- What is a cosmetic dermatologist?
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Cosmetic dermatologist: This dermatologist is injecting a filler to give her patient a more youthful appearance. Because of their unique training, dermatologists have the medical knowledge and skills necessary to safely perform many cosmetic procedures. The term "cosmetic dermatologist" often causes confusion. To understand this term, it helps to know that all dermatologists receive training in: - Medical dermatology: Diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases that affect the skin, hair and nails.
- Dermatopathology: Diagnose diseases that affect the skin, hair, and nails by removing a sample and examining the sample with a microscope.
- Surgical dermatology: Treat diseases that affect the skin, hair, and nails by using a surgical procedure.
- Cosmetic dermatology: Treat the skin, hair, or nails using a treatment that is meant to improve a patient's appearance rather than treat a disease.
Many dermatologists perform all of the above. Examples of treatments dermatologists perform that fall into the area of cosmetic dermatology include:
- Surgery to diminish acne scars.
- Injecting fillers and botulinum toxins to give an aging face a more youthful appearance.
- Laser surgery to diminish or remove small veins, age spots, tattoos, or wrinkles.
What it takes to become a cosmetic dermatologist
One can practice cosmetic dermatology by becoming a dermatologist. To become a dermatologist requires many years of education. A person must successfully complete:
- College, earning a bachelor's degree.
- Medical school, becoming a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO).
- Internship, 1 year.
- Residency program in dermatology, at least 3 years.
After becoming a dermatologist, some doctors choose to continue their medical education. This advanced education is called a fellowship. A fellowship in procedural dermatology or cosmetic/aesthetic dermatology provides advanced surgical training.
A fellowship in procedural dermatology usually takes one year to complete. It includes training in medical and cosmetic surgery. During this fellowship, a dermatologist may develop advanced skills in:
- Mohs (pronounced "moes") surgery, specialized treatment for skin cancer.
- Reconstructive surgery to treat wounds caused by surgery to remove skin cancer.
- Injection of fillers and botulinum toxins.
- Sclerotherapy (treatment for veins).
- Chemical peels.
- Hair transplantation.
- Tumescent liposuction (removes small amount of fat while the patient remains awake).
- Laser surgery.
Because dermatologists know so much about cosmetic surgery, they have made important contributions to this area of medicine. Dermatologists developed:
- Tumescent liposuction, which greatly improves patient safety.
- A way to transplant hair that gives patients a natural-looking hairline.
- Advances in the use of many lasers.
- Improvements in the use of fillers and botulinum toxins.
Doctors who do not receive training in cosmetic procedures during their residency also offer cosmetic procedures. Even aestheticians offer cosmetic procedures. It is important to know that the quality and safety of the procedure depends largely on the skill of the person performing the procedure.
- What is a dermatopathologist?
Dermatopathologist. Accurately diagnosing some medical conditions requires the expertise of this specially trained doctor. To accurately diagnose your medical condition, your dermatologist may remove a tiny sample of your skin, hair, or nail. This sample is often examined by a dermatopathologist (dur-mat-uh-puh-thol-uh-jist).
A dermatopathologist is a medical doctor. This doctor specializes in dermatology and pathology. Pathology is a branch of medicine that studies causes and effects of diseases. Most pathology work takes place in a laboratory. A dermatopathologist diagnoses diseases of the skin, hair, and nails by looking at samples under a microscope.
How to become a dermatopathologist
Becoming a dermatopathologist requires many years of education. To become this type of medical doctor, a person must successfully complete the following:
- College, earning a bachelor's degree.
- Medical school, becoming a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO).
- Internship, 1 year.
- Residency program in dermatology (at least 3 years) or pathology (at least 4 years).
- Medical fellowship, advanced study and training in dermatopathology (1 year), or residencies in both dermatology (usually 3 years) and pathology (usually 4 years).
Who is a board-certified dermatopathologist?
After completing the above medical study and training, the doctor must pass board exams in dermatopathology. After passing these exams and meeting other requirements, the doctor becomes a board-certified dermatopathologist.
Dermatopathologists work closely with dermatologists
While a dermatologist can often look at a patient and make an accurate diagnosis, some diseases require a closer look. Skin cancer is one of these diseases.
A dermatopathologist can provide this closer look. By looking at the sample under a microscope, the dermatopathologist can usually diagnose the disease.
The dermatopathologist will explain the findings in a written report called a biopsy or pathology report. This report will tell what disease was found. The report also provides other information that can help the dermatologist determine the best possible treatment for the patient.
Some dermatologists examine the samples they take from their patients. This is perfectly acceptable. During a dermatology residency, a dermatology resident learns dermatopathology. This training gives dermatologists the skills needed to examine their own samples.
- What is a Mohs surgeon?
Mohs surgeon. During Mohs surgery, a Mohs surgeon uses a microscope to look for cancer cells.
If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, you may see a Mohs (pronounced "moes") surgeon for treatment. A Mohs surgeon performs a type of surgery called Mohs surgery. This specialized surgery is used exclusively to treat skin cancer.
How to become a Mohs surgeon
Becoming a Mohs surgeon requires many years of education. To become this type of medical doctor, a person must successfully complete the following:
- College, earning a bachelor's degree.
- Medical school, becoming a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO).
- Internship, 1 year.
- Residency program, such as one in dermatology (at least 3 years for dermatology).
Dermatologists are exposed to Mohs surgery during their residency (training to become a dermatologist). After completing their residency, some dermatologists continue their studies and receive advanced training in Mohs surgery. Some dermatologists complete a fellowship, specializing in Mohs surgery and reconstruction. A fellowship is a medical training program that offers in-depth advanced training.
Mohs surgery has many advantages, but it is not necessarily the right treatment for everyone who has skin cancer. A dermatologist considers many factors before determining which treatment will be best for each patient. These factors include the type of skin cancer, whether the cancer has spread, and where the skin cancer appears on the body.
- What is a pediatric dermatologist?
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APediatric dermatologist. Skin disease can affect children differently, and a pediatric dermatologist understands these differences. If your child has a disease that affects the skin, hair, or nails, your child may see a pediatric dermatologist. A pediatric dermatologist is a dermatologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating children, including newborns and infants. This medical doctor first becomes a dermatologist. Extra study and training are needed to become a pediatric dermatologist.
Some diseases that affect the skin, hair, or nails are more common in children. Some of these diseases only occur in children. Diseases that a pediatric dermatologist is likely to treat include:
How to become a pediatric dermatologist
Becoming a pediatric dermatologist requires many years of education. To become this type of medical doctor, a person must successfully complete:
- College, earning a bachelor's degree.
- Medical school, becoming a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO).
- Internship, 1 year.
- Residency program in dermatology (at least 3 years) and pass the board exams.
- Fellowship (advanced medical study and training) in pediatric dermatology (1 to 3 years).
Who is a board-certified pediatric dermatologist?
After successfully completing a fellowship in pediatric dermatology, the doctor can take the board exams. If the doctor passes these exams and meets other requirements, the doctor becomes a board-certified pediatric dermatologist.
All board-certified pediatric dermatologists are:
- Board-certified in dermatology.
- Board-certified in pediatric dermatology.
Some also are board-certified in pediatrics.