic Surgery has offices in Oshkosh and Appleton; availability depends on the service and provider.

Start Your journey today

Let’s discuss your next step. Get your questions answered and understand your treatment options.

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