Dermatology · UK
Full-body mole mapping - consultant-led, done properly.
Full-body digital photography and dermoscopy of every pigmented lesion, reviewed by a consultant dermatologist and re-photographed at 12 months to catch change early.
Indicative pricing
What private full-body mole mapping costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our vetted UK network.
In short
£350–£650, results in 3–5 working days, repeat annually.
| Option | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-body mole mapping (baseline) | £350–£650 | 45–60 min | 3–5 working days |
| Repeat scan at 12 months | £250–£450 | 30–45 min | 3–5 working days |
| Consultant dermatology review only | £200–£350 | 20–30 min | Same visit |
| Dermoscopy of single suspicious lesion | £150–£280 | 10–15 min | Same visit |
| Excision biopsy (if indicated) | £450–£900 | 30 min | 7–10 days pathology |
| AI-assisted total body photography | £450–£800 | 45 min | 3–5 working days |
Prices vary by clinic, by the consultant’s seniority, and by whether combinations are used.
The problem
Change over time is the signal - not a single scary photo.
One-off dermatology visits catch what is visibly worrying today. Mole mapping catches the lesion that changed since last year - often the earliest melanoma sign there is.
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Consultant, not delegated
The consultant who assessed you should be the consultant who treats you - not a junior on a busy list.
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Evidence, not sales
The recommendation is what fits your clinical picture - not what the clinic wants to sell you today.
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Written pathway, not verbal promise
The plan, the prices and the follow-up are in writing before you commit - not surfaced when the invoice arrives.
Who it suits
When mole mapping is the right choice.
The patients we most often route to full-body mole mapping - and when we do not.
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You have thought about this for a while
Not an impulse - a decision you have carried and want to act on properly.
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You want the right treatment, not the fastest
You want to be seen by a consultant who does this every week, not the next available diary slot.
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You have tried the obvious first steps
GP care, over-the-counter routes, or first-line therapy - and the problem is still there.
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You are otherwise well enough to proceed
Stable on medication, not acutely unwell, not in a flare that would postpone treatment.
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You are willing to follow the plan
Attend the follow-up, take the medicines, do the physio - whichever this treatment needs to work.
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You are prepared for the recovery
You have thought about time off work, help at home and - where relevant - the cost of ongoing care.
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You want a named consultant, not a rotating list
The person who assesses you should be the person who treats you and reviews you afterwards.
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Red flag: you were declined elsewhere and asked us to override
If another consultant has said no on medical grounds, we will not route round that. We will explain why.
Options
Baseline, surveillance, or AI-assisted.
What each option involves, from a simple consultant review through to full VECTRA total-body photography.
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Assessment and shared decision
A full consultant hour and honest expectations conversation - the difference between a treatment that suits you and one that only suits the clinic.
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First-line treatment
What most patients start with, and what most get on with well.
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Course-based or staged treatments
Some treatments deliver over three to six visits or in stages.
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Combined modality
The strongest outcomes often come from combining approaches - medical, procedural and behavioural. We plan across the year, not the visit.
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Maintenance
Most conditions need ongoing care after the initial treatment. We build this into the plan up front so you know the real commitment.
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Alternatives to consider
Where a different treatment might suit better, we say so - including newer or older options that the marketing does not push.
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Escalation pathway
What happens if this treatment does not work - the next option, in writing, before you start.
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When to say no or refer
For patients who fall outside criteria, we route to the right specialist or back to NHS care rather than treat regardless.
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Consultant-led private care is generally low-risk. The things worth planning are candidacy, dose or intensity, downtime and what happens if something is not right.
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A named UK consultant, in a CQC-regulated setting
The consultant who assessed you should be the consultant who treats you. That single change removes most of the safety problems patients tell us about.
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Realistic outcomes, spelled out
What this treatment can and cannot do - and what happens if it does not work. If you are hoping for something this treatment cannot deliver, we say so before you book.
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Written pre-care and aftercare
What to do before, on the day, and after - including medication changes, contraindications and warning signs. In writing and by message, not verbally in a corridor.
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Rare but serious risks
Every treatment has its own list. The consultant discusses them at consent - not glossed, not exaggerated. You take those notes home.
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Contraindications matter
Pregnancy, active infection, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, immunosuppression, bleeding tendency and drug interactions - all reasons to postpone. We ask, and we listen.
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A same-day contact number
Written aftercare plus a phone number that answers on the day. Complications improve dramatically with early intervention, and hard to reach clinics cost lives.
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Included follow-up
The review appointment is booked before you leave - included in the pathway price, not billed separately when something is not right.
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Escalation to hospital where needed
Any private pathway has to have a plan for when things escalate - which hospital, which team, and how to get there. We insist on this before we route patients.
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Written record and second opinion
You leave with the record, the images and the plan - enough for another consultant to pick up if you ever want a second opinion.
Reading your treatment record
Your treatment record in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever pathway you chose, the record the clinic sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Keep every note, batch and image on file - it matters if you ever need a second opinion.
If you would like us to review a record from another clinic before your next visit, just ask.
- 01 Assessment
What was recommended and why
The consultant’s written note - history, examination, differential and the plan agreed with you. Read this alongside the pathway.
- 02 Procedure / Treatment
What was actually done
The named procedure, materials, medicines and settings used. Keep this - it matters for future care and for any second opinion.
- 03 Findings
What was found or measured
Any pathology, imaging or intra-procedural findings. Written in plain English alongside the technical terms.
- 04 Plan
Follow-up, medication, warning signs
Read this first: when to come back, medication changes, what is normal, and what needs a same-day phone call.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Insurance cover for this pathway varies by policy - some elements may be covered, others self-pay. Where NHS provision exists but is delayed, private care is the practical route.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about full-body mole mapping.
Quick answers on candidacy, safety, cost and outcomes.
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How long does mole mapping take?
Around 45–60 minutes. You undress to underwear, the dermatologist or a trained photographer captures standardised photos of your whole skin surface, and any suspicious lesions get close-up dermoscopy. A written report follows within a week.
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Is mole mapping available on the NHS?
Rarely. NHS dermatology is under significant pressure - two-week-wait pathways exist for a specifically worrying lesion, but routine surveillance mole mapping is almost entirely private. Waits for a general dermatology outpatient appointment can exceed 12–18 months in some regions.
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How often should I have mole mapping?
Annually for higher-risk patients - family history of melanoma, prior melanoma, more than 50 moles, atypical mole syndrome, fair skin with heavy sun exposure. Every 2–3 years for lower risk, if at all.
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What does mole mapping cost in the UK privately?
Roughly £350–£650 for a baseline full-body scan, £250–£450 for a follow-up 12 months later. AI-assisted total body photography (Canfield VECTRA, FotoFinder ATBM) sits at the higher end.
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Will you biopsy any lesion that looks suspicious on the day?
A consultant dermatologist reviews the images. If any lesion needs excision biopsy or shave biopsy, this is quoted separately and typically booked within a week or two.
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Is mole mapping safe?
Yes - the process itself is photography and dermoscopy with no physical intervention. The value is early detection: mapped patients catch melanoma at earlier, more curable stages.
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