How can I find a cosmetic dermatologist?

The best source would be the web site for the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) since most cosmetic dermatologists are members of this society. You can log on and find dermatologists in your area that perform a variety of cosmetic procedures on this web site.  Check out their practice web sites and look at the before and after pictures.  Also read the biographies on the web site carefully.  Those dermatologists who lecture and teach cosmetic procedures at meetings are among the most skilled and highly regarded. I think it's okay to ask friends for recommendations as long as you also check out their credentials. Make sure you are seeing a physician who is board certified in dermatology and who has considerable experience in the practice of cosmetic dermatology.  

Cosmetic dermatologists may be found as simple as the click of a mouse. Depending upon what state and city you are in, you may want to consider, for example, putting Beverly Hills cosmetic dermatology if you live in the Los Angeles area. Look at the credentials of the doctor, make sure that they are board certified with the American Board of Dermatology, look at their credentials, their experience, their judgment, malpractice history, and look at before and after pictures of the procedure that you are hoping to achieve.

It helps to start with recommendations from friends and family members if you don’t already have a dermatologist in mind. Or you can ask your family physician for some leads. What you want to avoid is visiting several dermatologists at once and dishing out multiple consultations fees, so get as much information as you can over the phone before making an appointment. One of the first questions to ask, however, is in which specialty the doctor is board certified. While the prevailing advice says you can go to anyone board certified in dermatology, plastic surgery, or an above-the-neck specialty (such as a head-and-neck surgeon, an ear, nose, and throat doctor, or an ophthalmologist who has a cosmetic surgery subspecialty), I highly recommend seeing a bona fide dermatologist who specializes in cosmetic procedures first; that is, someone who is expertly trained in this field and who is not simply doing chemical peels and wrinkle fillers on the side. This means you don’t want a board certified ob-gyn doing your cosmetic procedure. Should you need the help of an additional set of skills, such as those of a plastic surgeon, your dermatologist can point you in the right direction or work in sync what that doctor.

Also find out with which hospital the doctor is affiliated. He or she should further be a member of a professional medical society, such as the American Academy of Dermatology, or the American Society of Dermatological Surgery.

From The Mind-Beauty Connection: 9 Days to Less Stress, Gorgeous Skin, and a Whole New You by Amy Wechsler.

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Start your search with your own dermatologist's recommendation (sometimes a primary care physician can lead you in the right direction too). Or begin by checking the listings of dermatologists who specialize in cosmetic work on the American Academy of Dermatology or the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. You're better off with someone who has an academic affiliation, who's been in practice for several years, and who is fellowship-trained in cosmetic dermatology. Word of mouth is great but a little tricky. Finding a terrific cosmetic dermatologist is not as politically correct as inquiring about someone's hairstylist.

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