Patient Information (FAQ)

• Yes Dr Sharma speaks Hindi/Urdu.
• Val, our receptionist, speaks Macedonian.
• Samra, our Practice Manager, speaks Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi

Please note that we have telephone interpreter service that we use if you are more comfortable to converse in your own language. Please let your doctor know when you come in for a consultation.

Currently we have a 3-month waiting list however if you require an urgent appointment, please ask your GP to call us and speak to our practice nurse directly. This will allow us to book you in within a week as we keep urgent appointment slots.

If you need an skin check, why don’t you book in with our trained and certified Melanographer? This is done via our MoleMap service.

We are happy to see all patients with or without referrals (including overseas visitors without Medicare).

However, as we are a medical specialist service, we recommend that you obtain a referral from your general practitioner to eligible for maximum Medical rebate. This will need to be updated every 12 months (or every 3 months if the referrer is a specialist). Having an updated referral also ensures your current general practitioner receives our ongoing medical reports.

We have fee structure for different consultations so feel free to ring our rooms for an up-to-date fees.

Currently we charge for a new patient if we were are seeing you for the first time or haven’t seen you in over 18 months. We also have separate chargers for skin check reviews as well as hair consultations. (Please talk to our receptionist for the most up-to-date fees as these fees are as of July 2024 and subject to change every year).

If we haven’t seen you in over 18 months, or have a new referral with an new issue, then a new patient charge is to be expected.

Same fees will apply to all those with DVA Gold card patients and suitable white card patients so please ask our reception staff if further information is required. 

We require all new patients to make a $100 deposit when booking your appointment or a week prior to secure your appointment. If you fail to not show or provide less than 24 hours cancellation, you will not be able to redeem this deposit. Otherwise, the deposit will go towards your consultation fee.

We do not bulkbill any of our consultations or procedures as we are a private dermatology practice that receives no government rebate on our facility and ongoing running costs. It also allows us to provide our patients with the best service possible.

When you ring up for appointment you will be informed of the cost of the consultation.  Additional fees are applicable if minor procedures are performed on the same day (e.g. biopsies, injections, or cryotherapy freezing).

Please note we welcome all patients to our clinic however the same private fees apply for any involved with DVA Gold card patients and suitable white card patients. Please talk to our friendly staff for more information.

We are happy to see Workcover patients, however the patient will have to pay the fees upfront and will then need to obtain the rebate from their Workcover insurance agency. Please note that most Workcover insurances do not completely cover the fees, so there will be a GAP payment.

Unfortunately private health insurance does not cover any fees for any consultations or procedures undertaken in at Inside Out Dermatology.

For overseas visitors without Medicare, if you have a valid private visitor health cover, you may be able to claim back some rebate from your health cover.

We require a 24 hour notice prior to your appointment if you are unable to attend either via email (clearly stating your full name, DOB and date/time of appointment) or via a phone call.

If you fail to attend, it stops us from giving that time to another patient that may also require that appointment and hence delay our waiting list. Failing to attend your appointment will incur a cancellation fee of $100 that is payable prior to making another appointment with us.

Currently all patients will need to see Dr Sharma prior to undertaking a cosmetic treatment as seen appropriate by her. Please note there is no medical rebate for any of the procedures undertaken that are termed “cosmetic”.

When you come in worried about a mole or a lesion, we would strongly encourage you to get a skin check. This entails removing all clothing except for your underwear in a safe and comfortable environment. After which your dermatologist will thoroughly examine all parts of your skin including in between your toes and scalp. We do not check your genital areas unless there is a concern. Your dermatologist will be happy to answer all questions related to a skin check during your consult. If required, further procedures may be undertaken including a skin biopsy.

Our Molemap service, with our trained Melongrapher, offers a skin checking service as well.

Our trained dermatologists will undertake excisions of skin cancers. If, however, the procedure is complex or requires admission, we will refer to you to a plastic surgeon.

Prior to your surgery you will be given a quote for your surgery fees. This will cover the doctor’s procedural charge, facility charge, disposables (sutures and dressings), instrumentation sterilisation and review for suture removals. For all patients with valid referrals and Medicare, your out-of-pocket fees will range from $150 to $550, depending on complexity of surgery. Veterans with DVA Gold Card (and certain White Card) holders will have also have an out-of-pocket cost for surgery.

Please note that you cannot use your private insurance for any procedures undertaken at Inside Out Dermatology.

If you have a valid medicare card and referral letter, we will able to bulkbill this treatment. Veterans with DVA Gold and certain White card holders will also be fully covered for all the cost of treatment.

For those that do not have a medicare card (such as overseas residents) we usually charge $30 per treatment which some private health insurance may cover. Please check with them prior to making an appointment with us.

A dermatologist is a skin specialist. They usually spend between 5 to 6 years in medical school to obtain their medical degree. Subsequently they undergo 2 years of training in a hospital at minimum in all areas of medicine. After which they apply for the dermatology training program. Once they obtain a seat, it takes 4 years of full-time training with undertaking 9 exams in both medical and surgical dermatology to quality for the FACD degree which is Fellowship of Australian College of Dermatologists.

Anything related to skin, hair, nails and ulcers in mouth or genitals. If you are not sure just speak to our friendly staff.

Dr Sharma, and our team of dermatologists, are fully qualified with the Australasian College of Dermatologists, and, as such, are listed as a recognised dermatologist on their website.

A dermatologist is a qualified medical doctor who undertakes at least an extra four years of full-time training through the Australasian College of Dermatologists after their medical degree. They must successfully complete comprehensive examinations in order to obtain their post-graduate qualifications in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions in people of all ages.

Some practitioners will use the terms “skin specialist,” “skin cancer specialist,” “skin cancer doctor,” “cosmetic physician/doctor” or similar, but they are not dermatologists. This may be because the person holds a diploma or membership of “practical” or “clinical dermatology” group but this is not equivalent to a specialist dermatology qualification.

If you want to know if your doctor is qualified dermatologist – look for the qualifications “FACD” (Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists) after their name or go to the Australasian College of Dermatologists website.

Currently it is not required however if you are immunocompromised we strongly encourage you do wear one.

In order for our dermatologists to work in best possible way for you, we would love to get your consent to take photos and have them inserted in your file. This is done in the safest possible manner and allows our team to manage your skin condition. Please let the dermatologist know if you wouldn’t like to have your photos taken.