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The Skin Doctor

At our Diamond Creek clinic, every full skin check pairs VECTRA® WB360 3D total-body imaging — 92 cameras capturing your entire skin surface in under a second — with a thorough 40-minute doctor-led examination using HD digital dermatoscopy. Total appointment time is approximately one hour. For high-risk patients and anyone wanting the most advanced surveillance available in Melbourne.

Skin check

Skin Check — Diamond Creek (VECTRA® WB360 3D)

At our Diamond Creek clinic, every full skin check pairs VECTRA® WB360 3D total-body imaging — 92 cameras capturing your entire skin surface in under a second — with a thorough 40-minute doctor-led examination using HD digital dermatoscopy. Total appointment time is approximately one hour. For high-risk patients and anyone wanting the most advanced surveillance available in Melbourne.

Portrait of Dr Christopher Irwin

By Dr Christopher Irwin, MBChB, FRACGP, MMed (Skin Cancer), FACAM, MSCCA

Last reviewed 2026-06-06 · Editorial policy

Skin Check — Diamond Creek (VECTRA® 3D)

The complete pathway: VECTRA WB360 3D total-body mapping plus a thorough doctor examination.

Quick definition

A full skin check at our Diamond Creek clinic is a doctor-led skin cancer surveillance appointment built around VECTRA® WB360 3D total-body imaging — 92 calibrated cameras capturing your entire skin surface in a single moment. This is followed by a 40-minute head-to-toe examination with your skin cancer doctor using HD digital dermatoscopy, then a personalised surveillance plan with preventative advice. Total appointment time is approximately one hour. No radiation, no contact, no downtime. This is the most advanced skin cancer detection pathway we offer.

Why early detection matters

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer before the age of 70, and melanoma alone accounts for thousands of new diagnoses each year — making regular professional skin checks essential for early detection and prevention. (1,2)

Melanoma and other skin cancers are far easier to treat when detected early. Even small changes in a mole’s size, shape or colour can be the first warning sign — and most people have dozens or hundreds of moles that are impossible to track from memory alone. Medical-grade imaging provides a permanent, objective baseline that human recall cannot match. (3,4)

The Diamond Creek difference — VECTRA® WB360

The Diamond Creek clinic is equipped with the VECTRA® WB360 3D total-body imaging system — one of the most advanced skin imaging platforms available, used in leading hospitals and research centres internationally. It captures your entire exposed skin surface simultaneously using 92 calibrated cameras, creating a high-resolution medical-grade 3D model of your skin in under a second.

3D total-body photography lets us:

  • Create a comprehensive baseline of every mole and spot
  • Detect new or changing lesions with millimetre-level precision
  • Compare images over time with absolute accuracy
  • Virtually “lift” individual lesions off the skin for detailed analysis
  • Reduce unnecessary biopsies by confirming lesion stability over time (3,4)

The 3D scan is purely photography — no radiation, no contact, no discomfort. It is followed immediately by a 40-minute doctor examination with HD digital dermatoscopy, so you see what your doctor sees live on the screen.

Two pathways — choosing the right clinic

The Skin Doctor offers two complementary skin-check pathways across our clinics:

  • Diamond Creek — VECTRA® WB360 3D pathway (this page): the most advanced surveillance technology available, ideal for high-risk patients, large mole counts, or anyone wanting the most comprehensive baseline.
  • Ivanhoe — 2D mapping pathway: high-resolution 2D total-body mapping with the same 40-minute doctor examination. Suitable for most patients seeking a thorough, doctor-led skin check.

High-risk patients can also choose the Advanced High-Risk Program, which combines a 3D scan at Diamond Creek with 2D mapping and the doctor examination at Ivanhoe — giving you the comprehensive 3D map plus the more frequent 2D change-detection.

Preparing for your appointment

A full preparation guide is on our Diamond Creek skin check prep page — covering jewellery, makeup, hair, underwear and the practical details that make the scan and examination as accurate as possible.

What to expect

  1. Preparing for your scan

    Remove jewellery, makeup, tinted sunscreen and fake tan. Tie long hair up. Wear slim-fitting underwear (briefs for men). Avoid compression garments that leave deep skin marks.

  2. Full-body 3D VECTRA® WB360 imaging

    92 calibrated cameras capture your entire skin surface in under a second to create a complete 3D avatar. Every mole and freckle is automatically mapped. No contact, no radiation, no discomfort.

