OUR SERVICES

What To Expect From Your Appointment

1. Referrals

• No referral is required from your GP, Nurse Practitioner or Registered Nurse.

2. Private Clinic

• We are an independent, physician-led clinic serving multiple locations across the Manawatu-Whanganui region. We operate privately and are not affiliated with any specific medical group, PHO, or DHB.

3. Special Interests

• We are not a general dermatology specialist clinic. Our special interests include skin cancer medicine, minor surgery, facial aesthetics and selective laser treatments. 

4. Our Goals

• We strive to provide the most appropriate and evidence-based treatments for skin cancer and facial appearances. Our non-invasive facial aesthetic treatment goals are to achieve subtle and natural-looking results.  It’s important for us not to overtreat or overfill any area of the face but to maintain a person's natural expressions and enhance self-esteem. Outcomes and benefits may differ from person to person. Specific results are not guaranteed.

5. Examinations

• Our skin cancer lesion directed dermoscopic examinations and medical aesthetic consultations are performed by an accredited physician. However, we also regularly offer full body skin cancer checks performed by a specialist skin cancer nurse based in Levin.

6. Diagnoses

• The majority of skin lesions are readily diagnosed by a combination of clinical history and dermoscopic examination, but in a small number of cases, a biopsy or excision for histopathology and other laboratory investigations can be an invaluable tool.

7. Initial Consultation

• A preliminary consultation with the attending physician or registered nurse is required before any treatment can be provided. A consultation fee applies. This session is essential to assess patient expectations, discuss realistic outcomes, and review the safety and effectiveness of the proposed treatments.

• If a patient’s expectations are unrealistic and could compromise their safety or satisfaction, we have a responsibility to decline treatment. We may then offer alternative options or referrals when appropriate to uphold ethical standards and protect both the patient and our practice.

8. Offer or Quote Validation

• Upon acceptance of a quote or offer, our team will proceed with the services outlined in the estimate. Please note that the quote is valid for 30 days from the date of issue; after this period, a new consultation will be required. Any additional services not previously discussed or included in the estimate will be subject to separate charges.

9. Cooling Off Period

• Please note that a ''cooling-off'' period of 3-7 days may be applicable (after the patient has had an initial consultation), before a procedure or surgery can be booked.

10. Aftercare

• It’s best to skip gym or exercise on the first 2 days after getting injectables or laser treatments, and avoid NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. These medications may promote bruising and slowdown healing.

11. Repeat Prescriptions

• We do offer repeat prescription requests pending a review by the prescriber to determine whether the medication or topical is suitable. Repeat prescriptions need to be reviewed at least annually (in some cases more frequently, depending on the condition). A fee will be charged.

12. Waiting Period

• Injectables can migrate and paralyse muscles or cause swelling in undesired locations, if disturbed too much immediately after injection. We recommend waiting for 3 days after Botulinum Toxin and 7 days after Dermal Filler or Laser treatments before getting another facial treatment.

13. Services Outside Our Scope

• At Skin Medic, we focus on delivering specialised care in skin cancer detection, minor surgery, and natural-looking aesthetic treatments. However, there are certain services we do not currently provide.

• General Dermatology: We do not manage ongoing or complex skin conditions such as chronic leg ulcers, varicose veins, severe or adult acne, active rosacea, eczema, rashes, itching, atopic dermatitis, allergies, hair loss, nail conditions, warts, sexually transmitted infections, or psychodermatological disorders. For these concerns, we recommend consulting your GP or requesting a referral to a general dermatology specialist.

• Cosmetic Surgical Procedures: We do not perform mole removal for cosmetic purposes, scar revision procedures, or lipoma removal. Cosmetic surgical services are best managed by a general surgeon (Palmerston North) or a specialist plastic surgeon (Wellington).

• Aesthetic Preferences & Philosophy: We do not provide body contouring, beauty therapy, or gender-affirming treatments. Our aesthetic philosophy is centred around subtle, natural enhancements. As such, we do not offer procedures that create highly exaggerated facial features — including heavily augmented lips, extreme brow lifts, contoured nose tips, sharp jawline sculpting, or “cat eye” effects using injectables.

• Patients Under 16: We do not offer treatment for children under the age of 16. We recommend seeing your GP or seeking referral to a paediatric surgeon, dermatologist, or plastic surgeon with experience in treating younger patients.

14. Conditions Of Trade

• For your convenience, a summary of our updated Conditions of Trade can be found at the bottom of this web page. We encourage you to review these changes to stay informed about our current terms and policies.

Skin Cancer Medicine Services

1. Lesion-Directed Dermoscopic Examination of (1-3 lesions)

• Our Lesion-Directed Examination involves the dermoscopic assessment and imaging of 1-3 specific lesions of concern and formulation of a management plan to address your concerns.

• No invasive treatments or minor surgery will be performed without prior consultation. This policy is consistent with our evidence-based practice guidelines.

• Appointment takes about 20 min with an Accredited Skin Cancer Doctor or a specialist Registered Nurse.

• Prescriptions and online/digital copies of the reports are provided at no additional cost.

• Cryotherapy can be provided on the day. If any lesions need to be removed, we'll arrange further management at a later date.

• We will always contact you ahead of time to ensure you don't miss an appointment.

2. Full Body Skin Cancer Examination

• For patients with a confirmed history of melanoma or other excised skin cancers, we provide post-treatment follow-up and ongoing long-term surveillance.

• A Full Body Skin Cancer Examination, lasting approximately 45 minutes, is conducted exclusively by a Registered Skin Cancer Nurse at our Levin clinic. All images captured during the exam are reviewed, and the final report is authorised by Dr Louw (an Accredited Skin Cancer Doctor).

• Digital copies of the reports are provided at no additional cost. If any lesions need to be removed, we'll arrange further management at a later date.