How Do You Feel About Doctors Who "Prescribe" Cosmetic Procedures?

August 20, 2009

I've been suffering a lot of dermatological trauma lately. After the Botox incident, I keep hearing stories about people who go to the dermatologist for routine care — think mole checks and the like — only to come out with pamphlets for fillers, injectables, and laser resurfacing. I'm all for doing what makes you happy when it comes to cosmetic procedures, but lately it seems like some doctors have morphed into pushy medispa aestheticians. Have you ever gone in for a skin health issue only to have your doc interrupt with an advertisement? And do you feel your level of care was affected?

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9 Comments

GlowingMoon 3 years 39 weeks

Yes, it happened, but it was no big deal. I was seeing a dermatologist for cystic acne that was hormone driven (read: PMS). His prescribed, medical treatment worked, and my skin never looked better. In fact, he thought I had foundation and concealer make-up on, but I didn't (I was bare-faced, per usual). He did such good job. However, when he examined my face up close, he saw some FAINT scaring from past cystic acne (that was beneath the surface of my skin). He suggested a cosmetic procedure (that my insurance would NOT cover) to treat it. He recommended an acid peel. He said an acid peel would reduce the appearance of the (faint) scars. I declined, as the faint scars did not bother me, and I thought my skin would naturally recover, especially since my cystic acne has been remedied. I took no offense, and he accepted my decision. It was fine.

GlowingMoon 3 years 39 weeks

Yes, it happened, but it was no big deal.I was seeing a dermatologist for cystic acne that was hormone driven (read: PMS). His prescribed, medical treatment worked, and my skin never looked better. In fact, he thought I had foundation and concealer make-up on, but I didn't (I was bare-faced, per usual). He did such good job.However, when he examined my face up close, he saw some FAINT scaring from past cystic acne (that was beneath the surface of my skin). He suggested a cosmetic procedure (that my insurance would NOT cover) to treat it. He recommended an acid peel. He said an acid peel would reduce the appearance of the (faint) scars. I declined, as the faint scars did not bother me, and I thought my skin would naturally recover, especially since my cystic acne has been remedied. I took no offense, and he accepted my decision. It was fine.

leeluvfashion 3 years 39 weeks

If my dermatologist pushed treatments/procedures on me, I would walk out and never return to their office. Unless prompted or discussing the skin issue at hand, a doctor should not being pushing procedures. I will never get Botox and if a derm tried to pitch the treatment/poison, I would tell them where to shove the needle.

risqueredhead 3 years 39 weeks

completely agreed runningesq.

mek123 3 years 39 weeks

I went to a new dermatologist right around the time you had the botox experience and I was worried about that happening but he didn't push any extra procedures. I had to ask my dentist about tooth whitening since she never pushes anything extra.

Chouette4u 3 years 39 weeks

I haven't had this happen at the doctor, but I used to go to a dentist that was always trying to push cosmetic procedures on me like whitening, Invisalign to "touch up" my teeth that have already had braces, veneers, etc. I eventually switched dentists. If a doctor tried pushing something similar on me, I would definitely be upset!

Francoisehardly 3 years 39 weeks

Doesn't happen to me....and I might switch doctors in that case. And not just because I currently have no use for them do I not want injectables and fillers pushed on me. I wouldn't be going for that.

runningesq 3 years 39 weeks

I go to my doctor for MEDICAL TREATMENT. If she tried to push a cosmetic procedure on me, I'd not only leave but raise a stink. (I also fail to see how injecting poison in someone's face is "above all, do[ing] no harm..)

infraredflower 3 years 39 weeks

It makes sense that they would try to sell you more products -- and get more of your money -- but if it happened to me, I'm sure I would feel a little hurt.

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