Clear skin imperfections with birthmark removal services in Surrey (near Vancouver)

Removing a birthmark is a lot like removing a mole or red spot. We explain treatments for those conditions on the following pages:

• Moles (red and brown)
• Red spots and bumps
• Skin Pigmentation

The options for removing a birthmark can vary depending on what type of birthmark it is. E.g. a mole can be removed with surgical or non-surgical methods. A red, vascular lesion in the skin usually does better with a special laser that targets pigments found in your blood.

However, to summarize, your birthmark might be removable with any of the following methods:

• Laser treatments
• Excision or shave excision (surgical cutting)
• Electrosurgery or electrocauterization
• Prescription medication and cosmeceuticals

We will determine which one is right for you after we assess you in person.

We do not do cryosurgery for birthmarks at our cosmetic clinic.

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Sometimes, yes. However, we would not want to have a child undergo unnecessary procedures for cosmetic reasons if they are not that serious. Plus, if children flinch or move, surgical or laser treatments may not be ideal at their age.

That said, we understand that very, very large stains on a child (especially on the face) can be reason for concern. Parents may want these removed as soon as possible, to improve quality of life for a child.

When it comes to getting rid of birthmarks on children, we would recommend you see your family doctor or pediatrician first. If it can’t be dealt with through an MSP-covered service (or you are not comfortable with the options), we may be able to help. Please reach out to us for more information. Our phone number is 604-580-2464.

Please keep in mind that our birthmark removal services are not covered by MSP, even for children.

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Birthmarks are discolourations on the skin that appear at birth, or near birth. They happen because of abnormal formations under the skin that cause certain colours to show through.

For example, a cluster of too many blood vessels may form in a single area, causing a red birthmark. Or, melanocytes may have formed too much melanin in an area, causing a brown or tan spot.

Birthmarks can be black, blue, brown, tan, purple or red. They can grow, fade, or stay the same over the course of your life.

Birthmarks are not the same as moles that develop later in life, nor hyperpigmentation spots as a result of sun exposure. However, they can look similar to these conditions, and be formed similarly too. One of the key differentiators between birthmarks and these other skin marks, is the time of life that they occurred.

While birthmarks can be caused by genetic mutations, they are not usually an inherited genetic condition.

There are many, many types of birthmarks. The most common ones are:

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Moles (a.k.a congenital melanocytic naevi)

Moles (a.k.a congenital melanocytic naevi) – these can come in many, many varieties, whether raised or flat, red or brown, and so on. Learn more here.

Café-au-lait birthmarks

Café-au-lait birthmarks – these are flat and usually brown or tan in colour.

Haemangiomas (a.k.a strawberry marks, strawberry naevus)

Haemangiomas (a.k.a strawberry marks, strawberry naevus) – these can be raised or flat, and can disappear on their own. If not, they can be treated with medications or lasers.

Port wine stains (a.k.a nevus flammeus, capillary malformations, ‘firemarks’)

Port wine stains (a.k.a nevus flammeus, capillary malformations, ‘firemarks’) – these are similar to haemangiomas, except they are more ‘patchy’ and don’t go away on their own.

Salmon patches (ak.a. stork bites, angel kisses)

Mongolian blue spots

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The answer to this question depends largely on the procedure taken to remove your birthmark, the type of birthmark it is, and the experience of the practitioner performing the removal.

With lasers, there is little to be worried about when it comes to birthmark or pigmentation removal (whether with vascular red marks or brown spots). The laser doesn’t actually cut open your skin. It works in the deeper layers of skin and heats them up, to perform very specific actions there. So, at most, you may experience burning, bruising or tenderness in the treatment area. This type of reaction will heal in due time.

A good laser technician, in a medically-run clinic like ours, will be very cautious when using a laser on the skin. We have the training, education and experience to know how to avoid these situations as much as possible.

If your birthmark is removed with a more invasive method, like surgery, there can be a slight scar leftover. We will recommend aftercare steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of scarring. This can include scar gel, and other topical solutions we sell at our clinic.

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At our Surrey clinic, near Vancouver, we can say that the price for removing birthmarks can vary greatly. We typically use our first consultation with a client to be able to estimate a price.

We look at factors including the size, number and intensity of pigments in the birthmark. From there, we can make recommendations on which laser or treatment to use. We can also estimate the number of sessions we think it will take to completely clear the skin of abnormalities (though this can’t be guaranteed, since it depends on your own body’s response to treatment).

To give a very rough idea of pricing for birthmark removal, please fill out the form above.

If you have a cosmetic birthmark you would like removed, we would strongly encourage booking a consultation as a first step. Our consults are very informative and detailed. We’ll take a close look at your case, and take UV photographs of your face with technologies like the VISIA® Complexion Analysis System. This will give us a more accurate picture of what is going on underneath your skin, as well as on top of it. That way, we can make better recommendations for treatment.

Please note: our services to remove birthmarks are not covered by MSP in B.C.