The initial consultation will last 20 or 30 minutes. One of our skin specialists will discuss any concerns you have about your skin, hair and nails and any symptoms that you are experiencing. They will review your medical history and examine any areas of skin that are affected. Often a skin examination is enough to make a diagnosis. In some cases blood tests, skin swabs or skin biopsies may need to be carried out to get a full diagnosis. For some skin conditions treatment can be prescribed immediately and this can be picked up at a pharmacy on the same day. In some situations treatment can only be started after investigation. In some cases follow up checks may be needed to monitor the progress and effectiveness of treatments. Once the first consultation is conducted, the patient should come away with a clear understanding of their skin condition and the treatment options that are available to them.

You can book appointments directly with our clinic and do not need a referral, if you are self-funding. If you are planning on using health insurance to cover the cost of being seen, the insurer will usually require a referral from a general practitioner before authorising your appointment.

Under some circumstances, it is possible to have a procedure on the same day as your appointment. If the patient is self-paying and providing the doctor has sufficient time and the minor procedure room is available. If the patient is insured, approval from the insurer will be needed before any procedures can occur. For non-surgical procedures like cryotherapy and injections, it can be possible to have treatment on the same day as the appointment - this will be at the doctor's discretion.

As it is a private clinic we cannot give NHS prescriptions. We will communicate with your General Practitioner or write to them if you wish. Your General Practitioner may be able to prescribe some of the treatments that we recommend. However, there are some medications that GPs are not able to prescribe; that can only be prescribed by Consultant Dermatologists. Some medications will not be available on the NHS.

Most initial consultations will take 20 minutes. This will include a discussion with the Consultant Dermatologist and an examination of your skin issue. Follow up appointments usually take 10 - 15 minutes approximately.

In many situations, our Dermatologists can prescribe tablets or creams during the first consultation, so treatment can begin immediately. A private prescription is issued and the pharmacist will charge for the cost of the medication prescribed which may be higher than the standard NHS charge. Some injections and cryotherapy can also be done on the same day. There will be a charge for these additional treatments.

During your procedure, your Dermatologist will provide you with a full aftercare plan. In general, the biopsy site will be dressed after the surgery and the dressing left in place for the first day or two before removing and washing. It is important that your wound is kept clean. For further information please click on this link.

Cryotherapy is a controlled cold burn using liquid nitrogen which targets abnormal skin tissues. It is used to treat many skin conditions such as warts, verrucas, skin tags, pre-cancerous cells and some superficial skin cancers. Some pain and discomfort may be experienced during the procedure depending on the duration of the freeze and the size of the area being treated.

A skin biopsy is a routine procedure that dermatologists carry out. It involves removing a small sample of skin so that it can be tested. The sample will help dermatologists in the diagnosis of diseases such as skin cancer and other skin problems. A small anaesthetic will be introduced so that the patient does not experience pain during the procedure.. Depending on the type of biopsy you may or may not need stitches. Your dermatologist will inform you of the correct aftercare procedures once your biopsy is completed.

Yes, our Dermatologists will be able to advise on skincare products to use and which ones to avoid based upon your skin type and skin concern.

Yes, there are a number of different treatments for skin pigmentation typically involving creams and sometimes tablets. Some pigmented conditions may benefit from laser treatment and there is a laser technician at our Harley Street facility.

Primarily our clinic focuses on medical dermatology and health issues related to the skin, hair and nails. However, there are a number of instances where we treat patients for cosmetic reasons. The most common of which may be mole removal.