LASIK and the Dermatologist

B efore coming to Skin & Aging in 2001, I was executive editor for two publications — one that went to optometrists and the other to ophthalmologists. When I started editing for these professions years before, laser vision correction was just heating up. Within several years, though, the technology made huge advances to bring us where we are today — with laser vision correction and “LASIK,” specifically, being household names. The Dermatology Connection By the time I left to come to Skin & Aging, the 100% rosy views of LASIK had faded some, and fees for the procedure were all over the board. Which brings me to a conversation I had at the 2002 summer American Academy of Dermatology meeting with Geoffrey Anders, J.D., C.P.A., C.H.B.C. He’d stopped by our booth, and we struck up a conversation. As a medical consultant to many dermatology practices across the country, Geoff definitely has his finger on the pulse of dermatology practice matters. His firm, The Health Care Group, consults for many medical specialties in addition to dermatology — ophthalmology among them. I was interested in some of the similarities Geoff has seen among the professions of dermatology and ophthalmology, so we were off and running in conversation. Some of the most striking similarities between dermatologists and ophthalmologists occur between dermatologists who perform cosmetic procedures and ophthalmologists who provide laser vision correction. Of course the most obvious similarity is that both types of physicians provide procedures that are typically paid out of pocket, not covered by managed care. Heading down this path of conversation, we both quickly began recounting the bloodbath of fee slashing that occurred when LASIK “discounters” entered the market. In some areas of the country, fees decreased from $2,400 per eye to $490 per eye. Could the Same happen in dermatology? Of course, the first thing I wanted to know was whether the price wars could affect cosmetic dermatologists. In an article this month, titled, “Will Price Cutting Erode Cosmetic Dermatology Fees?” Geoff answers the question. Turn to page 72 to read about this topic. A snapshot of this month’s issue This month, we offer a wide variety of articles. The cover story, “Teledermatology: The Future of Medical Dermatology?” (beginning on page 38) discusses who’s using this type of technology and for what purposes. Another interesting article that you can also share with your patients centers on hair growth remedies. “Hair Loss Treatments — A Word of Caution,” (page 80) gives a great synopsis of Rx and OTC remedies and discusses the bottom-line effectiveness of each product. It will help you steer your patients clear of pseudo products. Also in the March issue, take a moment to learn the essentials of wound management, including choosing the best dressing types. This article begins on page 60. Take a moment to quiz yourself on neurocutaneous disorders by viewing the pictorial cases beginning on page 54. This month, we also offer our first of four free CME articles for the year. Read about the importance of skin pH, beginning on page 88. In addition to this line-up of features, read about diagnosing and treating melasma in our new column, “Insights into Ethnic Skin and Hair,” which begins on page 35, an update on dermabrasion in the literature in this month’s “Cosmetic Clinic” column (page 22) and learn about a new educational tool available that’s helping to promote standardization of the Global Solar UV Index across the world (page 21). Pleased To Meet You If you’re headed to this year’s annual AAD meeting in San Francisco, please visit Skin & Aging’s booth. We’ll be located at site #3403, and the editors will be available each day (March 22 through 25) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by and give us the “skin”-ny. See you in San Francisco!