Precision Office Surgery & Scar Care in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Elie Ramly, MD, provides office-based evaluation and treatment of selected facial moles and skin lesions, cysts, superficial lipomas, scars, and earlobe concerns, with particular attention to cosmetically sensitive areas and the resulting scar.
Small concerns can deserve extraordinary attention.
A mole on the face. A cyst beneath the skin. A scar from an old injury or previous surgery. A small lump or contour irregularity. An earlobe that has stretched or torn.
These concerns may be relatively small in size. Their impact is not always small.
At Ramly Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, Dr. Ramly offers a plastic-surgeon-led approach to selected office procedures, facial scars, and other aesthetically sensitive concerns for patients throughout Beverly Hills and Los Angeles.
The philosophy is simple:
First understand the problem. Determine the right treatment. Then care for the result.
Sometimes the answer is meticulous surgical removal or scar revision. Sometimes it is resurfacing, microneedling, injectable treatment, volume restoration, or simply allowing additional time for healing. And sometimes the best treatment lies outside the plastic surgeon's office.
When appropriate, Dr. Ramly can coordinate care with trusted specialists in dermatology, laser treatment, electrolysis, and medical scar camouflage.
The objective is not to perform every available treatment.
It is to determine the most appropriate path forward.
More Than Removal
Removing a lesion or revising a scar is only one part of the equation.
For an aesthetically sensitive concern, Dr. Ramly considers the diagnosis, surrounding anatomy, incision location and orientation, tissue preservation, closure, tension, contour, pigmentation, hair-bearing skin, and how the area is expected to heal over time.
These considerations can be particularly important on the face, where small differences in incision placement may influence how a scar relates to a natural crease, aesthetic subunit, hairline, facial contour, or expression.
The question is therefore not simply:
Can this be removed?
But also:
Should it be removed? What is the most appropriate treatment? What will replace it? And how can the area be thoughtfully guided through healing afterward?
Dr. Ramly's Perspective
“For an aesthetically sensitive lesion, I don't think only about how to remove it. I also think about what will replace it—the scar—and how that scar will interact with the surrounding anatomy.”
Precision Office Surgery
Facial Mole & Skin Lesion Removal
Patients may seek facial mole or skin lesion removal because of its appearance, location, irritation, or simply because a lesion has bothered them for years.
For lesions appropriate for treatment by Dr. Ramly, the approach depends on the lesion's characteristics, size, depth, location, surrounding anatomy, and anticipated scar.
Particular attention is given to moles and skin lesions involving the face, neck, ears, and other cosmetically sensitive locations, where incision placement, scar orientation, surrounding contours, and preservation of normal anatomy may be especially important.
Not every lesion should simply be removed for aesthetic reasons. Changing, unusual, symptomatic, or diagnostically uncertain lesions require appropriate medical evaluation. When indicated, removed tissue may be submitted for pathologic examination.
Should I See a Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon for Facial Mole Removal?
Dermatologists and plastic surgeons both evaluate and remove skin lesions, and the appropriate specialist depends on the lesion and reason for treatment.
When a lesion is diagnostically uncertain, changing, or concerning for skin cancer, appropriate dermatologic evaluation may be particularly important.
For a benign-appearing lesion in a cosmetically sensitive facial location, some patients seek evaluation by a plastic surgeon because incision placement, surrounding facial anatomy, reconstruction, contour, and the resulting scar are important considerations.
When appropriate, Dr. Ramly can coordinate evaluation with a dermatologist, and removed tissue may be submitted for pathologic examination when indicated.
Cyst Removal
Cysts may occur throughout the face and body and can become visible, uncomfortable, inflamed, recurrent, or simply bothersome.
When surgical removal is appropriate, planning involves more than simply reaching the cyst.
Dr. Ramly considers the location and length of the incision, surrounding anatomy, existing inflammation or scarring, preservation of surrounding tissue, resulting contour, and closure.
Selected cysts can often be removed under local anesthesia in the Beverly Hills office.
Inflamed, infected, unusually large, deep, recurrent, or diagnostically uncertain lesions may require additional evaluation, treatment before definitive excision, another surgical setting, or referral.
Should a Cyst Be Removed by a Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon?
Both dermatologists and plastic surgeons commonly treat appropriate cysts. The best choice depends on the diagnosis, location, complexity, and patient's priorities.
For cysts involving the face or another aesthetically sensitive location, a plastic-surgical approach may be particularly relevant when incision placement, surrounding anatomy, contour, and the resulting scar are significant considerations.
The first priority, however, is always appropriate diagnosis and treatment—not simply minimizing the incision.
Lipoma & Selected Superficial Lump Removal
Lipomas are common benign fatty masses that develop beneath the skin. Patients may seek removal because a lump is visible, enlarging, uncomfortable, or creates an unwanted contour.
Selected superficial lipomas and other appropriately evaluated masses may be suitable for office-based removal under local anesthesia.
The appropriate approach depends on the size, depth, location, mobility, surrounding anatomy, and confidence in the diagnosis.
