The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Med Journal June 2020 | Page 7

As a dermatologist, I was trained during and after
my four-year dermatology residency about
skin and procedures affecting the skin. I like my
scope of practice. I do not choose to treat the
common cold or broken bones. Anything outside
of dermatology is outside of my scope of
practice. Even though I was trained to perform
Mohs surgery and blepharoplasty in dermatology
residency, I choose not to include these
procedures in my scope of practice because I
do not regularly perform them. I also choose
not to collaborate with a nurse practioner or
physician assistant for anything outside of my
scope of practice. I am a board-certified dermatologist,
which means I am trained to treat
healthy and diseased skin. I love skin.
One final thought: the longer I practice, the more
I learn that outcomes and experience matters.
My mother-in-law humbled me many years
ago; after I have been injecting and practicing
for about five years, she told me in a matter-offact
way that she thought I was finally getting
good – that my injections were hurting less and
the results better. There is definitely a learning
curve to everything. I have also learned that any
injector can have complications and problems.
I pray that I never have a serious complication.
However, if I do, I hope I will be able to stay
with that patient, understand and identify the
issue, and do my best to make it right. If you
are still considering adding injections or lasers
or other cosmetic treatments to your scope of
practice or are considering working with a medi-spa,
below are some links to other websites
you may want to peruse. If you are considering
being a patient who gets cosmetic treatments,
I encourage you to make sure you are going
to a licensed facility and being treated by a
trained, licensed professional. You will want to
know how many years they have been performing
those procedures and how many of those
procedures they perform per day. You will also
want to know how any complications will be
managed, how you will contact them for any
complications, etc.
My final wish is that you always feel and stay
skintastic. I wish every patient health and happiness.
I wish you happiness and peace. Thank
you for allowing me to share some of the facts
and regulations and some of my opinions with
you.
• https://www.aad.org/Forms/Policies/Uploads/PS/PS-Medical%20Spa%20Standards%20of%20Practice.pdf
• https://www.surgery.org/consumers/
consumer-resources/consumer-tips/patient-safety-advisory-on-medi-spas
• https://www.naplesnews.com/in-depth/
news/special-reports/2019/01/30/
miami-doctors-plastic-surgery-empire-becomes-floridas-deadliest-clinics/2462068002/
• https://www.americanmedspa.org/
news/169407/Want-to-be-a-Medical-Director-at-a-Medical-Spa-Beware.htm
• https://www.littlerockcosmeticsurgery.
com/medi-spa-arkansas/
• https://www.hairfacts.com/wp-content/
uploads/sites/5/2010/04/aada-state-regulation-of-medical-spa-facilities-toolkit.pdf
Keeping physicians in mind and informed
The Arkansas Medical Society is
committed to keeping Arkansas
physicians and their medical teams
in mind and informed during these
difficult times.
For all COVID-19 related news and
updates, visit ARKMED.org/covid19.
Volume 116 • Number 12 JUNE 2020 • 271