Ben was born with a birthmark above his left ear... Not really a huge concern until the pediatrician tells you that this type of birthmark can cause cancer later in life if it's not removed... Not something a new mother wants to hear! This news caused a mild amount of concern (and maybe a little panic), until the pediatrician assured me that it wasn't urgent that it be removed.
When we switched pediatrician later, the new pediatrician didn't know about the birthmark causing cancer and sent us to the first dermatologist. That dermatologist confirmed that the birthmark (which are oil glands that formed on the top of the skin, instead of in the skin where they are suppose to be) coin lds cause cancer later in life. But he also said that we should wait until Ben could sit still for it to be removed so that he doesn't have to be put under for surgery to keep him still.
Fast forward several more years to Ben being 13 and tired of the birthmark... We see a new dermatologist (because I couldn't for the life of me remember the named the first one we saw when Ben was 5 or 6). This dermatologist agrees with all the other doctors that the birthmark needs to be removed (at some point) because it can cause cancer down the road. But at this time he suggests waiting until,Ben has gone through his growth spurt so that the scar will not grow with Ben.
Fast forward three more years... To today... Ben has been asking for months to go in to a dermatologist to see if the birthmark can be removed. Ben has grown (he's almost 6 feet tall) and he's not really concerned with a scar (chicks digs scars right?). He just wants the thing removed. It itches and bugs him a lot. So today we went to talk again to a dermatologist (not sure if it's the same one he saw last time, it is the same office though). I told Ben that nothing would happen today, it was just talking and figuring out when we could have it removed. I was wrong! The doctor gave Ben two choices... Have it shaved off (they numb the area first, and then use a razor to shave it off, leaving a little indent where the birthmark had been) or schedule surgery (they would go in and cut the whole area out and then stitch it closed).
Ben decided to go with the immediate option and have it shaved off. And so the doctor shaved it off! Surprising Ben. He didn't realize when he picked that option that they really meant right then... Not days away. And so the birthmark is gone! And Ben has an ugly wound that needs to heal ;)
*pictures coming
*maybe - some people won't want to see the pictures
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