Doctor's office or beuty salons?
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Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:30 pm

At the moment I am thinking of getting microdermbrasion and or laser done to minimize the scarring from acne. But it turns out that both procedures can be done at either the salon or at the derm's office ( or stores run by doctors ie laser skin clinic). Can someone input some thoughts or experiences. Or better yet some recommendations to where is a good place to get it done in Vancouver.

thanks in advance

moo

free skin care · Tue Aug 01, 2006 5:33 am

Hi Moo,

I don't have any recommendations in Vancouver ... but I do think that whenever one is getting a cosmetic procedure done, one should be very careful about it.

My step-daughter does laser hair removal twice a week in a clinic where there is a medical staff on hand. It was the doctor who had Jenna trained ... and he's right there, as is his staff, where she performs the procedure. Not only does this location give my step-daughter credibility, the medical staff is there should there be any problems.

Now my step-daughter is very aware of the potential problems with any procedure and she is scrupulous about ensuring that everything is very clean and that those things that should be sterilized are sterilized. I suspect that her operating within a medical clinic helps to keep her ever-vigilant.

That's what you want when you entrust your skin care to a professional ... that they will act like a professional and be as aware of their role in ensuring that you don't suffer any ill-effects from the procedure.

So I'd check out the reputation of the place where you are considering getting the procedure ... and make sure that they are doing everything possible to ensure the best possible experience for you. Don't just take the salon's word for it ... or the clinic's word for it. Check them out carefully.

Good luck.

Mary

free skin care · Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:00 am

I would only go to a doctor's office. I have alot of respect for my aesthetician - even she recommends a medical dermabrasion or acid peel. And she's been in her profession for 30 years. I had a botched silk co2 laser procedure 10 years ago & I look at the results every day. (loss of pigmentation) It was done by a dermatologist who later claimed no responsibility. My advice is to
1) go to an md that has done this exact procedure ALOT
2) don't be afraid to check his/her qualifications because not all are the same
3) ask for references
4) look around in the office at who else you see there! Talk to them.
5) remember it's your face & take the best care of it - saving $25 or $50 for something questionable isn't worth it
Smile

free skin care · Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:43 am

Moo - Personally, I would NEVER let anyone other than a doctor use a laser on me. I have had laser burns in the past, and it's not pretty!

It's best to choose a doc who does mostly laser work, rather than one who specialises in other fields, like injectables, and only uses the laser a couple of times a week. And, as Ruthmarion said, find a doc who has lots of experience with the exact same procedure you are having.

It's also important to find a doc who is experienced with your kind of skin, race being a big factor. Say, a doc in Bangkok who works on Asian skin all day, although highly respected and experienced, is probably not at his or her best with Caucasian skin, and vice versa. I can personally vouch for that!

Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:44 pm

Thanks so much for all the valuable input. I'll do some research first. Maybe I'll talk to my family doc and have her recommend someone.

Thnanks again
moo

free skin care · Thu Aug 10, 2006 3:09 am

Lasers and acid peels? please go to your doctor/derm. If you're talking about AHA peel, then you might want to try it at home. I think these days, the home kits are pretty advanced. I have sensitive skin and do get a tingly feeling when i use the AHA + C from skinceuticals; yet I'm totally fine when I use the AHA peel from Loreal. It's basically the same procedure when compared to the ones done at the derm's, only the level of the AHA is lower from the ones you get from the home kits. To be sure, you can patch test a small area like your elbow first, if you want to be super safe, try your neck as well.

free skin care · Thu Aug 10, 2006 9:17 am

I'm sorry to say that it's not an easy choice. You need to do as much research as possible on remedies for your particular skin problem and then find either a derm or an aesthetician, or a combo med-spa that has been in business for many years. I went to a local newly opened med-spa and had a free consultation with a dr. who outlined a treatment plan. It turned out that the second time I went, he revised the treatment adding this and that, which increased the cost, and he also modified his prediction of results. Turns out he is a dr. but not a long-experienced skin specialist. I got better advice from a 25 year veteran aesthetician though her program was much slower, consequently more lengthy & costly. I think experience and focus by the practitioner is of utmost importance. If I were you, I'd get several free or moderate cost consultations and then do your own research. The results for microdermabrasions are all over the map depending on how the procedure is done and what it is supposed to accomplish.

Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:41 pm

Are the at home peels just as good as the ones done in the derm's ofice? (except less concentrated). So eventually I'll get the same result, just more time??

Thansk everyone for the help. I am still checking some salons runned by MD doctors.

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