• Mon – Fri: 7:45 AM to 5 :00 PM Sat: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
book your visit
book your visit

Professional Skin Biopsy

A skin biopsy is a procedure used to obtain a small sample of tissue so it can be examined by a specialist pathologist. It can provide important information when a skin lesion requires further investigation or when its diagnosis cannot be confirmed through clinical examination alone.

At Penrith Skin Cancer Clinic, your doctor may recommend a biopsy if a mole, growth or other skin lesion appears concerning or requires closer investigation. The procedure selected will depend on factors such as the appearance, size and location of the lesion.

Our Services
Comprehensive Skin Checks
Mole & Lesion Assessment
Surgical & Non-Surgical Skin Cancer Treatment
Photodynamic therapy (pdt)
Total body photography
Anti-Wrinkle Injections
Excision of Lumps & Bumps
Mole Monitoring
Skin Biopsies
Skin Cancer Excision

Why Might a Biopsy Be Recommended?

A biopsy may be recommended when your doctor needs more information about a lesion or wants to establish a diagnosis. This may include:

  • A suspicious or changing mole
  • A lesion that may be melanoma
  • A possible basal cell carcinoma
  • A possible squamous cell carcinoma
  • A persistent or unusual skin lesion
  • A lesion that has changed over time
  • A sore or growth that has not healed
  • A lesion that cannot be diagnosed through examination alone

A biopsy does not necessarily mean that a lesion is cancerous. It is a diagnostic procedure that can help provide a clearer understanding of what is occurring within the skin.

Types of Skin Biopsy

The type of biopsy recommended will depend on the lesion and your individual clinical circumstances. Techniques may include:

  • Shave biopsy
  • Punch biopsy
  • Incisional biopsy
  • Excisional biopsy

Your doctor will explain the recommended approach and why it may be appropriate for the lesion being assessed. If further treatment is required, the pathology results can help guide discussions about the next steps.

What Happens During a Skin Biopsy?

Before the procedure, your doctor will assess the lesion and discuss the biopsy with you. The area is generally prepared before the tissue sample is obtained using the technique considered most appropriate for the lesion.

The sample collected is then sent to a pathology laboratory for examination. Your doctor can explain what to expect during the procedure, including any wound care or follow-up that may be required afterwards.

What Happens After the Biopsy?

The tissue sample is sent to a pathology laboratory, where it is examined by a specialist pathologist. The resulting pathology report can help establish the diagnosis and, where relevant, provide information that assists in determining further treatment.

Once the results are available, your doctor will discuss the findings with you and explain whether any additional treatment, monitoring, or follow-up is recommended.

If further treatment is required, your doctor can discuss the available options and what the next stage of care may involve.

Does Every Suspicious Lesion Need a Biopsy?

Not necessarily. A biopsy is only one of several approaches that may be considered when assessing a skin lesion. Depending on the clinical findings, your doctor may recommend monitoring, dermoscopy, biopsy, complete excision or another appropriate treatment. The recommended approach will depend on the appearance of the lesion and your individual circumstances.
Arrange a Skin Assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

A skin biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of skin tissue is obtained and sent to a pathology laboratory for examination by a specialist pathologist. It can help establish a diagnosis when examination alone is not sufficient.
No. A biopsy is a diagnostic procedure and does not automatically mean that a lesion is cancerous. Your doctor may recommend one because a lesion requires further investigation or its diagnosis cannot be confirmed through examination alone.
Depending on the lesion and clinical circumstances, your doctor may recommend a shave, punch, incisional or excisional biopsy. Your doctor will determine which technique is most appropriate for the lesion being assessed.
The time required for pathology results can vary depending on the laboratory and the type of examination required. Your doctor or clinic team can advise you about when you can expect to discuss your results.
Your doctor will discuss the pathology findings with you and explain what they mean. Depending on the diagnosis, further treatment, complete removal, monitoring, or follow-up may be recommended.
Prev Mole Monitoring
Skin Cancer Excision Next