Dermatologist-Led Cosmetic Skin Clinic · Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Cosmetic Dermatology in Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Cosmetic skin treatment for pigmentation, sun spots, redness, acne scars, lines, texture and loose skin, led by specialist dermatologists and delivered by our dermatologists and Registered Nurses. Every plan starts with a diagnosis, not a sales pitch.
Specialist consultations from $395 · Nurse-led treatment prices published · Prefer to start with a nurse? Book a nurse skin assessment · See fees
A dermatologist-led clinic, founded by Dr Mitch Robinson, FACD, who leads our laser suite and teaches laser to dermatologists and registrars.
Meet Dr MitchCosmetic Dermatology at a Glance
Cosmetic Dermatology Before and After Photos
Patients of DERM Skin Specialists, photographed in the same conditions. Most results build over weeks to months, and many treatments need a course of sessions.
BeforeAfter 4 weeks
BeforeAfter
BeforeAfter
BeforeAfter 4 weeksBefore photo on the left in each pair. Tap a photo to see it larger. Individual results vary. Results depend on your skin, the treatment used, the number of sessions and how your skin heals. All procedures carry risks; see the risks section below.
Send Us Photos of Your Skin Concern
Want to know whether treatment can help your concern and roughly what it costs? Fill in a short form, then reply to our text with a few photos. We'll be in touch ASAP about the right consult and a price guide.
Photo tips: one close-up and one from further back. Normal room light is fine, no make-up or filters. Pick the form that matches your main concern.
Photos help us guide you but don't replace a consultation. Photos can't rule out skin cancer, so any new or changing spot needs an in-person skin check. Price guides are estimates; your exact costs are confirmed at your consult. For adults 18 and over. Photos are stored securely by our messaging provider, Podium, which may store data outside Australia.
What Is Cosmetic Dermatology?
The short answer: cosmetic dermatology is treatment that improves how your skin looks, such as pigmentation, redness, acne scars, lines and texture, planned by a specialist dermatologist who first works out what is causing the problem. At DERM Skin Specialists, the simpler treatments are done by our Registered Nurses, and the complex ones by our dermatologists.
That matters because many cosmetic concerns have a medical cause. Redness can be rosacea. A brown patch can be melasma, a sun spot or, now and then, an early skin cancer. Each needs a different plan.
Our cosmetic skin clinic is in Mount Gravatt, on Brisbane's southside, and sees patients from Holland Park, Carindale, Upper Mount Gravatt, Sunnybank and beyond.
Start with the problem, not the machine
What Would You Like to Treat?
Find your main concern to see who usually treats it, what it starts from and where to read more. Prices are per session unless stated.
Pigmentation and sun spots
- Sun spots, freckles, melasma and uneven tone
- Nurse-led PicoSure Pro: $650 full face, small areas $400
- Nurse-led LaseMD ULTRA: from $695 full face
- Spots checked by a doctor first; complex melasma is dermatologist-led, price on assessment
Redness and rosacea
- Flushing, background redness and broken capillaries
- Nurse-led DermaV laser: thread veins from $350, facial redness $595
- Rosacea that needs medical care: see Dr Emily Shao or Dr Benny Yau
Acne scars
- Rolling, boxcar and ice pick scars
- Dermatologist-led: Dr Mitch plans and performs scar procedures, including CO2 laser
- Price on assessment; red marks after acne with DermaV, $495 (nurse-led)
Texture, lines and sun damage
- Fine lines, crepey skin, rough texture and large pores
- Nurse-led: LaseMD ULTRA from $695; RedTouch PRO with peel and LED $495
- Dermatologist-led: erbium laser, and CO2 laser (always Dr Mitch); price on assessment
Skin laxity
- Early jowls, a softer jawline and crepey neck skin
- XERF radiofrequency, usually 1 to 2 sessions
- Nurse-led: $2,490 full face
- Firms skin; doesn't replace a facelift
Tattoo removal
- PicoSure Pro picosecond laser
- Nurse-led: from $100 (2 x 2 cm) to $1,000 (full back)
- Several sessions, weeks apart; complete clearance can't be promised
Laser hair removal
- Nurse-led: from $100
- A course of sessions; works on dark hair, not on grey, white or very fair hair
Dull or congested skin
- Dullness, blocked pores, blackheads and uneven texture
- Nurse-led chemical peel: face $150, with extractions $250, Heal & Peel $195
- Skin needling $250; LED $95
More than one concern, or not sure what you have? That's what the consultation is for. Many plans combine two or three treatments. Compare our lasers.
Diagnosis first. Treatment second.
Why See a Cosmetic Dermatologist in Brisbane?
