Faq

For most people, it is highly recommended to have a skin check on an annual basis. For those in higher risk categories such as those with a previous history of skin cancer or a moderate to high lifetime exposure to UV, your doctor may recommend 3-6 monthly skin checks. You can assess your individual skin cancer risk via this link: https://qcskinclinic.com.au/education/assess-your-risk/

Fairer skinned individuals have a higher risk of developing skin cancer, however it is still possible for skin cancer to develop in darker skinned individuals. It is recommended to monitor skin lesions in all ethnicities.

All procedures are performed at a later date. This is to ensure we have the correct amount of time allocated to each procedure after examination.

Please wear comfortable clothing that can easily be removed. Suitable underwear is best advised not to cover moles you would like to have checked as you will remain in your underwear for the duration of your appointment. Any moles hidden by undergarments that you are aware of can be requested to be checked, however intimate areas are not routinely examined unless the patient requests. A modesty blanket can be provided for added privacy and comfort throughout the appointment.

If you notice any moles with irregular boarders, changes in shape, size and colour, or any unhealing sores or scaly areas these are good indications for having a skin check analysis performed

A new high-tech system developed by FOTOFINDER in Germany, called Bodystudio ATBM, uses an automated imaging system to photograph the patient from head to toe. In a follow-up session, another set of head to toe images will be captured by ATBM and then it compares them with images from the previous examination. The new or changed moles detected by the software are marked with red or yellow circles. It allows for monitoring of most of the skin’s surface. It helps to detect malignant skin changes at the earliest possible stage and to avoid multiple excisions in patients at risk.

The total cost of the appointment is $250. There is no Medicare rebate for this service, however you may be able to claim a rebate from some private health insurance companies.

All digital images will be stored securely within QC Skin cancer & Laser clinic software. Your images will password protected and only accessed at future appointments to compare any apparent changes that may have occurred.

Most surgical wounds will heal within 1-3 weeks. For larger surgeries, or areas which don’t have sufficient surrounding skin to close the wound, a skin graft may be needed to adequately close the wound, thus resulting in a subsequent surgical site to obtain the skin graft. This is generally taken from a nearby non-conspicuous location and will be discussed with you prior to surgery. The donor site will heal in the same time frame.

All our surgeries are performed under local anaesthetic. The DR will administer this via a small number of injections around the site to effectively numb the area. You will remain awake throughout the procedure. For patients that suffer from needle phobia, your doctor can prescribe medication to alleviate stress prior to surgery.

The area to be removed will include the lesion and a small amount of surrounding tissue in order to create clear margins between the lesion and surrounding healthy tissue. 5mm is the standard measurement of clear margin for most skin cancers.

All skin surgeries require stitches to close the wound. Dissolvable stitches will be placed internally and/or externally. Although the stitches will dissolve over time, any remaining stitches will be removed at your aftercare appointment one week post-surgery. If a skin grafts was needed during your procedure, your stitches may remain for an additional week.

Due to the use of local anaesthetic, you will feel minimal discomfort of the injections, however you shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure. A few hours after surgery the anaesthetic will begin to wear off. At this stage you may experience some pain for the first few days which is manageable via taking paracetamol

The tissue removed during your surgery will be sent off to pathology to be analysed. A report will detail if clear margins were achieved during your procedure, specifying if any further surgery will be required. These results will be discussed with you at your aftercare appointment 7-10 days following your procedure.

1. Your dressing will be applied on the day of your procedure. This dressing is to remain in place and dry for the first 3 days. You can then change the dressing at home and clean the wound with betadine. This secondary dressing is to be changed every 2 days until your aftercare appointment. If the dressing becomes blood soaked or wet you will change the dressing again as required. After 1 week sport tapes will be placed on the wound. This is waterproof and can be removed after one week.

In early non-melanoma skin cancers, efficacy of removal equates to approximately 80-95%.

Smaller treated skin cancer lesions will be covered by special tape for 48-72H, however larger skin cancer lesions can’t be fully covered by tape, therefore, you must stick to strict sun avoidance for the first 48 hours. This is to avoid prolonged activation of the topical creams applied and a more extreme, lengthier recovery period.

After the appointment you will likely feel tight and can be stingy and have an appearance similar to sunburn in the treated areas. This will be more apparent in areas of increased damage. This can progress to areas of scaly, red, scabbed areas, which can take 2+ weeks to heal in some instances. It is important not to pick these lesions in the coming weeks as your skin heals to avoid scaring. Due to the possibility of downtime which can be significant for some people, careful planning of your appointment away from important events/functions is advised. You will leave your appointment with treated areas covered by sport tapes. These are to remain in place for the next 48-72 hours. The tape will be removed after 2-3 days. You will then apply a provided ointment for the next 2 weeks .

When surgically excising skin cancers, we send the tissue sample to pathology for examination and can determine exactly the margins achieved and can confirm a skin cancer is 100% removed. The downside to this is it leaves a scar. Laser assisted PDT can shrink a skin cancer down to minimal-to-nothing, however due to the nature of the procedure it is not possible to send tissue to pathology for confirmation of removal. We then rely on doctor examination 3 months following treatment to check for signs of residual skin cancers. In many instances this procedure avoids surgery and is scarless.

It is a simple non-invasive treatment, comprising of the application of a cream (5-ALA) to sun damaged areas, followed by exposure to red/blue LED light. The treatment takes one hour and is completely safe and painless. The active ingredient (5-ALA) is selectively absorbed by sun-damaged cells. When exposed to the light source these cells are destroyed by a chemical reaction. Healthy cells are preserved in the reaction.

Your appointment will begin with a light microdermabrasion to remove excess scale and the superficial layer of the skin to ensure adequate penetration of products applied. Once complete, the PDT topical product is applied to the area. Some patients report mild stinging upon application. This will subside quickly and most patients feel zero pain during the procedure. A clinician will check in with you at 10 minute intervals throughout the procedure to ensure your comfort is maintained

After the appointment you will likely feel tight and can be stingy and have an appearance similar to sunburn in the treated area. This will be more apparent in areas of increased damage. This can progress to areas of scaly, red, scabbed areas, which can take 2+ weeks to heal in some instances. It is important not to pick these lesions in the coming weeks as your skin heals to avoid scaring. Due to the possibility of downtime which can be significant for some people, careful planning of your appointment away from important events/functions is advised.

You must stick to strict sun avoidance, including sunshine through windows, for the first 48 hours. This is to avoid prolonged activation of the topical creams applied and a more extreme, lengthier recovery period.

Many strong cosmeceutical products and creams, chemical peel solutions and LED light exposure, can all cause severe reactions post treatment. These should be avoided until healing is complete. Please contact the clinic if you believe you are experiencing a severe reaction. This can include prolonged pain, blisters, significant redness, and scabbing. You will be reviewed by our doctor who can prescribe a cream to subside the reaction quickly.

Sun avoidance and application of bland emollients is recommended throughout your recovery to increase comfort and speed up healing.

The cost of PDT is not covered under Medicare, however in some instances private health insurance companies do provide a rebate for this treatment. Obtaining your receipts and sending these to your health insurance company may prove beneficial.