Private mole checks in London

Mole mapping involves state-of-the-art digital and AI technology to create a full body record of all your moles and skin lesions. Our clinicians use the cutting-edge FotoFinder ATBM Master 4th Generation, an AI assisted mole mapping system that uses high resolution photography and advanced image processing to create a highly accurate digital record of your skin from head to toe. 

This allows us to have a comprehensive picture of all your moles and skin lesions in incredible detail, so we can map, score and identify any areas of concern immediately. And by comparing images over time, our Consultant Dermatologists can detect any unusual or suspicious changes that may indicate early skin cancer, including melanoma.

If any of your moles need removing, we’ll offer you a priority appointment to have a biopsy, and send it to our specialist laboratory for analysis. We use one of the best premium pathology services in the UK, with industry-leading turnaround times to ensure your peace of mind.

Once your moles have been mapped, the images are recorded on our system. At every follow-up mole check in London, our FotoFinder Automated Total Body Photography Master (ATBM) scanner uses AI technology to quickly compare and measure your existing moles on a single screen, sorting them into ‘new’, ‘changed’, and ‘unchanged’. 

Using advanced imaging algorithms and an extensive reference database, AI technology helps our Consultant Dermatologists assess whether a mole appears benign or potentially malignant. This allows them to identify any atypical lesions more quickly and accurately, before providing you with a detailed report.

This cutting-edge AI technology improves detection accuracy, reduces examination time and helps us prioritise any unusual-looking moles that may require further investigation or treatment.

Mole mapping is a highly effective way to monitor your skin over time and can provide valuable reassurance for those who may be at increased risk of skin cancer.

This includes people who:

• Have a large number of moles, particularly moles larger than 5mm in diameter
• Have a family history of skin cancer, particularly melanoma
• Have a family history of multiple cancers (including first or second degree relatives)
• Have experienced frequent sunburn in the past
• Have fair skin

Some people have many moles, and this often runs in families. Having lots of moles increases the risk of melanoma (a skin cancer), and if they are quite large (5mm diameter or more in size) our dermatologists can help assess your risk, especially if you have a family history of melanoma.

If you have many moles that remain into old age, you may need a skin check-up, as this could suggest that you are more prone to melanoma.

Having your mole mapping carried by a Consultant Dermatologist gives you the reassurance that your skin is being comprehensively assessed by a leading expert in skin cancer and melanoma detection.

Our mole mapping service is led by renowned Consultant Dermatologist Dr Veronique Bataille, one of the UK’s leading experts in skin cancer, melanoma and familial melanoma. She has an outstanding clinical and research background in skin cancer detection and treatment, and has worked at some of the UK’s leading teaching hospitals and institutions, including the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and Barts and The London School of Medicine.

The benefits of Consultant-led mole mapping include:

• Expert supervision of every stage of your mole mapping and follow-up care by a leading skin cancer specialist
• Prompt and accurate diagnosis by a senior Consultant Dermatologist, typically within 72 hours
• Fast access to specialist appointments, including short-notice availability
• Thorough investigation of any areas of concern
• Prompt appointments for lesion removal and biopsy, when required

Our mole checks are all carried out at our state-of-the-art, comfortable private clinic in the heart of London. Here’s what to expect:

• One of our trained nurses will take you through a medical history questionnaire
• Using the FotoFinder ATBM they will take a series of full-body images. This usually takes around ten minutes
• They will also take up to three close-up images of particular moles that you’re concerned about
• Your images are then sent to one of our highly skilled Consultant Dermatologists to assess and they will give you your results within 2 working days.
• You’ll receive an initial email report within 2 working days. If everything looks fine, there’s no more to do
• If you have many atypical moles, we’ll invite you for a second scan in a year’s time to check for changes
• Should we spot any unusual moles, we’ll offer you a priority appointment to see one of our Consultant Dermatologists at the clinic, to work out the next steps, which may include the surgical removal of the lesion

You’ll receive an initial email report within 2 working days. If everything looks fine, there’s nothing further you need to do. With your agreement we will keep a record of your images should you wish to return for follow up checks in the future. We recommend a yearly mole check and your existing mole map will provide an invaluable baseline for monitoring any future changes.

If you have a large number of atypical moles, we’ll invite you for a second scan in a year’s time to check for changes. Atypical moles are unusual looking moles, that are often larger than normal ones, may have uneven edges or odd colouring and are present in large numbers.