The right diagnosis. A dermatologist works out what is behind a cosmetic concern before anything is treated. Sometimes the answer is a prescription skin plan rather than a machine, and we'll say so.
Spots checked before they're treated. Lasering a skin cancer can fade its colour and delay the diagnosis. Dr Mitch is first author of Australia's clinical guidelines for lentigo maligna, an early melanoma that can look like a harmless sun spot, so brown spots are checked by a doctor first. About skin checks.
Several tools under one roof. The plan fits your skin, not whichever machine is in the room.
Honest advice. If a treatment isn't worth the cost or downtime for you, we'll tell you. We don't sell packages.
Dermatologist or nurse?
- Dr Mitch: all CO2 laser, scar procedures, rhinophyma and complex plans
- Dr Emily Shao and Dr Benny Yau: erbium, vascular and pigment laser, and medical skin care such as rosacea
- Cosmetic nurses (Registered Nurses), led by senior nurse Hatsu: PicoSure Pro, DermaV, LaseMD, RedTouch PRO, XERF, peels, skin needling, LED, tattoo and hair removal
- Dermatologist-led treatment is priced after assessment; nurse-led prices are published
How Does Cosmetic Treatment Work at DERM?
Most cosmetic results come from a planned course, not a one-off visit. Here's what happens from your first appointment to your final review.
Your Cosmetic Assessment
We examine your skin, check any spots you want treated, and ask about your skin type, past reactions, cold sores and timing. Photos are taken in the same lighting each time.
Your Written Cosmetic Plan
You get a plan that sets out which treatments, in what order, who performs each, how many sessions to expect, the downtime, and the total cost of the course before you start.
Cosmetic Treatment and Review
We review you between sessions, compare photos, adjust the plan as your skin responds, and judge the result once collagen has had time to build.
Heat is quick. Collagen is slow.
How Can Laser and Resurfacing Help Lines and Wrinkles?
Fine lines, crepey skin and rough texture come mostly from sun damage and the slow loss of collagen with age. Our approach to lines uses resurfacing, laser, radiofrequency and skin care to help your skin rebuild collagen and to protect what you have.
- Gentler laser courses, such as LaseMD ULTRA and RedTouch PRO, soften fine lines and texture over 2 to 4 sessions.
- Resurfacing with erbium or CO2 laser gives more change in deeper lines and heavy sun damage, with about 5 to 14 days of recovery. CO2 laser is always performed by Dr Mitch.
- Radiofrequency, with XERF or RF microneedling, heats the deeper skin to firm and thicken it.
- Daily SPF 50+ and good skin care slow further damage and help results last.
What the research says. In a trial of 903 adults in Nambour, Queensland, people who used sunscreen daily for 4.5 years were 24% less likely to show increased skin ageing than those who used it when they chose (Annals of Internal Medicine, 2013). It measured skin on the back of the hand in adults under 55, so it shows prevention, not reversal.
Deep folds and lines caused by movement respond less to resurfacing. We'll explain what laser can and can't change for your lines.
Which Treatment Suits Pigmentation, Melasma and Sun Spots?
It depends on what the brown mark is, which is why we name it first.
- Sun spots and freckles often fade well with PicoSure Pro or DermaV in 1 to 3 sessions.
- Widespread sun damage and uneven tone suit a course of LaseMD ULTRA, sometimes with a vascular laser for redness.
- Melasma is driven by hormones, heat and light. It is managed rather than cured: gentle laser, skin care and strict sun protection can lighten it, but it often returns, especially in summer.
A spot that is new, changing or different from your other spots is checked before any cosmetic treatment. More on pigmentation and melasma.
Can Loose Skin Be Tightened Without Surgery?
For mild to moderate laxity, often yes, to a degree. XERF is a radiofrequency device, not a laser, that heats the deeper layers of skin without needles to firm the jawline, early jowls and neck. Collagen builds over about 3 to 6 months, and most people have 1 or 2 sessions, with redness for a day or two.
It firms skin; it doesn't lift heavy jowls or remove excess skin. If surgery would serve you better, we'll tell you before you spend money on a device.
XERF is nurse-led, at $1,495 for the full face. More on XERF skin tightening.
Tattoo Removal, Laser Hair Removal and Benign Spots
Three common requests, each with honest limits.
How Laser Tattoo Removal Works
- PicoSure Pro breaks ink into tiny particles that your body clears over weeks
- Black ink usually fades most; some colours fade less
- Several sessions, usually 6 to 8 weeks apart
- Nurse-led, from $100 (2 x 2 cm) to $1,000 (full back) per session
How Laser Hair Removal Works
- Reduces hair growth over a course of sessions
- Works on dark hair; grey, white, red and very fair hair respond poorly
- Some regrowth is common, so top-ups may be needed
- Nurse-led, from $100 per session
Benign spots and lumps
- Skin tags, seborrhoeic keratoses, benign moles and xanthelasma
- Assessed by a dermatologist first, to make sure a spot is harmless
- Removed by surgery, laser or other in-clinic methods
- Dermatologist-led, price on assessment
Is Cosmetic Laser Suitable for Olive and Darker Skin?
