DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
How much does a private dermatology consultation cost in the UK?
A private dermatology consultation is usually booked for a mole check, a stubborn rash, or reassurance about a changing skin spot, without an NHS wait. The fee you pay upfront covers the specialist's time and opinion, nothing more. Any treatment on the day, such as removing or biopsying a lesion, is billed separately and can end up costing more than the consultation itself. The real prices on this page show just how much that second bill can vary.
The quick version
- The consultation fee pays for the dermatologist's assessment and is set by the consultant, not the hospital group hosting the clinic.
- Treatment is almost always extra. Removing a mole or taking a biopsy gets billed on top of whatever you paid to be seen.
- Lab analysis of a removed lesion is often a third, separate cost, on top of the consultation and the procedure.
- A follow-up review is normally cheaper than the first consultation, so ask what that second visit costs before you commit to a course of treatment.
- Prices differ by provider and region as much as by what's actually wrong with your skin, so the same mole check can carry very different price tags depending on where you book.
- You can check a dermatologist's fees and background on PHIN before booking, which is worth doing when a quoted price feels high.
What people actually paid
Where these 7 prices come from — 6 named sources
- benendenhospital.org.uk
- oxonahealth.co.uk
- mydermatologist.co.uk
- thedermatologyclinic.london
- themoleclinic.co.uk
- mumsnet.com
Each is a published price list, an official survey, or a receipt/quote a reader shared. The full per-price list with year and area is on the dermatology page.
The gap: advertised vs actually paid (medians)
People reported paying 86% more than the advertised list price for dermatology.
List prices are advertised prices; paid figures are what people reported, often for different cases and from a small sample so far. Treat the gap as a signal, not a quote.
Real prices, in people's own words
- £600“bill was £600!”
Genuine amounts posted publicly. We publish the price and the quote, never the person.
Why the price varies so much
The consultation fee itself tends to sit in a fairly narrow band, but the total bill depends heavily on what happens once you're in the room. A quick look and a reassuring word costs far less than a visit that ends with a lesion being removed and sent off for lab analysis, and each of those stages is priced on its own. Who owns the clinic matters too. A consultant working through a large private hospital group such as Spire, Nuffield or Ramsay generally charges more than one running an independent skin clinic, partly because the hospital adds its own facility fee on top of the consultant's rate. Location plays a similar role: consultants set their own fees based on experience and reputation, and where they practise shapes what the local market will bear. None of this is fixed. Two consultants with similar experience, seeing you for the same complaint, can charge noticeably different amounts depending on their business model and their postcode. PHIN publishes fee and outcome data for individual consultants, which is a sensible place to check before you book rather than after you've paid.
How to pay less
- Ask what a mole removal or biopsy would cost before the appointment, so you're not caught out by a second bill on the day.
- Check whether lab analysis of any removed sample is included in the treatment price or charged as a separate line.
- Look for a clinic offering a fixed-price see-and-treat package rather than pricing the consultation, procedure and lab work separately.
- Compare an independent skin clinic against a large hospital group for the same type of consultation. Fees can differ substantially for what is essentially the same appointment.
- Bring a clear history of the mole or rash, plus photos showing how it has changed over time. A well-prepared patient can sometimes get everything resolved in a single visit instead of paying for two.
- Confirm the follow-up fee at the first appointment, before you've committed to ongoing care, since it's usually lower than the initial consultation but not always disclosed upfront.
Common questions
Does the consultation fee include removing a mole?
No, not usually. The consultation fee covers the assessment and the specialist's advice on what to do next. If a mole needs removing or biopsying, that's a separate procedure with its own charge, and there may be a further lab fee on top. Always ask for those figures before you agree to treatment so you know the likely total, not just the price of getting through the door.
Why isn't treatment included in the price of the appointment?
Because the consultation buys you the specialist's opinion, while a procedure such as removal uses extra clinic time, equipment and often outside lab work to analyse the tissue. Some clinics bundle these into a see-and-treat package, which can work out cheaper than paying for the consultation, the procedure and the lab report as three separate bills.
Is it worth going private just for a mole check?
If you're worried about a changing mole and can't get seen quickly on the NHS, a private consultation buys you speed: fast reassurance if it's nothing, or a fast referral for treatment if it isn't. Any lesion that looks suspicious needs a proper assessment either way. This is general information, not medical advice, so treat a genuine skin concern as a reason to get seen rather than a reason to shop around on price alone.
Will my private health insurance cover a dermatology consultation?
That depends entirely on your policy, so check with your insurer before booking rather than assuming cover. Even where a policy covers the consultation, it won't always cover every follow-on procedure or lab test, which is exactly the kind of extra cost this page is trying to make visible. Ask the clinic whether they bill your insurer directly or expect you to pay and claim back.
Do I need a GP referral to see a private dermatologist?
Some clinics will see you without one, but many prefer a GP referral letter, partly because it gives the consultant useful background before you arrive. If your GP surgery can provide one quickly, it costs you nothing extra and can speed up the booking. Ask the clinic directly when you enquire, since practice varies from one provider to the next.
How do I avoid an unexpectedly high bill after a private dermatology visit?
Ask for a written estimate that covers the consultation, any likely procedure and any lab fee, before the appointment rather than after. Clinics that quote a single consultation price without mentioning possible add-ons are the ones most likely to surprise you. If in doubt, ask directly what the total would be if the mole does need removing that day, not just what it costs to be seen.