Making the Most of Your Visit to a Dermatologist’s Office

When a patient comes to the office seeking advice on how to look better, most dermatologists begin with a discussion on the changes the patient is noticing in their skin.  We then prioritize treatments according to what is bothering them the most and what will give them the greatest benefit.  Honest communication is key in this discussion to ensure a successful visit.  Be sure to share with your dermatologist the budget you need to work within, how much down-time (if any) you are willing to tolerate, your level of commitment to product use and if you prefer a moderate or more aggressive approach.  This helps providers create a  treatment program specifically tailored to best suit your individual needs.

As a patient, be sure you ask questions about procedures, costs and instructions if anything that has been discussed is unclear to you.  It is also important to listen to the expert advice you have made the effort and spent the money to obtain.  Patients will sometimes discount or disregard advice because of something their friend or family member told them.  Be sure to thoughtfully consider your dermatologist’s opinions.

The dermatologist should set realistic outcomes of procedures and products given a patient’s age and the current condition of their skin.  While we all hope for small miracles, patients should be pleased to look good for their age and keep reasonable expectations when it comes to results.  We don’t have erasers yet!

If you have started a treatment program and you are unhappy with your procedures or products, speak up and let your provider know!  Too often patients fade into the sunset with feelings of disappointment when they do not see changes or feel their skin looks worse.   Dermatology is an art as well as a science and while we try to create the right recipe for you the first time around, it may need fine tuning depending on how your skin responds to treatment.  Sometimes a simple adjustment is all that is needed to get you on the road to success.

It is my job and my desire to see every patient get results and provide them with the best experience possible.  This should be the goal of every dermatologist, so be sure to choose someone you feel comfortable with and keep the lines of communication open!

Tags: advice, Dermatologist, expectations, procedures, Products, program, skin, Treatments

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 at 2:20 am and is filed under Skincare Industry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.