Minor surgery

Minor surgery

Skin cancer is a year-round issue. More than 300 New Zealanders die from skin cancer every year. See below to find out active ways to protect yourself against the danger of developing skin cancer. 

At Moorhouse Medical Centre, you can see GPs with a special interest in skin conditions, minor skin surgery and specialised training in MoleMate* dermoscopy. Services include assessment, diagnosis and treatment of various skin conditions.

Procedures

The following skin health and other surgical procedures are available - please ask your doctor if a procedure is suitable for you. Your doctor will refer you to our in-house Minor Surgery Clinic which is held every Thursday.

  • All services

    • MoleMate appointment - Full body skin check and dermoscope examination of two or more moles. Allow 30 minutes for this appointment.
    • DermMate appointment - Dermoscopic examination of a single mole. Takes only 15 minutes. If a particular mole is worrying you, this is an excellent option for having it checked so you can have peace of mind.
    • Skin Lesion Excisions (including mole removal)
    • Excision biopsy
    • Punch biopsy
    • Excision of sebaceous cysts and abscesses
    • Joint/Steroid Injection
    • Vasectomy
    • Keloid Scar Treatment
    • Toenail wedge resection (Ingrown toenail surgery)

  • Mole Mate TM

    Are you worried that sun exposure or sunburn has damaged your skin? Have you got some moles that need to be checked? The skin is the largest organ in the human body. Just like all the other major organs, your skin needs to be protected and cared for; this includes receiving skin health checks and advice from your GP.


    Mole MateTM is the latest technological advance in dermoscopy. It uses a Siascope - dermal imaging equipment which enables the doctor to examine a skin lesion or mole in several high definition views and cross sections, to a depth of 2mm below the skin’s surface. It has proven to be highly effective in assisting doctors to detect and diagnose skin cancers and also to reassure patients whose moles and lesions are not suspicious. The use of Mole MateTM technology reduces the need for costly and time consuming skin excisions of harmless lesions.


    Melanoma New Zealand has produced a useful guide: What to Expect of a Full Body Skin Check.

  • Skin Lesion Excisions (including mole removal)

    The doctor will advise you about the best treatment options for skin lesions and moles.


    For benign (harmless) lesions and moles, treatment options include cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen), biopsy or removal by excision - usually for cosmetic reasons.


    For any suspicious or undetermined lesions or moles, a skin biopsy or excision is usually recommended, so a tissue sample can be taken and sent to a laboratory to check for the presence of skin cancer. Local anaesthetic is provided for skin excision procedures to minimise pain or discomfort.

  • Excision Biopsy

    An excision biopsy is when the entire skin lesion is removed and subsequently sent to the laboratory for testing. The intention of an excision biopsy is to remove all suspicious cells of a lesion in the single procedure.


    You will need a consultation with a doctor prior to any surgical procedure. Fees will apply. 


    The Minor Surgery Clinic is located on the first floor at Moorhouse Medical Centre. Make an appointment for your annual skin check today.

  • Specialist Skin Check Appointments

    Our skin check appointments take 30 minutes so please be sure to tell the receptionist when you book in for a Skin Check.

For you - Your family - Your employees
Skin cancer is a year-round issue. More than 300 New Zealanders die from skin cancer every year.

  • Our Skin Health team

    We have in-house doctors who have specialist training in Dermoscopy (examination of skin lesions with a magnification device) which helps them in identifying benign (non-cancerous) from malignant lesions.

  • Fees

    Full Skin Health Check Appointments 

    Please see our Skin Check appointment fees. Appointments take 30 minutes. These appointments can be tax deductible depending on your line of work; check with your accountant.

  • Are you at risk?

    Some people are more at risk of developing skin cancer than others. Risk factors include:

    • Having fair skin or skin that burns easily 
    • Having a lot of freckles or moles 
    • Being aged 50 or over 
    • Intense exposure to the sun, e.g. sunbathing, working outdoors 
    • Having had skin cancer in the past 
    • Having a close relative who has had melanoma 
    • Having a compromised immune system

  • What can you do?

    Here are some ways you can actively protect yourself against the danger of developing skin cancer. 

    • Avoid being in the sun between the peak UV radiation periods of 10am to 3pm. And remember, you are still at risk of sunburn and skin cancer on a cooler or cloudy day
    • Seek shade and wear clothing that covers your shoulders, arms and legs 
    • Wear a broad-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and ears
    • Apply SPF 30+ broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen at least every 2 hours 
    • Wear wrap-around sunglasses
    • Avoid sunbeds; they emit UV radiation, so are not a safe option for getting a tan. A fake tan or spray tan is the way to go. 
    • Get to know your own skin, check regularly for changes to moles or new moles 
    • Get relatives or friends to help you check Visit a skin doctor each year, or more regularly if advised by your GP.
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