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Skin Cancer

Skin Biopsy

If you have a skin issue that cannot be diagnosed visually, a skin biopsy can provide our staff with the answers they need – and in turn, the treatment you need.
Whether it’s a mole, a lesion or a rash, a skin biopsy can be taken to help our staff get more information to see what needs to happen next.
If you have a skin issue that cannot be diagnosed visually, a skin biopsy can provide our staff with the answers they need – and in turn, the treatment you need.
Whether it’s a mole, a lesion or a rash, a skin biopsy can be taken to help our staff get more information to see what needs to happen next.

About

Depending on the specifics of your case (location and nature of the lesion along with any suspected diagnosis), we will select from the following biopsy options:

  • Punch biopsy. A circular piece of tissue will be removed, with all layers of skin extracted for full observation in the laboratory. You may need stitches.
  • Shave biopsy. If the rash or lesion is only in the top layers of your skin, our team will shave off a piece skin – no stitches necessary.
  • Incision biopsy. When a larger piece of tissue is needed, a scalpel will be used to excise the tissue, creating a full-thickness biopsy. Stitches will be required.
  • Excision biopsy. As opposite to non-biopsy excisions, where the removal of the lesion is the whole treatment process, an excision biopsy involves full removal of the lesion but with an expectation that further treatment will be required.

We perform several different kinds of biopsies at Skin Institute, but all of them follow the same basic process:

  • Injection
  • Removal
  • Sutures

Treatment

When you receive a skin biopsy, there are three main things that will occur. Local anaesthetic will be injected, the piece of tissue will be removed according to the specifics listed above, and finally, the wound will be closed with sutures if necessary.

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Results

At Skin Institute’s Auckland clinics and Wellington clinic you can select which laboratory you would like to have analyse your biopsy, giving you the option to receive your results much quicker. It’s as easy as choosing if you want to go private or public:

 

PRIVATE

  • Skin Institute SkyLab – service currently only available in Auckland & Wellington
  • Lab fee for biopsies and small excisions from $200
  • Results in 5-7 working days*

 

PUBLIC

  • District Health Boards (DHBs)
  • Free**
  • Results in approx 3-4+ weeks

 

Please note: the SkyLab laboratory fee is in addition to any other consultation or treatment charges.
*In the rare event that the pathologist requires more detailed information on your biopsy or excision, we will let you know; and if this means the reporting time of your results increases to over 5 days in Auckland or 7 days in Wellington, we will waive your laboratory fee. **If you are not a NZ Citizen, Permanent Resident, do not have a Resident Visa, or a Work Visa for 24 months or more, you will be charged for having your lesion/s processed by the local DHB laboratory.

Pricing

Affiliations

Available at these clinics