Other specialists offer skin procedures

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Other specialists offer skin procedures
October 27, 2007
By Elaine Gaston
MyrtleBeachOnline.com

Dermatologists aren't the only physicians wielding Botox injectors and laser beams.

More medical specialists, including gynecologists, dentists and family physicians, are capitalizing on the aesthetics industry, lured by consumers' interest in it and patients' willingness to pay big bucks for it.

That demand has spawned a plethora of centers specializing in skin care treatments along the Grand Strand.

Family doctor James Turek opened DermaVogue several years ago to specialize in nonsurgical skin rejuvenation, including the use of Botox and laser treatments, fueled by his interest in skin care.

"At the time the dermatology groups were seeing all the skin stuff and no one was doing the nonsurgical rejuvenation," Turek said. "I started because I was interested in it."

Turek still maintains his family medicine practice, but foresees the cosmetic side of his practice growing.

"People will begin taking care of their skin at a younger age so they can beat the knife," he said.

Drs. Amy King and Christine Roberts, gynecologists, last year opened LaserMD, a center specializing in hair removal, skin tightening, Botox and skin care products.

"It's been a natural progression for us," King said. "We address very personal concerns with our gynecology patients related to aging, so it's been very rewarding to be able to extend our care to cosmetic concerns. It's very interrelated."

The doctors, both in their 40s, say they understand women's concerns about aging and wanted to be able to provide opportunities for women to feel better about themselves, which led them to expand their gynecological practice.

"Life expectancy is continuing to go up," King said. "The longer we live the more we want to feel good in every decade of our lives. You can do minor, noninvasive procedures to help them change how they feel about themselves. That's been very rewarding for us."

The proliferation of such businesses is troublesome for dermatologist Michele Mittelbronn with Coastal Dermatology in Mount Pleasant and Pawleys Island.

"It's scary," Mittelbronn said.

"The general public has no idea what they're stepping into. And, unfortunately, the [Food and Drug Administration] is not providing a lot of guidance with this."

Mittelbronn, who was trained as a cosmetic/surgical dermatologist, said she was concerned about the lack of training some physicians entering the aesthetics industry are receiving and their ability to treat the patients accordingly.

"Are these patients really receiving what they need, and are they being properly educated on what they can expect from a treatment?" Mittelbronn asked. "The worst thing is being injured or spending a lot of money and not seeing any results."

King and Turek said they have received the same training dermatologists working with these treatments receive and that they are providing an alternative for patients who are unable to get dermatology appointments because of the long waits.

"We have the luxury of being in an area where we have a shortage of dermatologists," King said.

Turek predicted some centers would not survive because of the expense in providing such services and the continued education and training required to perform the procedures.

"It's really not that easy," Turek said. "Staying on top of things is expensive, and the equipment is expensive. If people find out there's not a quick buck to be made, they'll get eliminated. Those that don't have a genuine interest in it will get out of it."