Integrating aesthetic services into a skin cancer practice

In this episode, Professor David Wilkinson (Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Macquarie University) speaks with Dr Stephen Wassall – who works as a Skin Cancer & Aesthetic Medicine Doctor in a dedicated primary care clinic in New South Wales – about his journey integrating aesthetic services into a skin cancer or primary care practice.

In the podcast, Dr Wassall speaks about how he started out pursuing his interest in skin cancer and aesthetic medicine, evolving from a general practitioner to a subspecialist in these fields. He discusses how his practice operates in terms of skin cancer procedures, onward referrals, and the scope of skin cancer patients he and his team manage at the clinic.

In Dr Wassall’s clinic, cosmetic treatments are offered alongside skin cancer services, ranging from skin needling to anti-wrinkle injections and more. Dr Wassall explains how this works, how he keeps the two areas separate (without “cross-selling” to his skin cancer patients), and how he has established his reputation and grown his work from the ground up. He also talks about building rapport with patients and accruing repeat patients through word-of-mouth referrals.

Importantly, the podcast also explores the negative backlash that some doctors face when first starting out in aesthetic medicine. Dr Wassall describes his own experiences with this and provides helpful advice for doctors starting out in aesthetic medicine, or those considering implementing some aesthetic services into their practice.

About Presenters

Professor David Wilkinson is Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Macquarie University. He is a registered general practitioner and public health medicine specialist. Since 2004, Professor Wilkinson’s clinical work has focused on skin cancer medicine in primary care. He has published research papers on the topic, designed and led development of the only Master of Medicine degree in skin cancer, and helped develop and present a suite of skin cancer short courses delivered by HealthCert Education.

Dr Stephen Wassall is a renowned skin cancer and aesthetic medicine doctor, having practised skin cancer medicine since 1997 and non-invasive facial rejuvenation procedures since 2002. He was the first doctor on the Central Coast to use a Molemax machine for photographing suspicious moles for future comparison, and is the most experienced cosmetic injector on the Central Coast, having performed over 20,000 injectable procedures.

A graduate of The University of Sydney, Dr Wassall was an intern, resident and registrar at Gosford Hospital until 1993. He completed Specialist GP training in 1996 and completed a Masters in Skin Cancer Medicine with The University of Queensland in 2007. He is extensively involved in teaching other GPs, presenting lectures on skin cancer surgery and demonstrating advanced skin cancer surgery and aesthetic procedures to doctors.

Dr Wassall worked in his own solo practice in Wamberal between 1996 and 1999. He joined Terrigal Medical Centre in 1999 as a Practice Principal and subsequently worked at the Mediskin Clinic between 2003 and 2011. In 2011 Mediskin Clinic became Skin Integrity and Dr Wassall began working exclusively in the fields of skin cancer and cosmetic medicine.