Choosing a Cosmetic Doctor Print

Cosmederm has definite views on maintaining standards of care in the field of cosmetic dermatology. Whether you are a patient with a specific dermatological disorder requiring diagnosis and treatment, or are just interested in slowing the effects of age on the skin, the choice of practitioner is of great importance. A frequent question we are asked is how do you contact a doctor who will treat your problem effectively?

Choosing a Cosmetic Doctor

How have you found the name of your practitioner to help your skin condition? Whether you have been referred by your family doctor, been recommended by a friend, or found the name of the organisation you plan to visit, treat your condition through a magazine or the internet it is important to check that the practitioner you choose is appropriate for your individual needs. At Cosmederm we suggest you always check before consulting someone with a cosmetic problem.

Is the practitioner Medically Qualified?
Anyone dealing with the skin and providing treatments should have the skill, training and experience to give the appropriate treatment, and to be able to give advice on side effects and the best follow up. We believe that procedures such as the use of dermal fillers (like collagen, restylane, perlane, new fill etc.) should only be administered by medically qualified personnel, i.e. the holder of a medical qualification. In the United Kingdom you can check whether or not a practitoner is medically qualified by contacting the General Medical Council website.
Has the practitioner had appropriate training?

Check with the practitioner where they were trained and what specialist training they had to enable them to carry out the procedure. In the United Kingdom any doctor can legally provide cosmetic procedures, but must be able to show that they have had appropriate training for providing the procedure in question. For cosmetic surgery you should check the training and association to which the doctor has membership. For cosmetic dermatology such as the provision of Botox injections or dermal fillers you can check wheter the doctor is a member of the British Acssociation of Cosmetic Doctors (BACD), an independant organisation dedicated to raising the standards of cosmetic dermatology in this country. You can find out whether a doctor is a member of the BACD by looking at the BACD website.

Has the practitioner experienced in treating your condition?

You should always check whether the doctor has had sufficient experience to carry out the proposed procedure. A doctor who is regularly carrying out your chosen procedure is more likely to be aware of any problems with the treatment and how to minimise any risks.

Ask how many procedures has he or she done? What problems has he or she had with a given procedure? What precautions should be taken after treatment? Can he or she provide you with any literature to tell you about the services provided?

An experienced and approachable doctor should be prepared to answer questions such as these.

What else should I look for in a Cosmetic clinic?
In clinics providing a high standard of cosmetic care you will not be rushed in making a decision as to the best treatment. The doctor should be prepared to show you photographs of patients he has treated; and you should have all the pros and cons of the procedure explained in detail. The total costs of the treatment, and the number of treatments required should be explained before the treatment is started. Also you should be offered before and after photographs of your skin so that improvements can be monitored in an objective manner.

Cosmederm and your choice of Cosmetic Dermatologist

If you attend any cosmederm clinic you can be assured that the staff will have been approved by the medical director and will have appropriate experience and training, to provide a safe and effective treatment for your skin problems. We use the same criteria as described above to choose our medical practitioners to give you care of the highest possible standard.

To contact Cosmederm and to make an appointment with an approved doctor experienced in cosmetic dermatology call us now 07952 866 603 on or use our contact form.