Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
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The NHS will remove a skin lump if there’s a medical reason — most importantly, if it might be
cancerous, or if it’s causing symptoms like pain, bleeding or repeated infection. It generally won’t
remove a lump (including a skin tag) for purely cosmetic reasons. So the route depends on the lump: a suspicious one
goes via your GP on the urgent pathway; a harmless but annoying one is usually a private procedure. This guide
explains the NHS criteria and your options.
When the NHS Will Remove It
- The lump might be skin cancer or otherwise needs analysing — referred urgently;
- It’s symptomatic — painful, bleeding, repeatedly catching or infected;
- It’s in a position causing a genuine functional problem.
If a growth looks at all suspicious, that’s a medical priority — see spotting a suspicious mole.
When It Won’t
The NHS does not usually fund removal of a harmless lump or skin tag for appearance or minor annoyance, as it’s
considered cosmetic. Waiting lists for non-urgent skin procedures can also be long. This is why most people have
cosmetic skin tag removal
done privately (see NHS vs private and insurance).
How to Proceed
If a lump is new, changing, painful or worrying, see your GP — they’ll assess it and refer it on the NHS if there’s
a medical indication. For a confirmed-harmless tag you simply want gone, a private consultant offers fast,
same-day removal: £100 consultation, £200 first tag, £125 each additional. Book an assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will the NHS remove my skin tag?
- Generally only if there’s a medical reason — for example the growth might be cancerous, or it’s painful, bleeding or repeatedly infected. Removal for purely cosmetic reasons is not usually funded, so most skin tag removals are done privately.
- What if my lump might be cancer?
- Then it’s a medical priority. See your GP, who can refer you urgently (the two-week-wait pathway) for assessment and, if needed, removal and analysis. You don’t have to wait or pay privately for a genuinely suspicious lesion.
- How long is the NHS wait for skin lump removal?
- Suspected cancers are seen urgently, within about two weeks. Non-urgent, benign removals — where funded at all — can involve long waits, which is why many people choose prompt private removal for harmless tags.
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