Dermatologists more interested in Botox than suspect moles

Aug 30 2007

A new study has found that when it comes to cosmetic versus urgent dermatology appointments, cosmetic procedures win hands down.

It seems it is a lot quicker to get into the dermatologists surgery for that Botox fix than to have a suspect mole checked.

Researchers found that patients seeking a cosmetic Botox injection have faster access to dermatologists than patients seeking urgent consultation for a mole removal.

Dr. Jack S. Resneck Jr., the lead author of the study, who is an assistant professor of dermatology at the medical school of the University of California, San Francisco, says the difference in wait times between medical dermatology and cosmetic dermatology patients is clear.

Dr. Resneck says why patients wait less time for cosmetic work needs to be examined.

The researchers found for example that in Boston, the average wait for a Botox treatment was 13 days, and 68 days for a mole to be examined by a doctor.

As changing moles can be an indication of skin cancer, waiting as much as 2 months to have this possibly diagnosed, can dramatically change the type of treatment which might be needed and a simple removal of a mole could become in that time a case requiring far more complex treatment.

Half of the dermatologists surveyed in the study said they offered appointments for Botox injections with a median wait time of about 8 days while a previous study found the median wait times for evaluating a mole could be up to 26 days.

The researchers say dermatologists in Miami, Orange County, and California, were more likely to provide shorter wait times for a Botox appointment than other cities.

Dr. David M. Pariser, president-elect of the American Academy of Dermatology, says the study shows clearly that cosmetic patients had easier access to treatment than medical patients.

The research is published online by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.