If we spot any moles that we are concerned about, we’ll offer you a priority appointment to see one of our Consultant Dermatologists at the clinic. In many cases, the lesion can be removed during the same appointment and sent to our specialist laboratory for testing and analysis.

An atypical mole is one that’s unusual in its appearance, in terms of size, shape or colour. Having an atypical mole doesn’t mean you are likely to get cancer – individually they are benign, and we would recommend keeping a close eye on them.

Features of atypical moles include:

• Larger than common moles, bigger than 5mm
• Uneven borders
• Mixed unusual colours (eg. brown, tan, pink, black)
• Asymmetrical in shape, often oval rather than round
• Has flat and raised areas

If you have a large number of moles and multiple atypical moles (3 or more), we would consider you to be in a high-risk category for melanoma. Again, this does not mean you are going to develop cancer – it simply means we recommend that you have an annual mole check. We can monitor the atypical moles closely and remove them at an early stage if necessary. Most cases of melanoma are highly treatable if caught in time, but it’s important to diagnose the condition quickly to stop it from becoming more serious.

The melanoma risk is also higher with atypical moles if: 

• They are on your scalp, buttocks or feet
• You have someone in your family who has been diagnosed with melanoma (this includes first and second degree relatives, for example grandparents, parents, children, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces or half-siblings)

If we identify a concerning mole that requires further investigation, we will arrange a priority appointment for you with one of our Consultant Dermatologists, with special expertise in skin cancer. They will spend time having a detailed consultation with you, and examine the lesion more closely using a dermascope, which can magnify the skin by twenty times. 

If there are signs of cancer or pre-cancer we may recommend removing the lesion or mole with a simple surgical procedure, usually carried out in our clinic and often on the same day. The tissue sample is then sent to our specialist laboratory for analysis and to confirm our diagnosis. We use one of the best premium pathology services in the UK, with industry-leading turnaround times to ensure your peace of mind.

This is often all that is needed, but if you need further treatment or investigations, we’ll arrange a follow-up appointment to discuss the next steps, which may include additional treatment or more extensive surgery. It’s good to know, however, that if detected early, treatment for melanoma is usually highly effective.

Mole mapping is a straightforward procedure with very little preparation needed beforehand. Our main aim is to make sure the images of your skin are as clear as possible and that we capture as much of your body as possible during the scan. We would recommend the following:

• Makeup: avoid wearing make-up, fake tan, nail varnish or tinted moisturiser during your appointment as it can interfere with the accuracy of the images.
• Clothing: we will ask you to undress to your underwear, so it’s a good idea to wear loose comfortable clothing. For men, we ask that they avoid long boxer shorts that cover their thighs.
• Bras: we usually suggest removing your bra during mole mapping so we can record all areas of your skin. However, if you’d feel more comfortable keeping it on, that’s absolutely fine too.

Up to three individual moles 30 minutes - £150 

Full body Mole Mapping 30 minutes - £250

Skin rash check 30 minutes - £150

One of the main advantages of mole mapping is that AI technology can compare your previous scans over time to identify any changes or new, atypical moles. For many people, an annual mole check provides reassurance, particularly if you have a large number of moles.

However, how often you should have a full-body mole map depends on your individual skin cancer risk factors, including your skin type, personal or family history of skin cancer, the number of moles you have, and any previous changes in your skin.

Following your assessment, our Consultant Dermatologists can guide you on the most appropriate follow-up schedule for your individual needs.

We may advise that a mole needs to be removed and sent for analysis if we’re concerned about it. In most cases, your dermatologist can do the procedure in our clinic. It’s a minor surgery, takes approximately 30 minutes under local anaesthetic, and we’ll always ensure you’re as comfortable as possible. All our dermatologists are highly experienced in these procedures.

We then send the mole to our specialist laboratory for analysis, with most results available within five working days. Our Consultant Dermatologist will email your results in a report. If we have a concern, we’ll arrange a face-to-face appointment.

We recommend that you do a top-to-toe self-check of your skin every three months or so. This way you can get to know your skin and learn to spot anything unusual. Using a hand mirror is beneficial for those tricky-to-see areas. 

What to look for:

• The ‘ABCDE’ of moles: Asymmetry, an irregular border, changes to colour, diameter or a mole’s evolution over time

Also look for: 

• A mole that is changing in shape, size or colour
• A scaly or crusty area of skin with a red, inflamed base
• A scab that bleeds and tends not to heal properly
• A new lump with a pearly, translucent rim that surrounds a central crater

No, you don’t need a referral from your GP. Simply make an appointment online or give our team a call, and they will be happy to help.