People are sometimes surprised to see mole checking on the menu at an aesthetics clinic. "I thought you did lips and Botox?" Fair question. So let me explain why I believe MapMyMole is one of the most important services I offer — and why it sits alongside my aesthetic treatments without any contradiction at all.
The problem I kept seeing
As a pharmacist, I've spent years having conversations with people about their health. And one thing that came up more often than you'd expect was moles. People would mention them in passing — "I've got this mole that's changed a bit, but I can't get a GP appointment for weeks" — and then do nothing about it.
The NHS is under enormous pressure. Getting a routine mole check can mean weeks of waiting, and many people don't feel their concern is "serious enough" to push for an appointment. So they wait. And in the case of melanoma, waiting is exactly what you shouldn't do.
Melanoma caught early has a survival rate above 95%. Caught late, that number drops dramatically. The difference between those two outcomes is often just someone looking at the mole sooner rather than later.
Why MapMyMole?
I didn't want to offer a mole checking service unless it met a clinical standard I was genuinely comfortable with. Phone apps that use AI to assess photos of moles aren't there yet — the accuracy isn't reliable enough for something this serious. And I'm not a dermatologist, so I wasn't going to position myself as one.
MapMyMole solves both of those problems. I use a medical-grade dermatoscope to capture high-resolution images that show structures beneath the skin surface — the same level of imaging used in specialist skin cancer clinics. Those images are then reviewed by GMC-registered consultant dermatologists who provide a clinical assessment and recommended next steps.
I capture the images. The dermatologists make the diagnosis. The diagnostic liability sits with them, not with me. It's a clean, clinically robust model that gives clients access to specialist-level assessment without a months-long wait.
Why it fits in an aesthetics clinic
I spend my working life looking at skin. I'm already examining faces and bodies closely during aesthetic consultations. Adding dermoscopic mole assessment to that isn't a stretch — it's a natural extension of the clinical skills I already use every day.
And here's something that happens regularly: a client comes in for filler or anti-wrinkle, and during the consultation I notice a mole I want to take a closer look at. Having MapMyMole available means I can flag it, image it, and get it reviewed — right there, in the same appointment if needed. That accessibility matters.
What it costs
Your first mole is £50, with each additional mole just £25 in the same appointment. Results come back within 3–5 working days. If the dermatologist flags anything that needs further investigation, you'll receive clear guidance on what to do next — whether that's monitoring, a GP referral, or an urgent two-week-wait pathway.
The bottom line
I got into healthcare to help people. Aesthetics is part of that — confidence, self-image, and wellbeing are real things that matter. But offering a service that could genuinely catch a cancer early? That's a different level of impact.
If you've been putting off getting a mole checked because you can't get a GP appointment, or because you're not sure if it's "worth" worrying about — come and see me. Twenty minutes and a dermoscope could be the most important appointment you book this year.