  3. Doctor-led skin examination

    An accredited skin cancer doctor reviews your 3D images, examines spots closely with a digital dermatoscope displayed live on HD screens, and discusses concerns. Dermoscopic photographs are taken and linked to your 3D map where clinically indicated.

  4. Risk assessment and preventative advice

    We assess your individual skin cancer risk and explain potential preventative strategies — nicotinamide (vitamin B3), sunscreen guidance, and other evidence-based therapies.

  5. Your personalised skin surveillance plan

    Based on your scan and risk profile, your doctor explains findings, whether any lesions need monitoring or biopsy, and when you should return.

Results timeline

  • On the day All findings explained; benign lesions reassured, suspicious ones photographed or biopsied.
  • 7–14 days Biopsy results (if taken) discussed by phone or follow-up appointment.
  • Annual (or sooner) Repeat check recommended for most adults; 3 or 6-monthly for higher-risk patients.

Ideal candidate

  • Anyone seeking Melbourne's most advanced 3D skin cancer screening.
  • Patients over 50, with fair skin, or a history of sunburn, tanning or solarium use.
  • People with many moles (often 100+), freckles or atypical naevi.
  • Patients with a personal or family history of melanoma or other skin cancer.
  • Patients on long-term immunosuppression, transplant recipients, or those with significant past sun exposure.

Frequently asked questions

  • How long is the appointment?
    Approximately one hour in total — around 40 minutes with your skin cancer doctor, with the remainder for VECTRA® WB360 imaging, change-of-clothes time, and discussion of findings. Most patients leave with their surveillance plan finalised on the day.
  • Is the 3D scan safe?
    Yes. There is no radiation and no contact — the VECTRA® WB360 is purely photography using 92 calibrated cameras firing simultaneously. The capture takes under a second and is painless.
  • What's the difference between 2D and 3D mole mapping?
    2D photography (our Ivanhoe pathway) is a set of standardised high-resolution flat photographs — excellent for tracking change at well-imaged angles. 3D (Diamond Creek, VECTRA® WB360) captures almost your entire skin surface — including curves, sides and hard-to-photograph areas — in a single capture, gives each lesion a precise 3D location, and lets your doctor virtually 'lift' each spot for detailed review. 3D is the gold standard for high-risk surveillance.
  • Who benefits most from 3D mole mapping?
    People with many moles (often 100+ pigmented lesions), patients with a personal or family history of melanoma, anyone with fair or sun-damaged skin, and patients who simply want the most advanced surveillance technology available. Patients on long-term immunosuppression or transplant recipients also benefit significantly from the 3D baseline.
  • Will the 3D scan replace the doctor examination?
    No. The scan is a tool, not a diagnosis. The 3D images provide a precise, objective baseline, but clinical decisions — what to monitor, what to biopsy, when to return — are made by your skin cancer doctor during the 40-minute head-to-toe examination that follows. The technology supports the doctor's judgement; it does not replace it.
  • How often should I have a skin check?
    Most adults benefit from an annual full skin check. Higher-risk patients — previous melanoma, multiple non-melanoma skin cancers, strong family history, large numbers of moles, or significant immunosuppression — often need 3 or 6-monthly checks. The 3D scan itself is typically repeated every 2–3 years, with annual 2D and doctor examination in between. Your doctor will advise the right interval for your risk profile.
  • How do I prepare for my appointment?
    Arrive with clean skin — no makeup, tinted sunscreen, body makeup or fake tan. Remove jewellery and tie long hair up. Wear slim-fitting underwear (briefs for men, bra optional). Avoid compression garments that leave deep skin marks. A detailed preparation guide is linked in the body of this page and on your booking confirmation.
  • Do I need a referral?
    No referral is required. Both clinics — Ivanhoe and Diamond Creek — follow the same pathway: book directly via the booking panel in the sidebar. If you have a referral from your GP or specialist for our records we welcome it, but it is not required to book or to be seen.

References

  1. Skin cancer — types, prevention and early detection
  2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare — Cancer Data in Australia
  3. DermNet — Melanoma overview, risk factors and surveillance
  4. DermNet — Total body photography for melanoma surveillance

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Medically reviewed by Dr Christopher Irwin, MBChB, FRACGP, MMed (Skin Cancer), FACAM, MSCCA · Last reviewed 2026-06-06 · Editorial policy