The clinic is open about what treatment costs. These are approximate fees from March 2026. Fees are charged according to the time allocated, the investigations performed and the treatment given, and the cost of treating a keloid depends mostly on its size. Your exact fee is confirmed at your consultation. Prices are subject to change without notice.
Consultations
| Fee | |
|---|---|
| Dermatology consultation (in person or online) | €150 |
| Follow-up visit (if seen within the last 2 years) | €120 |
| Dermatology follow-up with a nurse | €70 |
Cryosurgery for keloids and hypertrophic scars
Charged per session, and not including the initial consultation fee.
| Size of scar | Fee per session |
|---|---|
| Small (under 1cm) | €350* |
| Medium (1–2cm) | €400* |
| Large (over 2cm) | €450* |
A facility fee of about €50 to €150 also applies to cryosurgery for keloids and hypertrophic scars. See the facility fee below.
Keloids larger than 3cm may not be suitable for the treatments offered at the clinic, and may need to be referred elsewhere, including abroad.
Steroid injections for keloids and hypertrophic scars
| Fee | |
|---|---|
| First consultation and injection | €180* (€150, plus €30 for the drug) |
| Follow-up consultation and injection | €150* (€120, plus €30 for the drug) |
* Private health insurance companies may pay part of the procedure fee.
The facility fee
Surgical procedures at the clinic use expensive specialised equipment. Many instruments are used once and safely disposed of; others go through a three-stage sterilising procedure in line with HSE guidelines. Suturing materials, glues, dressings and surgical assistant time are also needed for most procedures.
Private health insurers do not pay for any of this, and neither does the medical card. So a facility fee is charged in addition to the procedure fee, including for keloid and scar cryosurgery. It covers the assistant, the surgical materials, insurance, rent and rates, and ranges from about €50 to €150 depending on how complex the procedure is. Dr Buckley will tell you the amount for your treatment.
The facility fee is separate from the surgeon's fee, which is usually paid in full by insurers, by the medical card, or by the patient where they have neither. The surgeon's fee includes a free follow-up visit to remove sutures, if required.
If a skin sample is sent to the histopathology lab at University Hospital Kerry, the lab may bill you directly, around €45, if you do not have private health insurance, a medical card or a GP visit card.
Health insurance
What insurance may refund
Some insurers — VHI, Laya, Irish Life Health, Garda Medical Aid, Level Health and SHF among them — may refund part of the consultation fee when you see Dr Buckley. Every company has different rules and many different plans: some refund nothing, others 25% or 50%. Some refund less for a community-based dermatologist than for a hospital-based consultant, even though Dr Buckley is on the specialist register of the Irish Medical Council.
Some insurers may also pay some or all of the procedure fee. Check with your own insurer before your appointment.
If you have a consultation and a procedure on the same visit, both a consultation fee and a procedure fee apply. The procedure fee may be covered by your insurer.
Tax relief
All fees paid to Dr Buckley for consultations and procedures are tax allowable, including the facility fee. Keep your receipts.
If you have any questions about fees, please ask the reception team or one of the doctors or nurses.