I'm considering getting my tag removed because I'm self-conscious about it when it comes to sex and dating. My doctor told me that tag removal usually causes a new tag to form, but that it would probably be smaller than the one I have now...

I'm curious to hear from people who've had tag(s) removed if new ones formed. I'm worried to go through the pain/ time off and end up looking the same or even worse.

I have yet to read a story on this board about skin tag removal that didn't cause more problems. If it doesn't cause you pain or actual discomfort, I suggest you work on accepting your body the way it is. A potential partner who expects your body to be perfect like the ones onscreen is not worth wasting your time with. I have a long scar running down my abdomen from a trauma surgery in my teenage years. Not once has it ever bothered my husband. I hope you can find the same kind of non - judgmental partner for yourself.

Honestly, no partner has ever been rude enough to say anything about it, and I've had many partners who definitely, explicitly appreciate that part of my body (sorry if TMI). I've done work over the years to become comfortable and confident with my body, and mostly have felt this way for years. I don't worry about my breasts not being perfectly perky, or having a small belly, or whatever, but this one insecurity is just won't go away.

During sex, I act as if I am not at all self-conscious and ignore it and don't try to hide that part of my body like some people here write about. And if someone did say something rude, I would honestly be angry and kick them out of bed because I'm only human and it's ridiculous to be rude and judgmental about such a small flaw and I don't care or judge or comment on partners for various little scars or moles or stretch marks or whatever, and if someone is sharing their body with you, don't be a jerk, etc.

But even after years of faking it til you make it (like 6 years no?) and no partners being judgmental as far as they've ever let on, I just can't get over it and I feel horrified if I look at that part of my body. So it seems like, maybe I can actually just fix it?

Anyway, I think your advice is generally really good advice, and I'm daunted by the pain--anyone whose had an AF has had enough pain in that area!!--and possibility of bad outcomes. But I just cannot seem to get over the insecurity. :/

I can somewhat understand where you are coming from. I have scars on both sides of my perianal area caused by hidradenitis. One side has been surgically fixed, and the other one will be done in the future at some point. I feel so sad if I sit to think about how two years ago I had normal skin there, and now it will never be the same for the rest of my life. But as my PT recently said, I'll take what I got, over the other stuff. Basically advising me to accept my body as it is.

I encourage you to check out the book 'Feeling good' by Dr. David burns. It has great information on cognitive therapy and I think it's helpful even for those who don't have depression. It teaches you to challenge your thoughts and established beliefs and learn to replace them with more objective and balanced ones.

chiaseed wrote:Honestly, no partner has ever been rude enough to say anything about it, and I've had many partners who definitely, explicitly appreciate that part of my body (sorry if TMI). I've done work over the years to become comfortable and confident with my body, and mostly have felt this way for years. I don't worry about my breasts not being perfectly perky, or having a small belly, or whatever, but this one insecurity is just won't go away.

During sex, I act as if I am not at all self-conscious and ignore it and don't try to hide that part of my body like some people here write about. And if someone did say something rude, I would honestly be angry and kick them out of bed because I'm only human and it's ridiculous to be rude and judgmental about such a small flaw and I don't care or judge or comment on partners for various little scars or moles or stretch marks or whatever, and if someone is sharing their body with you, don't be a jerk, etc.

But even after years of faking it til you make it (like 6 years no?) and no partners being judgmental as far as they've ever let on, I just can't get over it and I feel horrified if I look at that part of my body. So it seems like, maybe I can actually just fix it?

Anyway, I think your advice is generally really good advice, and I'm daunted by the pain--anyone whose had an AF has had enough pain in that area!!--and possibility of bad outcomes. But I just cannot seem to get over the insecurity. :/

I am so traumatised by my multiple skin tags surrounding my anus- its a donut shape anus - like literally anal mass flesh protruding out and its still painful scar tissue .. I do not find stories on here how deeply traumatised by sentinel piles members got over it and accepted it !!!! Chiaseed member had it for 6 years and still horrified ... I find myself in a very dark place like never before with this doctors injury with multiple fissures ... NOTHING brings joy anymore !!!!

Hi vasilisa,

I think I know what you mean by donut shape; mine was same for long time. No doctor ever commented in past so didn't think it was abnormal until I was finally diagnosed with AFs (took 2+ years!). I myself then put whole picture together with external and internal swelling, spasms, pain, inflammation and yes those damn tags! I got a sentinel tag that never bothered me except for aesthetic reasons and cleaning but I was going to get removed anyways but the CRS warned me that I could get spasms again as a result of the pain and recovery so I decided not to go through with it because I didn't want to undo all the hard work in healing the fissures. After going through pelvic floor physio I finally healed and not donut shape anymore! But I got more bigger tags from stretched skin for being tight for so long. I just learned to live with it as there are worse things in life to deal with than imperfect body. I read somewhere that if you want to heal physically you need to heal the mind first and think this is so true! I still struggle with anxiety and will probably for rest of my life, the tags remind me to every day practice relaxing to prevent further AFs and scar tissue. I also frequently do self physio as a prophylactic measure.

So my advice is to either get tags removed (research! find a good CRS!); not everyone has a bad experience. And, understand if you do get tags removed, you need to prevent new ones in future! Or just accept them and don't let them interfere with enjoying your life:)

GrrrAF wrote:Hi vasilisa,

I think I know what you mean by donut shape; mine was same for long time. No doctor ever commented in past so didn't think it was abnormal until I was finally diagnosed with AFs (took 2+ years!). I myself then put whole picture together with external and internal swelling, spasms, pain, inflammation and yes those damn tags! I got a sentinel tag that never bothered me except for aesthetic reasons and cleaning but I was going to get removed anyways but the CRS warned me that I could get spasms again as a result of the pain and recovery so I decided not to go through with it because I didn't want to undo all the hard work in healing the fissures. After going through pelvic floor physio I finally healed and not donut shape anymore! But I got more bigger tags from stretched skin for being tight for so long. I just learned to live with it as there are worse things in life to deal with than imperfect body. I read somewhere that if you want to heal physically you need to heal the mind first and think this is so true! I still struggle with anxiety and will probably for rest of my life, the tags remind me to every day practice relaxing to prevent further AFs and scar tissue. I also frequently do self physio as a prophylactic measure.

So my advice is to either get tags removed (research! find a good CRS!); not everyone has a bad experience. And, understand if you do get tags removed, you need to prevent new ones in future! Or just accept them and don't let them interfere with enjoying your life:)

thank you for your reply ! I see that a lot of members do have to accept living with those soul and life traumatising scar tissue fleshy anal mass protruding on BM lumps ! I am struggling greatly with extreme depression due to them !!! At this point having one eye taken or few fingers chopped - seems less soul traumatising!!!! I dont know what to do - operation is out of question cause it was brutal anoscopy injury !!!!!

Hi vasilisa,

I understand your mental pain. Some doctors shouldn't be doctors! My GP was rough couple times with fingers! and is one who missed the fissures twice! I even specifically made appointment to say I think I have a fissure and Dr. said no you don't! I found out over a year later after seeing two more specialists who used anoscope. First not too bad but could have been gentler I think. The last one I saw was amazing and gentle; he saw the latest healed fissure and previous injury (fissure). Your body can heal but will take time as bowel movements unfortunately hinder the process. Also, as I said important to take care of the mind first as it is connected to the gut. So yah maybe cosmetic surgery not best time right now until your bum is more healed but know that you can get sentinel tag and other tags removed if bothers you much. Have you checked out @yourfriendlyproctologist? Excellent videos.