Larger, deeper, rapidly changing, painful, fixed, recurrent, or otherwise concerning masses may require imaging, additional evaluation, a different surgical setting, or referral before treatment.
For appropriate cases, incision placement and the resulting contour are considered as part of the surgical plan—not as an afterthought.
Earlobe Repair
Stretched piercing holes, elongated earlobes, partial tears, and completely split earlobes can often be repaired under local anesthesia in the office.
Treatment is individualized to the anatomy of the earlobe and degree of stretching or injury, with attention to restoring a natural contour and thoughtfully positioning the resulting scar.
Patients interested in re-piercing can also discuss appropriate timing and placement following healing.
Facial Scar Revision & Reconstruction
Understanding Why a Scar Is Noticeable Comes Before Deciding How to Treat It
No treatment can make a scar disappear completely.
However, certain surgical, traumatic, or other scars may be improved when their width, orientation, contour, tethering, pigmentation, vascularity, texture, elevation, depression, or relationship to surrounding anatomy makes them particularly conspicuous.
Successful scar treatment begins by identifying why the scar is noticeable.
A scar may be widened by tension. It may cross natural facial lines or aesthetic subunits. It may be tethered to deeper structures, elevated or thickened, depressed because of underlying tissue loss, irregular in texture, conspicuous in color, or distorted by surrounding anatomy.
These are different problems.
They should not automatically receive the same treatment.
Dr. Ramly's Perspective
“One of the most important questions in scar treatment is not which procedure to perform, but why the scar is noticeable in the first place.”
A Particular Focus on Facial Scars
Facial scars interact with much more than the surface of the skin.
They relate to facial contours, natural creases, aesthetic subunits, hair-bearing areas, underlying volume, expression, and the way light and shadow move across the face.
A scar resulting from trauma may therefore require a different approach than one following mole removal, Mohs surgery, facelift surgery, rhinoplasty, or another previous operation.
Dr. Ramly's background in aesthetic and reconstructive facial surgery informs a structural approach to facial scars—considering not only the scar itself, but also the anatomy beneath and around it.
The objective is not to erase evidence that an injury or operation occurred.
Where improvement is possible, the goal is to create a scar or contour that is less conspicuous and better integrated with the surrounding face.
Beyond Scar Revision
Surgery Is Only One Tool
Not every scar should be surgically revised.
Depending on the individual problem, treatment may include surgical scar revision, release or rearrangement of scar tissue, microneedling, chemical resurfacing, injectable treatment, or restoration of surrounding volume with structural fat grafting.
Some scars benefit most from continued maturation and careful observation before additional intervention.
Other characteristics—such as persistent redness, pigmentation differences, unwanted hair, or color mismatch—may be better addressed using another modality.
When appropriate, Dr. Ramly can coordinate treatment with trusted specialists in dermatology, laser therapy, electrolysis, and medical scar camouflage.
This allows the treatment plan to be built around the problem rather than around the treatments available in any single office.
The goal is not to do more. It is to do what is appropriate.
Surgical and Nonsurgical Scar Treatment
Different characteristics of a scar may require different solutions.
Scar position, width, or unfavorable orientation may sometimes benefit from surgical revision or tissue rearrangement.
Tethering or contour irregularity may require scar release, structural correction, or restoration of volume.
Texture may sometimes be improved with resurfacing or microneedling.
Selected thickened scars may respond to injectable treatment.
Volume deficiency surrounding a scar may sometimes benefit from structural fat grafting.
Redness, pigmentation, or other surface characteristics may be better suited to laser or dermatologic treatment.
Color mismatch may occasionally benefit from medical scar camouflage once the scar has appropriately matured.
Treatment is individualized because many visible scars involve more than one of these characteristics.
When Is Surgery Better Than Laser for a Scar?
Surgery and laser treatment address different problems.
Laser treatments can be valuable for selected characteristics such as redness, pigmentation, texture, or certain aspects of scar thickness. They cannot necessarily correct an unfavorable scar orientation, significant width, deep tethering, tissue deficiency, or distortion of surrounding anatomy.
Conversely, surgically revising a scar does not automatically correct every surface, pigment, or vascular characteristic.
For some patients, the most effective strategy is therefore not choosing between surgery and nonsurgical treatment, but determining whether a thoughtful sequence or combination of treatments is appropriate.
Can Scar Revision, Microneedling, Laser, Injectables, and Fat Grafting Be Combined?
Selected scar problems may benefit from more than one treatment modality, although they are not necessarily performed at the same time.
For example, surgical treatment may address scar position or tethering while subsequent treatment addresses texture, vascularity, pigmentation, or surrounding volume.
The appropriate sequence depends on the scar, anatomy, previous treatment, and stage of healing.
Dr. Ramly develops the surgical and in-office components of treatment when appropriate and can coordinate additional specialty care when another modality is better suited to a particular aspect of the scar.
A Streamlined Office Procedure Experience
01 — Tell Us What Concerns You
Begin by submitting clear photographs and a brief description of the area you would like evaluated.
