Laser Hair Removal - The Back Story
Here is the full list of prices KGO obtained from four Bay Area dermatologists for laser hair removal. We cannot disclose where these prices are from (for proprietary reasons) and are only listing prices for the treatments which all four doctors offer
Six Treatments Derm A Derm B Derm C Derm D
Arms - Under $1,600 $999 $2,100 $1,100
Back - Full $5,600 $5,130 $2,100 $3,690
Bikini - Line $1,600 $1,890 $1,500 $1,300
Upper Lip $1,075 $800 $900 $645
Legs - Full $6,700 $4,320 $4,500 $3,500
Be sure to do your homework when considering laser hair removal treatment
Dr. Seth Matarasso says you should get specifics from the person who will perform your treatment. “How often have you done it (this specific procedure)? Have you done it on my skin type?” he suggests asking. “Have you see any complications? If you’ve seen a complication, how do you treat it? Bottom line, where’s the follow-up if there is a complication?”
“I would go to those facilities first, get the names of every health care provider there and what license they have,” adds Candis Cohen, spokeswoman for the California Medical Board. “Ask: `Is that person a physician, a physician’s assistant, a registered nurse, a licensed vocational nurse?’ I’d call those licensing entities, give the names of those individuals and check on their background. Make sure they don’t have a disciplinary history that could raise some red flags.”
You can check physician’s status with the Medical Board (www2.dca.ca.gov), but must go to the Board of Registered Nurses (www.rn.ca.gov) to check on an R.N. Physicians’ assistants can be checked through the Physician Assistant Committee (www.physicianassistant.ca.gov). If it’s a licensed vocational nurse, then it’s the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (www.bvnpt.ca.gov). Because California has such a complex regulatory system, Cohen suggests going to the Medical Board first for direction.
Another thing to find out is whether the person performing your treatment is a full-time staff member or if he/she rotates between several locations. And check on the equipment involved in the procedure. Ask: “Who’s running this laser? Who’s monitoring it? When was the last time it was serviced?” says Matarasso. Dr. Vic Narurkar also suggests asking if the device being used is FDA-approved for your specific procedure.
If the procedure you want done involves an injection, Narurkar says you should ask what is actually being injected.
“For example, Botox in the frown typically requires 20 to 40 units in the average person,” he says. “How many units are you getting? Is it Botox cosmetic that you’re putting in or is it something else that you’re putting in?”
Also ask about fillers. “Are they using fillers that they’re getting from an appropriate source?” says Narurkar.
Source: ABC - KGO
