What To Ask the Doctor Before You Try Laser Surgery
-- In which specialty are you board-certified?
Choose a plastic surgeon or dermatologist over an internist who does cosmetic surgery on the side.
-- How long have you been doing laser resurfacing?
Pick a doctor with at least a year of experience using lasers for resurfacing, not just for cutting.
-- How many patients have you worked on?
Look for a doctor who handles 15 or more cases a month.
-- May I see before-and-after photos of your patients and talk to them?
Insist on being able to interview former patients to check the quality of the doctor's work, and hear firsthand how satisfied they were.
-- Do you teach resurfacing to other physicians?
Doctors who teach the procedure are more experienced and scrutinize their work carefully, since others use it as guides for what to achieve.
-- Do you rent or own your lasers?
Laser equipment can cost $50,000 to $150,000, so doctors who make the investment are more likely to perform the most resurfacings.
DATA: BUSINESS WEEK
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