Yes, with the right approach. Olive, Asian, Middle Eastern, Indian, Pacific Islander and darker skin can be treated, but it is more likely to develop brown marks after heat-based treatments, and occasionally lighter patches.
We reduce that risk by choosing the wavelength and settings for your skin type, using gentler settings over more sessions, preparing your skin beforehand and test-patching where useful. Sun protection before and after matters just as much.
If brown marks do appear, they usually fade over a few months and can be treated. Tell us early so we can help.
Tell Us Before Cosmetic Treatment If You
- Tan easily or rarely burn
- Have had brown marks after spots, burns or cuts
- Have had melasma
- Get cold sores
- Have had a reaction to a previous treatment
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
How Much Downtime Should I Plan For?
It ranges from none to about two weeks:
- LED: you can usually go straight back to your day
- Light chemical peel: mild redness, then flaking for a few days
- PicoSure Pro, DermaV or RedTouch PRO: redness for a few hours to 3 days
- XERF: redness for a day or two
- LaseMD ULTRA: redness and a rough, flaky feel for 2 to 4 days
- Fractional erbium or CO2 laser: about 5 to 7 days
- Full-field CO2 or erbium resurfacing: about 1 to 2 weeks, then pinkness for weeks
Before an event. Allow about 1 to 2 weeks after light lasers and peels, at least 4 weeks after fractional CO2 laser, and ideally 3 months after deeper resurfacing or skin tightening so collagen has time to build.
Does it hurt? Most treatments feel like heat, stinging or flicks of a rubber band. We use cooling and numbing cream, and local anaesthetic for deeper treatments.
When to Call Us After Cosmetic Treatment
- Increasing pain, heat or swelling after the first 2 days
- Yellow crusting, pus or a fever
- Blisters or clusters of sores, which can be a cold sore flare
- A patch that is getting darker or lighter instead of settling
Call 07 3487 1414. Outside hours, see your GP or go to an emergency department.
Cosmetic Treatment Risks, and How We Reduce Them
All procedures carry risks. Here are the main ones and what we do about each.
Common, Short-Term Side Effects of Cosmetic Treatment
- Redness, swelling and flaking. Expected after most treatments. We plan sessions around your work and social life.
- Brown marks after laser. More likely in olive and darker skin. We adjust settings, prepare your skin and insist on sun protection.
- Less change than hoped. Many treatments need a course. Your plan states how many sessions to expect and what's realistic.
Less Common Cosmetic Treatment Risks
- Infection, including cold sore flares. We check your history and plan around it.
- Burns or blisters. Rare. Settings are chosen for your skin, and we review you promptly if one occurs.
- Lighter patches of skin. Rare, mostly after deep resurfacing. Depth is matched to your skin type.
- Scarring. Rare. Careful technique, the right depth and following aftercare reduce the risk.
If something doesn't heal as expected, you come back to us. Call the clinic and we'll see you here, with a dermatologist involved in any complication.
How Much Does Cosmetic Dermatology Cost in Brisbane?
Nurse-led treatments have set prices. Dermatologist-led treatments are quoted in writing after your consultation, because the price depends on what you need.
Nurse-led, per session
- PicoSure Pro: $650 full face, $400 small area
- LaseMD ULTRA: $695 face, $990 face and neck, $1,495 face, neck and chest
- DermaV: thread veins from $350, red marks after acne $495, facial redness $595
- RedTouch PRO with peel and LED: $495 face
- XERF: $2,490 full face
- RF microneedling: $795 face
- Chemical peel: $150 face, $195 back or chest, $250 with extractions; Heal & Peel $195
- Skin needling: $250 · LED: $95
- Tattoo removal: $100 to $1,000 by size · Laser hair removal: from $100
Dermatologist-led
- Specialist consultation: from $395
- CO2 laser (always Dr Mitch): price on assessment
- Erbium laser resurfacing: price on assessment
- Acne scar procedures: price on assessment
- Complex pigment and melasma plans: price on assessment
- Removal of benign spots: price on assessment
Every quote is in writing, covers the whole course, and comes before you book treatment.
Compare the course, not the session. Four sessions at a lower price can cost more than two at a higher one.
Medicare and private health. Cosmetic treatment isn't covered by Medicare or private health insurance. Some treatment of medical conditions, such as severe scarring or some vascular conditions, may attract a partial Medicare rebate, and we'll tell you at your consultation if any part of your plan qualifies. You don't need a referral to book, but a valid GP referral is needed for a Medicare rebate on a dermatologist consultation. See our fees.
