Philadelphia and Mainline Center of Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery

Skin Tags - Patients ask, Dr. Ringpfeil answers

Please feel free to use the blog below to share information about Skin Tags or to ask Dr. Franziska Ringpfeil a question that might be of interest to others.

28 Responses to Skin Tags

Rich from Haverford says:

May 30, 2024 at 7:02 PM

In this thread I see that the fee to remove up to 15 tags is $120, however, I also see that the last entree is from 2019. Is this still the going fee? What is the process? Can the skin tags, under local anesthesia be removed during the first visit?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil says:

June 18, 2024 at 12:17 AM

Our skin tag removal fee is still $120 for up to 15 on the neck, in the underarms, on upper thighs, or in the inguinal folds. We refer to a GI surgeon for anal skin tags. Most skin tags are taken off with the scissor snip technique. Some are removed less painfully without local anesthesia while local anesthesia may not be avoidable in broader based tags.
An evaluation precedes skin tag removal. If the evaluation is for skin tags only, most of the time we will be able to perform the elective procedure at the time of this visit. When consultation takes a bit longer to fully address all concerns, or if you desire consultation for other skin issues, the procedure will be scheduled at another date.
Consultation is typically submitted to your insurance.

Reply

MM from Philadelphia says:

December 31, 2019 at 2:23 AM

What is the typical procedure to get rid of an anal skin tag? Can most anal skin tags be removed? What makes for an anal skin tag unfit to be removed?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

April 6, 2020 at 6:07 AM

Most anal skin tags can be removed. They are usually removed by proctologists. These are specialists in the field of GI surgery and they will be answer your questions specifically.

Reply

Dee from Other says:

July 30, 2019 at 1:55 AM

Two questions: 1) Do skin tags grow back in the same spot after removal? 2) So without insurance, removal of up to 15 skin tags is only $120 total? Just want to be sure.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

September 9, 2019 at 5:01 AM

Skin tags do not grow back in the same spot where they were removed. However, friction can induce new skin tags nearby. If you developed skin tags from wearing a necklace, for example, it might be a good idea to reduce the time you wear your necklace. And, yes our fee is still the one that you stated.

Reply

Girl from Philadelphia says:

April 15, 2019 at 7:39 AM

What is the cost of removing an anal skin tag and best option for removal?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

April 30, 2019 at 2:01 AM

Anal tags are usually removed by a GI surgeon in an outpatient setting. You should be able to receive a price quote as part of your consultation with a GI surgeon.

Reply

Interesting from Philadelphia says:

May 8, 2018 at 4:00 PM

How much does it usually cost to get anal tag removed? Also since there’s a lot nerves in the butt would the removal interfere with butt nerves

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

May 15, 2018 at 6:54 PM

Removal of anal skin tag is comprised of consultation, removal itself, and analysis by the laboratory. Cost for consultation is $85, removal of a single anal skin tag is $125 and laboratory cost is about $135. Insurance submission is often possible.

Reply

B from Philadelphia says:

June 12, 2017 at 3:17 PM

I have anal skin tags, would either of these procedures work for my situation?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

June 16, 2017 at 9:19 PM

Anal tags can be removed by scissor snip under local anaesthesia. GI surgeons are usually the specialists taking care of these.

Reply

Jeff Thomas from Other says:

January 12, 2017 at 4:52 AM

Hello Doctor, We live near Wilkes Barre, Pa. My daughter is 28 and has scaring from acne on her forehead. This area is approx 2.5″ X 2″ above her left eye brow area . In addition. she has battled hair growth on her chin which is fairly heavy. Both of these things causes her great embarrassment. Do you think you can help with these problems and can you provide an approx cost. She does have Health Insurance but I’m sure it wouldn’t cover this type of treatment. Thank you for your consideration. Jeff Thomas

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

January 21, 2017 at 6:55 PM

Ninety percent of hair on the chin is removed after 6 laser treatments. Our office charges $45 per treatment of the chin. The frequency of maintenance treatments depends on any underlying condition. If she has polycystic ovarian syndrome, she might need a maintenance treatment every 6 months. Acne scars also need several treatments for significant improvement and various approaches must be considered pending the type of scar the acne left behind. Our office charges $500 for each acne scar treatment, even though their market price in the cosmetic world would be multiples of that. Presence of severe acne that left scars and hair in an area that is not characteristic for women raises the possibility of polycystic ovarian syndrome and your daughter might need to be evaluated for this by an endocrinologist.

