Skin Cancer Checks in Biggera Waters, Gold Coast

Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, and on the northern Gold Coast the UV index sits high for most of the year. A skin check is the simplest way to find a problem while it is still small and straightforward to treat.

All skin cancer consultations and procedures at Harbour Town Doctors are bulk billed for patients with a valid Medicare card. There is no referral needed and no out of pocket cost for the check itself, so the only thing standing between you and a skin check is the appointment. Full fee and bulk billing detail sits on our FAQs page.

Our GPs examine your skin using dermoscopy, a handheld lens that lights and magnifies a spot so the structures beneath the surface become visible long before a change is obvious to the naked eye. If something needs a closer look, the biopsy or removal is usually done here at the clinic in Biggera Waters rather than somewhere else on another day.

Bulk Billed With Medicare

Every skin cancer consultation and procedure is bulk billed for valid Medicare card holders. DVA gold card holders are bulk billed for all procedures.

No Referral Needed

Walk in or book online. A female GP can be requested when you book.

Dermoscopy On Every Check

Spots of concern are examined under a dermatoscope rather than by eye alone.

Treated On Site

Biopsies, excisions and cryotherapy are carried out at the Biggera Waters clinic.

What A Skin Check Or Mole Check Covers

You can book a full body skin check, or ask about one spot that has been bothering you. Whether you want a full skin cancer screening or a single mole check, tell reception when you book so the right amount of time is set aside. If you are not sure whether something needs looking at, our guide to skin changes you should not ignore is a good place to start.

Full Body Skin Check

A head to toe examination including the scalp, ears, back, soles and between the toes, the places most people never see on themselves. Every spot of concern is checked with a dermatoscope.

Mole Check And Spot Check

A targeted look at a mole or spot that has changed in size, shape, colour or feel, or that has started to itch, bleed or crust. Bring a photo if you have one showing how it looked before.

Sunspots And Keratoses

Rough, scaly or crusty patches from years of sun exposure. They are not cancer, but they mark accumulated damage and a small number can progress, so they are treated or monitored.

Skin Tags And Benign Lumps

Skin tags, cysts and harmless moles can also be assessed and removed. These are not skin cancer related, so a removal may carry an out of pocket cost depending on how complex the work is. Our guide to skin tag, mole and wart removal explains the options and costs.

Skin Cancer Treatment And Removal On The Gold Coast

Finding something is only half of it. Most skin cancers and sun damaged spots are treated here at Biggera Waters, and every skin cancer procedure is bulk billed. Skin cancer removal on the Gold Coast does not have to mean a hospital or a private surgeon, and your GP explains what they recommend, and why, before anything is done.

Biopsy And Pathology

A small sample is taken under local anaesthetic and sent to an accredited Australian pathology laboratory, so any treatment that follows is based on a confirmed diagnosis rather than an educated guess.

Surgical Excision

The lesion is cut out with a margin of healthy skin and closed with sutures. Most excisions are done at the clinic, either on the day or at a follow up appointment.

Diagnosis And Monitoring

Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma are managed according to what pathology confirms. Treated sites are recorded so each later check builds on the last.

Cryotherapy

Liquid nitrogen freezes sunspots and some early surface changes. It takes a couple of minutes and leaves a small blister that settles on its own.

Topical And Photodynamic Treatment

Some superficial lesions and widespread sun damage respond to a prescribed cream or to photodynamic therapy, which avoids cutting altogether.

Referral When It Is Needed

Larger or more complex lesions, and anything needing specialist surgery, are referred on with the pathology results already in hand so nothing has to be repeated.

Skin Cancer Clinic Or Dermatologist?

Most people on the Gold Coast start with a GP skin check rather than a dermatologist, and for good reason. A GP skin check is bulk billed, needs no referral, and can usually be booked within days. A dermatologist appointment needs a referral, often involves a wait and a private fee, and is the right step for complex or unusual cases rather than a routine check.

In practice the two work together. Your GP carries out the examination, takes the biopsy and treats the great majority of what is found. When a lesion is complicated, in an awkward spot such as the face, or the pathology calls for it, your GP refers you to a dermatologist or surgeon with the diagnosis already confirmed. That is usually faster than starting at the specialist end. Prevention still does the heavy lifting though, and our sun safety guide covers what actually works on the Gold Coast.