Who leads our cosmetic care
Your Cosmetic Dermatologist: Dr Mitch Robinson, FACD
Specialist Dermatologist · Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Dr Mitch founded DERM Skin Specialists and leads its laser suite. He performs the complex cosmetic cases himself, including all CO2 laser, scar procedures and rhinophyma, and supervises our cosmetic nurses. Dr Emily Shao and Dr Benny Yau also perform laser treatments. Dr Jimmy Wang, our cosmetic physician (FRACGP, FACCSM), looks after cosmetic injectable consultations.
- Teaches laser to dermatologistsAnd to dermatology registrars, and is taking up a teaching and laser role at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
- Fellowship training in complex scarringPlus cutaneous oncology and laser surgery
- Master of Skin Cancer, UQFirst author of Australia's clinical guidelines for lentigo maligna, an early melanoma that can look like a sun spot
Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Our Cosmetic Skin Clinic in Mount Gravatt
DERM Skin Specialists is at 2/1437 Logan Road, Mount Gravatt, about 15 minutes' drive from the Brisbane CBD, with free onsite parking. Patients come from Mansfield, Wishart, Eight Mile Plains, Greenslopes and across Brisbane's southside for laser and cosmetic skin treatment.
Common Questions
Cosmetic Dermatology: Common Questions
What does a cosmetic dermatologist do?
A specialist dermatologist diagnoses the cause of a cosmetic concern, checks any spots, then plans and performs treatments such as laser, resurfacing and scar procedures, or supervises nurses who do the simpler ones.
Is a dermatologist different from a cosmetic clinic?
A specialist dermatologist (FACD) has completed specialist training in skin disease, skin surgery and lasers. Cosmetic clinics may be run by doctors with other training, nurses or dermal therapists.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book without one. A valid GP referral is only needed if you want a Medicare rebate on a dermatologist consultation.
Should I see a dermatologist or book a nurse skin assessment?
See a dermatologist for acne scars, CO2 or erbium laser, melasma, rosacea, a spot you're unsure about, or if you're not sure what you have. If you know your concern, such as sun spots or dull skin, you can start with a nurse skin assessment.
Will a doctor or a nurse treat me?
CO2 laser is always Dr Mitch. Our dermatologists do erbium laser and complex cases. Registered Nurses do most lighter laser, peels, skin tightening, tattoo and hair removal, under a dermatologist's supervision.
Is cosmetic treatment covered by Medicare?
No. Treatment of some medical conditions, such as severe scarring, may attract a partial rebate. We'll tell you at your consultation if any part of your plan qualifies.
Why is dermatologist-led treatment priced on assessment?
The price depends on the area, the depth and what else is combined, so a fair price needs your skin to be seen. You get it in writing before you book treatment.
How many sessions will I need?
Peels, LaseMD, pico and vascular laser usually need a course of 2 to 6. XERF is usually 1 to 2. CO2 laser is often one session. Your plan states what to expect.
Can I combine treatments?
Often, yes. Many plans combine two or three, such as a vascular laser for redness with LaseMD for tone, timed so recovery overlaps sensibly.
Can melasma be cured?
Not for good. It can usually be lightened and kept under control with gentle laser, skin care and strict sun protection, but it often returns, especially in summer.
Can I have treatment while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Many cosmetic treatments are postponed until after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Tell us, and we'll explain what can wait and what is suitable.
How long do results last?
Collagen and resurfacing results are long lasting, but skin keeps ageing and sun damage continues. Pigment and redness can return, so top-up sessions and daily SPF 50+ help results last.
Can you check a mole at the same visit?
A spot you want treated is checked by a doctor before treatment. For a full-body skin check, book a separate skin check appointment.
What should I ask before any cosmetic treatment?
Ask about the practitioner's qualifications and experience with the treatment, the risks, the alternatives, how long results last and the total cost. The Australasian College of Dermatologists suggests the same questions.
Where are you, and is there parking?
We're at 2/1437 Logan Road, Mount Gravatt, on Brisbane's southside, with free onsite parking.
Not Sure Which Cosmetic Treatment to Start With?
Book a consultation with a specialist dermatologist. We'll work out what's behind your concern, explain what treatment can and can't do, and give you a written plan with the total cost before you decide.
Know what you want treated? Book a nurse skin assessment.
Not ready to book? Send us photos first for a consult and price guide.
Clinical content overseen by Dr Mitch Robinson, FACD (AHPRA MED0001946771). Updated October 2026. General information only, not medical advice. All procedures carry risks; suitability, recovery and results vary between individuals.