Plastic Surgery on Eyelid Skin Tag Removal

Skin tags are simple, small benign growths which can pop up on many spots on the body, including eyelids. Skin tags are mostly an aesthetic inconvenience or physical annoyance if they rub against clothing or jewelry.

Luckily, it's easy to get rid of those annoying eyelid skin tags.

Causes

• Skin tags may occur at any age from childhood on, although they become more common with age. Shifts in hormone levels may have a relation to skin tag development, as pregnant women often experience skin tags.

  Newer research shows skin tags may have a relationship to diabetes, as they occur more often in pre-diabetic and early stage diabetes patients. Skin tags are also more common in people who are overweight.

  Besides eyelids, skin tags may be found on necks, shoulders, armpits, thighs, under breasts, on backs and sides, or on faces and arms.

Removal

• Luckily, these small growths are very simple to remove. In fact, doctors treat them very similarly to warts. There is no complicated surgery.

  On eyelids--as with anywhere else on the body--physicians will usually perform either cryosurgery or cautery. Cryosurgery is simply applying a small amount of liquid nitrogen to the skin tag, which immediately freezes it. The skin tag then falls off. Cautery is the other temperature extreme. The physician burns off the skin tag with an electric needle-like device. Both procedures can be performed in a physician or dermatologist's office.

  In rare cases, a doctor may use excision--cutting off the skin tag. Usually this is done in conjunction with a mild anaesthetic. However, excision has greater risks of bleeding and scarring and will not usually be a doctor's preferred choice.

Being Smart

• Skin tags themselves are nothing to worry about and are simple to remove. However, skin tags can often resemble small skin cancers and growths. Make sure to have a qualified physician examine any new skin tag growths to be certain they are indeed skin tags.

  Also, sudden skin tag development may signal hormone or blood sugar and diabetes related changes. Skin tag onset may be an indicator of other health issues. Be sure to report skin tags to your physician and discuss how they relate to your overall health.