02 — Preliminary Review
Our team reviews the information to help determine whether evaluation at Ramly Plastic Surgery appears appropriate and to coordinate the appropriate type and length of appointment.
Photographs can assist with preliminary screening but cannot establish a diagnosis.
03 — Evaluation With Dr. Ramly
Dr. Ramly personally examines the area and considers not only the concern itself, but its relationship to the surrounding anatomy and the aesthetic implications of treatment.
He will discuss the anticipated procedure and resulting scar, alternatives when appropriate, and whether additional evaluation or pathology is recommended.
04 — Treatment
Many selected procedures can be performed comfortably under local anesthesia in the Beverly Hills office.
When appropriate and arranged in advance, evaluation and treatment may be possible during the same visit.
If surgery is not the best answer, another treatment, continued observation, or specialist evaluation may be recommended instead.
05 — Pathology When Appropriate
When indicated, removed tissue may be submitted for examination by a pathologist.
06 — Care for the Result
Treatment does not necessarily end when the procedure is finished.
Healing and scar maturation evolve over time. Follow-up may include individualized scar care, observation, additional treatment, or coordination with another specialist when appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Facial Mole Removal Leave a Scar?
Any procedure that cuts through the skin creates a scar. The goal is therefore not “scarless” removal. For appropriate lesions, thoughtful planning considers the method of removal, incision location and orientation, surrounding anatomy, closure, tension, and postoperative scar care in an effort to create as favorable a scar as the circumstances allow.
Can a Facial Mole Be Removed Without Surgery?
Some lesions can be treated using approaches other than formal excision, but the appropriate method depends on the diagnosis, depth, location, aesthetic priorities, and whether tissue should be preserved for pathologic examination. An examination is necessary before recommending a technique.
Can My Procedure Be Performed Under Local Anesthesia?
Many selected facial skin lesion, cyst, superficial lipoma, scar revision, and earlobe procedures can be performed under local anesthesia in the office. The appropriate setting depends on the anatomy, procedure, complexity, and individual medical considerations.
Can Dr. Ramly Diagnose My Mole or Lump From a Photograph?
No. Photographs are useful for preliminary screening and scheduling but cannot establish a definitive diagnosis. An in-person examination—and sometimes additional evaluation—is necessary before treatment recommendations can be finalized.
Can an Old Facial Scar Still Be Improved?
Potentially. Scar age is only one consideration. Treatment depends on what makes the scar noticeable, its location, surrounding anatomy, previous treatments, and individual healing characteristics. Some mature scars may be appropriate for revision or multimodal treatment even years after the original injury or surgery.
Can a Scar Be Completely Removed?
No. Scar revision replaces or modifies an existing scar with another healing scar. The goal is improvement—not complete elimination—and results depend on anatomy, scar biology, location, tension, technique, postoperative healing, and individual patient factors.
When Is the Best Time for Scar Revision?
There is no universal timeline. Many scars continue to change significantly as they mature, and operating too early may sometimes be counterproductive. Other scar problems may warrant earlier treatment. An examination is necessary to determine whether observation, nonsurgical treatment, or surgical revision is appropriate.
What If Surgery Is Not the Best Treatment?
Then surgery should not be performed simply because it is available.
Depending on the concern, Dr. Ramly may recommend continued healing, an in-office nonsurgical treatment, or coordinated care with a trusted specialist in dermatology, laser therapy, electrolysis, or medical scar camouflage.
Elie Ramly, MD
Elie Ramly, MD is a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon whose practice focuses on aesthetic and reconstructive facial surgery, including facelift and neck lift surgery, rhinoplasty, revision facial surgery, facial fat grafting, and comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
Dr. Ramly completed advanced plastic and reconstructive surgery training at Harvard Medical School's Mass General Brigham program and advanced fellowship training in facial transplantation at NYU Langone Health. His academic work includes extensive peer-reviewed research in plastic surgery, facial surgery, transplantation, and reconstruction.
His approach emphasizes detailed anatomical assessment, thoughtful surgical planning, precision, restraint, and natural results that preserve the individual character of each patient.
Precision Office Surgery & Scar Care is not a departure from that philosophy.
It is an extension of it.
The same principles that matter in larger facial operations—anatomy, proportion, tissue handling, incision placement, preservation, precision, and respect for healing—can matter when a procedure is measured in millimeters.
Because the size of a procedure should not determine the quality of thought that goes into it.
Request an Office Procedure & Scar Evaluation
If you have a facial mole or skin lesion, cyst, superficial lump, scar, earlobe concern, or another aesthetically sensitive problem you would like evaluated, you may begin by submitting photographs and a brief description.
Our office will review your submission and help determine the appropriate next step.
When appropriate and arranged in advance, evaluation and treatment may be possible during the same visit.
Photographic review is for preliminary screening and scheduling only. An in-person examination is required before a definitive diagnosis or treatment recommendation can be made.
Ramly Plastic Surgery
414 N. Camden Drive, Suite 800
Beverly Hills, California 90210
Written and medically reviewed by Elie Ramly, MD
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Beverly Hills, California
Last updated September 2026