Skin tag removal in Sydney: cost, what to expect and when to see a doctor first

What a skin tag is, and what it is not

A skin tag is a small, soft, skin-coloured growth that hangs from a narrow stalk, most often on the neck, underarms, eyelids, under the breasts or in the groin. They are benign, tend to appear where skin rubs against skin or clothing, and become more common with age. Moles, seborrhoeic keratoses, warts and cherry angiomas are different lesions and are assessed differently. At consultation we identify what you have before anything is quoted.

When to see a doctor first

Australia has among the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and a small proportion of things that look like harmless spots are not. We do not diagnose skin cancer and we do not treat anything that looks suspicious. See a GP or dermatologist before removal if a lesion shows any of these signs:

• Asymmetry, where one half does not match the other.
• An irregular, blurred or notched border.
• More than one colour, or colour that has changed.
• Larger than about six millimetres, or growing.
• Evolving: changing in size, shape or colour, or bleeding, itching or not healing.
• It looks different from every other spot on your body.

If a doctor clears the lesion as benign, we are happy to remove it for cosmetic reasons. If you are unsure, book the consultation and we will tell you honestly whether it is one for us or one for your GP.

What removal involves

A short in-clinic consultation confirms suitability and gives you an exact quote. Treatment takes fifteen to forty-five minutes depending on how many lesions we are treating. The technique is non-invasive and precise, a small scab forms within a day and falls off on its own in five to ten days, and you go back to normal life the same day. With good aftercare most lesions heal flush with the surrounding skin.

What it costs

• $100 per skin tag or benign lesion.
• $350 for three or more treated in the same visit.
• $400 for six or more in the same visit.

Prices are confirmed at consultation once we have counted and assessed each lesion. Milia, cherry angiomas, sebaceous hyperplasia and benign moles cleared by a doctor are priced the same way. Cosmetic removal is not covered by Medicare. If a doctor removes a lesion for medical reasons, different rules apply, so ask your GP.

Why home removal is not the cheap option

Threads, freezing pens and cutting kits are sold everywhere. The problem is not only infection and scarring from uncontrolled depth and non-sterile tools. It is that a mole mistaken for a skin tag gets damaged instead of assessed, which can delay a diagnosis that matters. A twenty-minute clinic appointment costs less than fixing either mistake.

Aftercare

• Keep the area dry for the first 24 hours.
• Do not pick the scab. Let it fall naturally.
• Apply the healing balm morning and night.
• Strict SPF on the area once healed, especially on the face and neck, to protect the new skin from pigmentation.