When Your GP Refers You On

Melanoma or a lesion needing wide excision
Lesions on the face, ears, nose or near the eye
Very large or recurring skin cancers
Unusual pathology that needs a specialist opinion
Reconstruction after a larger excision
A complex history of multiple skin cancers

Booking Your Skin Check

Harbour Town Doctors is inside Harbour Town Premium Outlets, so parking is free and plentiful, which is rarely true of a medical appointment on the Gold Coast. Directions and contact details are on our contact page, and you can book online any time.

Open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Saturday and Sunday 9:00am to 1:00pm
Walk in, or book online ahead of time
No referral required for a skin check
A female GP can be requested when you book
New patients attending on a weekend pay a $45 administration fee

Getting The Most From The Appointment

Come with clean skin, no makeup and no nail polish
Point out anything that has changed, itched, bled or will not heal
Bring a photo of the spot from a few months ago if you have one
Mention any past skin cancers and where they were treated
Tell your GP about family history and years spent working outdoors
Wear something easy to change out of, a gown is provided

Skin Checks For The Northern Gold Coast

The clinic sits on Brisbane Road in Biggera Waters, which puts it a few minutes from Labrador, Runaway Bay, Coombabah, Hollywell and Arundel, and a short run down the highway from Southport, Parkwood and Helensvale. Patients from right across the northern Gold Coast use us for skin checks precisely because they do not have to drive to Southport or Robina and pay privately for the privilege.

It matters more here than most places. This stretch of coast is outdoor country: boating on the Broadwater, golf, fishing, trades and construction work, school sport. Sun exposure accumulates quietly over decades, and the people most at risk are often the ones who have never thought to get checked. If it has been more than a year, or you have never had a skin check at all, that is the appointment to make. Skin checks sit alongside the rest of our general practice care, so anything else picked up along the way can be dealt with by the same GP.

Skin Check Questions, Answered

What patients most often ask before booking a skin cancer check at our Biggera Waters clinic.

Is a skin cancer check bulk billed at Harbour Town Doctors?

Yes. All skin cancer consultations are bulk billed for patients holding a valid Medicare card, so there is no out of pocket cost for the check itself. We are an accredited bulk billing practice.

Are biopsies and excisions bulk billed as well?

Yes. Skin cancer procedures, including biopsies and surgical excisions, are bulk billed for Medicare card holders. DVA gold card holders are bulk billed for all procedures.

Is removing a skin tag or a harmless mole bulk billed?

No. Removals that are not skin cancer related, including skin tags, cysts and benign moles removed for cosmetic reasons, sit outside Medicare and carry an out of pocket cost. The amount depends on how complex the removal is, and reception will tell you before anything is booked.

Can I have just one spot looked at instead of a full body check?

Yes. Plenty of people come in about a single mole or spot that has changed. Let reception know whether you want the one spot or a full examination, because the two need different amounts of time.

Can I request a female doctor for my skin check?

Yes, ask when you book and we will do our best to schedule you with a female GP. Many patients prefer this and it is a routine request.

Do I need to see a dermatologist instead of a GP?

Not to begin with. A GP skin check is bulk billed and needs no referral, and your GP treats the majority of what is found. If a lesion is complex, awkwardly placed or the pathology calls for it, your GP refers you to a dermatologist or surgeon with the diagnosis already confirmed.

Do I need a Medicare card?

Yes, bulk billing requires a valid Medicare card. Without one the consultation is billed privately, and reception can quote you the fee before your appointment.

Can I walk in, or do I have to book?

Both work. We run a walk in and an appointment system, so you can drop in or book online. For a full body skin check, booking ahead is worth it so enough time is set aside.

Where do I park?

The clinic is inside Harbour Town Premium Outlets at 147-189 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters, so there is free on site parking. Shop A054.

Book A Bulk Billed Skin Check In Biggera Waters

Call 07 5222 7117 or book online. Free parking at Harbour Town Premium Outlets, open 7 days, and no out of pocket cost for the check with a valid Medicare card.