Healthcare: Dermatology

What Patients Need to Know About Laser Surgery

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As a dermatologic laser surgeon, the most common question I answer when giving a lecture to a non-medical audience is about selecting a proper venue for laser surgery. Unfortunately, patients often do not know there is very little regulation in this field and, as a result, many places offer laser surgery that may not have enough experience or training. It doesn't help that there is no standard definition of "enough" training or experience in regards to cosmetic laser surgery. Training can range from a couple of hours spent in a lecture to entire year-long laser specific fellowship after a three-year dermatology residency. Choosing the right place involves becoming an educated consumer and investigating the person and facility offering the procedure. Below, I will try to address some of the common issues in the field of cosmetic laser surgery.