What Is Canova Medical and What Does It Specialise In?

Canova Medical is a UK minor surgery and skin cancer clinic group that has operated since 2004. It specialises in one thing only: the diagnosis and removal of skin lesions and skin cancer. Assessments and removals are carried out by surgeons in CQC-registered clinics, with locations on Harley Street (London), in Wilmslow (Cheshire) and Crosby (Liverpool), and a fourth clinic described as opening soon. The service is aimed at people who want a surgeon-led assessment and, in many cases, removal without waiting for an NHS referral or going through a GP first.

What Canova Medical specialises in

The clinic states its position plainly: "We remove lesions. Nothing else." Unlike general cosmetic clinics that spread across fillers, lasers and other treatments, Canova Medical says every consultation, procedure and histology report concerns the diagnosis and removal of skin lesions and skin cancer. That single-speciality focus is the main thing to understand about the service.

What it treats

The clinic groups its work into three areas:

Skin cancer checks are offered as full-body or single-area checks with dermoscopic assessment by skin cancer specialists. Where excision is needed, the clinic describes excision with appropriate margins, histology and follow-up pathways.

Who it is designed for

Canova Medical is a reasonable starting point if you:

• Have a mole, cyst, lipoma, wart, skin tag or similar lesion you want assessed or removed
• Want a surgeon-led assessment rather than a general cosmetic consultation
• Are willing to pay privately for faster access — the clinic advertises fixed fees and says no GP referral is needed
• Want histology and a follow-up pathway as part of a skin cancer excision

It is not a general dermatology or cosmetic practice. If your concern is acne, eczema, anti-ageing treatment or non-surgical cosmetic work, this is not the right service.

How the process works

The clinic describes a route "from enquiry to removal," with assessments and removals usually happening within hours or days of a first enquiry. The general flow is:

1. Enquiry and booking — you book a consultation directly, without a GP referral.
2. Consultation and assessment — a surgeon assesses the lesion and recommends a treatment plan. The clinic says a consultation "never goes to waste," implying the assessment feeds directly into the removal decision.
3. Removal — surgical excision or shave, depending on the lesion. The clinic states every procedure is performed by a plastic surgeon.
4. Histology and follow-up — where relevant, the removed tissue is sent for histology with a follow-up pathway.

What to check before booking

• Fees — the site references fixed fees and has a dedicated Fees page, but no prices are given in the available information. Ask for a written quote for your specific lesion before committing.
• Clinic and surgeon — confirm which of the three current locations you will be seen at and which surgeon will perform the procedure.
• Histology arrangements — if the lesion could be skin cancer, confirm how histology results and any follow-up are handled.
• Regulation — the clinics are described as CQC-registered and inspected; you can verify registration status independently through the CQC.

The clinic's own summary of its credentials: established 2004, 3+1 clinics, 10+ specialist surgeons, CQC registered and inspected, and surgeon-led since 2004.