This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Most dermatology residency programs offered cosmetic training

Most dermatology residency programs offered some type of cosmetic dermatology training, according to survey responses from program directors.

Researchers emailed a cross-sectional, anonymous survey to 114 program directors (PDs) of US dermatology residency programs. Demographic and cosmetic dermatology training-related questions were included.

Frequency of use of dermatology devices and injectables for hands-on cosmetic dermatology training for residents, PD attitudes regarding dermatology training during residency and residency-related discounted pricing models were the main outcomes and measures.

Fifty-three PDs (46%) responded to the survey. Hands-on dermatology training using botulinum toxin was provided by 94% of residency programs, while 89% covered training with hyaluronic acid fillers.

Pulsed dye (79%) and Q-switched Nd:YAG (58%) lasers were used most commonly by residents.

Sixty percent of the programs offered discounted pricing for selected cosmetic procedures, with the most prevalent being botulinum toxin (94%) and fillers (84%), while vascular lasers (53%) and hair removal lasers (38%) were less commonly discounted.

Thirty-eight percent of PDs said cosmetic dermatology should be necessary in residency training, with 17% of the respondents believing it was appropriate for residents to experience hands-on cosmetic dermatology procedures and 27% indicating that residents should not be required to perform any cosmetic dermatology procedures.

“Although almost every program provides hands-on cosmetic dermatology training, there are barriers to training, including patient preferences, costs of procedures and products and PD attitudes toward dermatology training,” the researchers concluded. “The incorporation of the ever-evolving field of cosmetic dermatology into academic residency programs has to be carefully balanced with respect to medical dermatology, pediatric dermatology, dermatopathology and other aspects of procedural dermatology. However, patient safety must remain at the center of any considerations.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.