Reply

Dgard from Other says:

May 5, 2015 at 10:25 PM

I have 3 skin tags in my left armpit area and one falls at my bra line so I want to get them removed. Can I make an appointment for a skin cancer screening and have this done at the same appointment? What is the cost to remove them?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

May 8, 2015 at 5:22 PM

Removal of 4 simple skin tags during a skin cancer screening should be quite feasible. However, if, as a result of the cancer screening, a biopsy or related procedure become necessary, skin tag removal might be scheduled at another date as a medically necessary procedure trumps an elective one.

Reply

Tasha from New Jersey says:

December 17, 2014 at 8:05 AM

Which method of removal of skin tags causes the least amount of pain?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

December 28, 2014 at 7:46 PM

Scissor snip. It can be performed without anaesthesia, which can sting slightly, on most skin tags.

Reply

Jim from Philadelphia says:

December 4, 2014 at 8:56 AM

U have one big skin tag on my face (cheek) how much would it be to remove

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

December 28, 2014 at 8:02 PM

Removal could range between $110 and 130.

Reply

M.Dexyter from Philadelphia says:

October 8, 2014 at 1:28 AM

What is the cost to remove the skin tags.
I have about 5 under each arm
about 5 on my neck
1 on right thigh
2 on left thigh
Assume insurance does not cover. What is estimated cost? How long procedure? All at once?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

October 8, 2014 at 3:19 AM

The fee to remove up to 15 tags is $120; each additional 10 incur $70. The total fee for 18 tags is therefore $190. Skin tag removal can be submitted to Personal Choice and Keystone Health Plan East yet all other insurances do not cover removal of asymptomatic skin tags.

Reply

GB from Other says:

May 27, 2014 at 9:48 PM

How is seborrheic keratosis removed?
I have many skin tags. Are they usually removed all at once? Are these procedures covered by insurance?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

May 31, 2014 at 12:24 AM

Seborrheic keratoses can be permanently removed for cosmetic reasons by a shave technique using a blade, currette or electrocautery, which does not leave a scar. If a seborrheic keratosis is irritated, it is often treated by liquid nitrogen, which flattens it but may leave a flat seborrheic keratosis behind. The removal of a visibly irritated seborrheic keratosis is submitted to insurance, the non-irriated lesion removal is elective.
Skin tags can be removed easily by scissor snip or electrocautery. After consultation we will know how many you would like to remove, and we will schedule procedure time accordingly. Most insurances do not consider skin tag removal a medically necessary procedure except if a skin tag is irritated. The removal of visibly irritated skin tags is submitted to most insurances (Blue Cross Blue Shield does not allow insurance submission); removal of non-irritated lesions is elective.

Reply

S. Brooke from Mainline says:

April 5, 2013 at 8:54 AM

I have swirls of skin tags, hundreds of them, on my back and sides. Is there a way to remove these EN MASSE without having to freeze each one individually?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

April 5, 2013 at 5:04 PM

Skin tags can only be removed individually. They can be snipped off, cauterized or frozen in a physician’s office. At home remedies include tying them off. There is an over the counter product available on-line that claims it can take tags off. I have no personal experience with this product and do not know about its efficacy or side effects.

Reply

S. Brooke from Mainline says:

April 7, 2013 at 4:07 PM

Thanks for your response. Upon further investigation, however, I have come to believe that these “skin tags” are really keretosis. Can these be removed with a glycolic acid peel?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

May 17, 2013 at 10:21 PM

Also seborrheic keratosis can only be removed individually.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil says:

June 18, 2024 at 12:17 AM

Our skin tag removal fee is still $120 for up to 15 on the neck, in the underarms, on upper thighs, or in the inguinal folds. We refer to a GI surgeon for anal skin tags. Most skin tags are taken off with the scissor snip technique. Some are removed less painfully without local anesthesia while local anesthesia may not be avoidable in broader based tags.
An evaluation precedes skin tag removal. If the evaluation is for skin tags only, most of the time we will be able to perform the elective procedure at the time of this visit. When consultation takes a bit longer to fully address all concerns, or if you desire consultation for other skin issues, the procedure will be scheduled at another date.
Consultation is typically submitted to your insurance.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

April 6, 2020 at 6:07 AM

Most anal skin tags can be removed. They are usually removed by proctologists. These are specialists in the field of GI surgery and they will be answer your questions specifically.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

