It seems that some skin docs may be giving special preference to patients seeking Botox, laser procedures, and other cosmetic skin treatments, over those seeking medical dermatology services for skin diseases like acne, psoriasis, and yes, even skin cancer. The perks of being a cosmetic patient include nicer waiting rooms, more time with the doctor, quicker appointments, and even being seen by the doctor in person (as opposed to being seen by a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant).
Why is this happening? For the most part, it's simple economics. Cosmetic patients pay out of pocket, which means quicker payment than for medical visits, which tend to be paid a day late and a dollar short by insurance companies. Plus, cosmetic treatments tend to pay a lot more than, say, a skin cancer check. As of yet, there are no formal published studies to support this apparent trend, but if you have a suspicious mole and want to get it checked, you might want to consider seeing a dermatologist whose specialty is medical dermatology only.
Why is this happening? For the most part, it's simple economics. Cosmetic patients pay out of pocket, which means quicker payment than for medical visits, which tend to be paid a day late and a dollar short by insurance companies. Plus, cosmetic treatments tend to pay a lot more than, say, a skin cancer check. As of yet, there are no formal published studies to support this apparent trend, but if you have a suspicious mole and want to get it checked, you might want to consider seeing a dermatologist whose specialty is medical dermatology only.
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