For Patients
On this page you will find our location, how to contact us and frequently asked questions about our practice.
Our Location
How To Contact Us
Where is your clinic located?
Where can I find parking near your clinic?
Can I get there on public transport?
BUS
There are several bus routes across Melbourne to get to our clinic. Many of them stop at Doncaster Westfield bus interchange. Here are some listed below. More bus routes from your address can be found on the Public Transport Victoria webpage. Public Transport Victoria.
279 – Box Hill to Westfield Doncaster via Middleborough Road
903 – Altona to Mordialloc
902 – Chelsea to Airport West
293 – Box Hill to Greensborough via Westfield Doncaster
305 – City to The Pines via Eastern Fwy
281 – Templestowe to Deakin University
907 – 907 bus from Exhibition St/Lonsdale St to Doncaster Junction/Doncaster
908 – the pines via Doncaster
Train
You can catch the Belgrave or Lilydale lines and get off at Box Hill to use the bus connections 279, 281, 293, or 903.
Tram
Melbourne tram route 48 runs from Victoria Harbour to Balwyn North. Melbourne Tram route 109 runs from Port Melbourne to Box Hill Stations. Buses are easily available from the last stop to get to Doncaster.
What are your opening hours?
Our clinic is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Feel welcom to contact us during these hours to make an appointment.
Do I need a referral to see you?
If your wish to claim a Medicare rebate for your consultation and treatment, it is recommended to have a referral from your GP. However, if you do not wish to claim from Medicare then you do not require a referral.
What do I need to bring to my appointment?
Please make sure you are able to provide:
- Medicare card
- Any relevant blood test results/radiology reports
- An up-to-date referral (if applicable)
To ensure a smooth experience for your appointment, we would appreciate it if you could complete our online registration form prior to the appointment date. Please click the link below to complete a registration form (only if you currently have an appointment booked).
You are also welcome to complete this on the day of your appointment.
Do the dermatologists or staff speak other languages in addition to English?
Yes, Dr Pooja Sharma speaks Hindi
Dr Deepani Rathnayake speaks Sinhalese
Dr Ritva Vyas speaks Gujarati, and Hindi
What are your consultation fees?
As this is a private clinic, there will be a fixed charge for our consultations. We are unable to routinely Bulk Bill.
A rebate from Medicare is available for most of our services, and our reception team can process this on your behalf at the end of your appointment.
Veterans with a DVA Gold card will be fully covered for all applicable consultations and treatments.
All accounts must be settled on the day of consultation/treatment.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellation within 48 hours or failing to attend the appointment without notice will incur a cancellation fee of $50.
What are your charges for skin cancer surgery?
Our experienced dermatologists will perform excisions of skin cancers, however if in our opinion the procedure is complex or requires admission, we will then refer you to a plastic surgeon.
Prior to your surgery we will give you a quote for the surgery fees. This will cover the doctors procedural charge, a facility charge, all disposable e.g., sutures and dressings, instrumentation and sterilisation and review for suture removals. For those patients with valid referrals and Medicare, the out-of-pocket fees are approx. $150 to $550 or more depending on the complexity of the surgery. Veterans with DVA Gold Card (and certain White Card) holders will have no out-of-pocket cost for surgery.
Can I claim Medicare rebate?
If you have a GPs referral you can claim a Medicare rebate, a GP referral is valid for 12 months you will also need a valid Medicare card. This only applies to medical consultations and treatments.
The Medicare rebate on the initial consultation is approximately $73.00 and $39.25 for your follow up consultation. This is if you have a valid GP referral.
If you are an overseas visitor or student with no Medicare card, your travel insurance usually covers an amount equivalent to the Medicare rebate.
We strongly recommend that you seek the advice from your insurance company prior to your appointment, the company may ask for a report along with your receipt. If you require a report to be completed by a dermatologist there will be an additional fee.
Can I make a claim on my private health insurance?
Private Health Insurance unfortunately does not cover any procedure done outside of a hospital.
Do you charge for phototherapy?
We bulk bill this service for all Medicare card holders and a fee of $50 is applicable for overseas visitors/students.
What is a dermatologist?
A dermatologist is a doctor that specialises in skin. They have completed a medical degree, with additional studying and practice to become a qualified dermatologist recognised as a Fellow of the Australian College of Dermatologists. Dermatologists can treat a huge variety of skin, nail, and hair conditions. Each dermatologist can have different specialities and skills depending on additional training and their area of interest. Further information on our dermatologists’ areas of expertise please have a look at their profile.
What services do you provide?
At Renaissance Dermatology we provide a range of medical dermatology, surgical dermatology, physical therapies and hair transplant surgery can be arranged with Dr Pooja Sharma.
What other services do you provide?
Apart from our medical specialist services, we do offer a range of services with our dermal clinician including skincare consultation, skin health management, scar management, pre and post procedural care, face/body lesion removal, face/body pigment, vascular and hair removal.
What medical dermatology services do you provide?
Our dermatologists provide medical consultation including diagnosis and management of a wide range of skin conditions. Some common reasons for consultation with a dermatologist include acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, skin check, sun damage, dry skin, scar management, rashes, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), hives (urticaria), hair loss, keratosis pilaris, alopecia areata, vitiligo, melasma, keloid scars, vulval skin disorders, molluscum and warts
What surgical services do you provide?
Your dermatologist will determine and present to you the best option/s for the area of concern. Commonly used surgical techniques are cryosurgery, fine wire diathermy, electrodessication and curettage, skin biopsy, shave removal and excision. Sometimes a flap or graft may be required to bring the skin together after surgery. At Renaissance dermatology routine surgery is performed for the following conditions: skin cancers, moles, cysts, skin tags, warts and vitiligo (blister grafting).
What physical therapy services to you provide?
What services does the renaissance hair transplant center provide?
What is involved in a skin check?
The dermatologist will thoroughly examine all parts of your skin including your toes and scalp. We do not check genital areas unless there is a concern. Your dermatologist will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your skin examination. If required, further procedures may be undertaken such as a skin biopsy.
How do I prepare for my upcoming surgical procedure?
There are some medial conditions that may affect your surgery in which case your doctor must be informed. Some of these are as follows.
- Easy fainting
- If you have a pacemaker
- Heart valve issues
- Recent joint replacement surgeries
- If you take regular blood thinning medication such as Warfarin
- History of antibiotic, anaesthetic, or latex allergies
- If you are taking any supplements such as fish oil
- Any other significant medical history and regular medications
All skin cancer surgeries are performed under a local anaesthesia, there is no need to fast prior to the surgery. We encourage you to be well hydrated before your procedure.
Unless instructed otherwise by our dermatology staff there is no need to shave around the surgery site and this may increase the risk of infection.
In most cases we will not request that you discontinue your blood thinning medication if you are taking this for a medical condition. We do advise that all non-essential supplements such as fish oil, gingko be ceased ideally 1 week prior to your surgery.
We recommend that you organise some suitable transport arrangement to take you home after your surgery.
What methods of payment do you accept??
Our clinic accepts contactless payment only.
We no longer accept cash, personal cheques or American Express.