September 9, 2019 at 5:01 AM

Skin tags do not grow back in the same spot where they were removed. However, friction can induce new skin tags nearby. If you developed skin tags from wearing a necklace, for example, it might be a good idea to reduce the time you wear your necklace. And, yes our fee is still the one that you stated.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

April 30, 2019 at 2:01 AM

Anal tags are usually removed by a GI surgeon in an outpatient setting. You should be able to receive a price quote as part of your consultation with a GI surgeon.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

May 15, 2018 at 6:54 PM

Removal of anal skin tag is comprised of consultation, removal itself, and analysis by the laboratory. Cost for consultation is $85, removal of a single anal skin tag is $125 and laboratory cost is about $135. Insurance submission is often possible.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

June 16, 2017 at 9:19 PM

Anal tags can be removed by scissor snip under local anaesthesia. GI surgeons are usually the specialists taking care of these.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

January 21, 2017 at 6:55 PM

Ninety percent of hair on the chin is removed after 6 laser treatments. Our office charges $45 per treatment of the chin. The frequency of maintenance treatments depends on any underlying condition. If she has polycystic ovarian syndrome, she might need a maintenance treatment every 6 months. Acne scars also need several treatments for significant improvement and various approaches must be considered pending the type of scar the acne left behind. Our office charges $500 for each acne scar treatment, even though their market price in the cosmetic world would be multiples of that. Presence of severe acne that left scars and hair in an area that is not characteristic for women raises the possibility of polycystic ovarian syndrome and your daughter might need to be evaluated for this by an endocrinologist.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

May 8, 2015 at 5:22 PM

Removal of 4 simple skin tags during a skin cancer screening should be quite feasible. However, if, as a result of the cancer screening, a biopsy or related procedure become necessary, skin tag removal might be scheduled at another date as a medically necessary procedure trumps an elective one.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

December 28, 2014 at 8:02 PM

Removal could range between $110 and 130.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

December 28, 2014 at 7:46 PM

Scissor snip. It can be performed without anaesthesia, which can sting slightly, on most skin tags.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

October 8, 2014 at 3:19 AM

The fee to remove up to 15 tags is $120; each additional 10 incur $70. The total fee for 18 tags is therefore $190. Skin tag removal can be submitted to Personal Choice and Keystone Health Plan East yet all other insurances do not cover removal of asymptomatic skin tags.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

May 31, 2014 at 12:24 AM

Seborrheic keratoses can be permanently removed for cosmetic reasons by a shave technique using a blade, currette or electrocautery, which does not leave a scar. If a seborrheic keratosis is irritated, it is often treated by liquid nitrogen, which flattens it but may leave a flat seborrheic keratosis behind. The removal of a visibly irritated seborrheic keratosis is submitted to insurance, the non-irriated lesion removal is elective.
Skin tags can be removed easily by scissor snip or electrocautery. After consultation we will know how many you would like to remove, and we will schedule procedure time accordingly. Most insurances do not consider skin tag removal a medically necessary procedure except if a skin tag is irritated. The removal of visibly irritated skin tags is submitted to most insurances (Blue Cross Blue Shield does not allow insurance submission); removal of non-irritated lesions is elective.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

April 5, 2013 at 5:04 PM

Skin tags can only be removed individually. They can be snipped off, cauterized or frozen in a physician’s office. At home remedies include tying them off. There is an over the counter product available on-line that claims it can take tags off. I have no personal experience with this product and do not know about its efficacy or side effects.

Reply

S. Brooke from Mainline says:

April 7, 2013 at 4:07 PM

Thanks for your response. Upon further investigation, however, I have come to believe that these “skin tags” are really keretosis. Can these be removed with a glycolic acid peel?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

May 17, 2013 at 10:21 PM

Also seborrheic keratosis can only be removed individually.

Reply

S. Brooke from Mainline says:

April 7, 2013 at 4:07 PM

Thanks for your response. Upon further investigation, however, I have come to believe that these “skin tags” are really keretosis. Can these be removed with a glycolic acid peel?

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

May 17, 2013 at 10:21 PM

Also seborrheic keratosis can only be removed individually.

Reply

Franziska Ringpfeil MD. says:

May 17, 2013 at 10:21 PM

Also seborrheic keratosis can only be removed individually.

Reply

Leave a Comment or a Question