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thread: Haemangioma birthmark removal

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jul 2010
    Melbourne
    2,737

    Haemangioma birthmark removal

    Dd has one of these and the recently it has been bleeding a little bit. The GP has given me a referral and an appointment has been made at the Royal Childrens Hospital (well waiting for an appointment). GP also says dd will most likely have to get it removed by laser and will have to be put under anaesthetic for this.
    I am a little scared, has anyone else experienced this? What's involved?

  2. #2
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Apr 2009
    3,750

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    I have only once heard of one been removed. In my experience as a CFHN they just leave them.
    The one I heard of removed (I saw it before they removed it) was so large poor bub was going into cardiac failure. I took up most of the top of his leg from the knee to the hip so his heart was having a lot of trouble pumping blood as it was taking up so much.
    Mostly the ones I have seen have been small on the elbow or face and go away very slowly over time. They may get bigger initially and then start to fade and shrink. My niece had one on her face that didn't vanish completely until she was about 10years old.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jul 2010
    Melbourne
    2,737

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    Thanks Mildez, my mchn also has never mentioned anything about it either. DD's is on her labia and it's about the size of a 10 cent piece. GP said that when she starts to walk it will rub and cause further problems. It has ulcerated, but doesn't seem to be giving her too much pain. I just keep the area clean and I have antibiotic cream for it too. I have been referred to the dermatology department in the RCH so I guess it's up to them what they recommend.

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Add Beatrix on Facebook

    May 2007
    within a puff of pink
    3,315

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    My daughter has a compound one that is the size of a golf ball and they won't remove it as it's not in a area that is affecting her. It's on her shoulder.

    They tend to shrink as they get older.

  5. #5
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Feb 2006
    melbourne
    11,462

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    dD1 had one the size of 50 cent coin, it started to disappear around 18 months

  6. #6
    2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Feb 2012
    Melbourne , Victoria
    2,109

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    DD has one. We used an ointment on it that shrank it heaps.
    Perhaps consider a second opinion. I can recommend a lovely experienced pediatrician if you're interested.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jul 2010
    Melbourne
    2,737

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    Thanks everyone. I think that it's in an awkward spot. I'm not sure I want to risk infections because of the area it is in and I can't see it shrinking much. She had it at birth and it's very raised. I will see what the mchn says about it next month. It's likely the RCH appointment wont be for a while.

  8. #8
    Senior Moderator

    Nov 2004
    Chickens.
    4,989

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    My nephew has one on the top of his head. Apparently they expect it to shrink and disappear by the time he's 12-18 months old. It's about the size of a 10c piece.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Jul 2009
    1,973

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    DD1 had one on the bottom of her foot .it was there from birth about the size if 2 x 50 cent pieces , very red and raised . It faded as time wet by and it's no longer raised or bumpy . That happened a few years ago . She is now 4 and all that is left is a light light pink mark it caused no problems and went away within 2 years .

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Add Beatrix on Facebook

    May 2007
    within a puff of pink
    3,315

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    They don't normally start shrinking til 18months.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    May 2010
    Land of Dreams
    1,201

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    DD2 has one on her head since about 2 weeks old. Still has it now at 6, but it's smaller, faded 80% and not raised at all. Her hair hides it well. I was always told to leave it be.

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Jul 2010
    Melbourne
    2,737

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    Could it be the area it's in? Maybe that's why they recommend to have it removed?

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Add Beatrix on Facebook

    May 2007
    within a puff of pink
    3,315

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    Possibly. Especially if it's ulcerated.

  14. #14

    Nov 2007
    Earth
    4,434

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    I know of someone whose daughter had one above her eye. Very visible when she was first born, but she's 3 or 4 now and it's completely disappeared. It was rather cute actually!

    I had one on my forehead that was removed because it kept bleeding when knocked, I don't even have a scar now, and that would've been 27 years ago so I'm sure the outcome would be even better now with freakin' lasers!
    Last edited by Teeki; June 24th, 2014 at 10:37 PM. : name removed

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Oct 2008
    Victoria
    4,601

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    My 4 year old had one on his bottom lip which appeared when he was 3 weeks old. It was a red, angry looking lump by the time he was 1. We were referred to a dermatologist who referred us to the Children's. The wait wasn't overly long from what I remember. The specialist was happy to wait and see if it disappeared on its own, but said if it was still there by the time Moo was ready for kinder he would remove it. In the end it started disappearing when he was around 18 months and now you wouldn't know anything had been there.

  16. #16
    Moderator

    Dec 2006
    Smidgen-ville
    3,736

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    When you say you don't see it going down, that's because it won't start going down yet, she's still a teeny bub.

    I had a huge one, and I still had some of it when I was about 6/7, and even had an outline of it when I was very early twenties. It's gone now, but I was twenty a long time ago!

    I was told that knocking it and bumping it was absolutely fine and actually increased the blood flow so was it was just business as usual.

    I have not known anyone to have one removed, and I was surprised how common they are.

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Jul 2009
    1,973

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    Yeah I agree with the others , like I said my first daughters went away and was so bright and bumpy on her foot when she was little ..
    I would wait and not mess with it yet , se is still young and at her age I wouldn't expect t to go anywhere yet ..

  18. #18
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Apr 2009
    3,750

    Re: Haemangioma birthmark removal

    Yes it does sound like the area that is it in is causing her grief. It should not be ulcerated. I guess the nappy would rub it too. Not sure if she can wait that long but I would imagine when she is in undies it would be better (although thats some time of yet)

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