Hello, I am Lee Sang-ju, a board-certified dermatologist. I often receive questions about how to find a good dermatology clinic. It's not as difficult as you might think, so let's explore some important tips.
Choose a clinic where you can consult directly with the doctor
Recently, many clinics attract patients through various advertisements and promotions, with staff conducting consultations. Also, there are often clinics that perform dermatological procedures in a factory-like manner. In such places, sufficient consultation may be difficult, and it may be hard to receive treatment tailored to each patient's individual condition.
Therefore, it is advisable to find a clinic where you can consult directly with the doctor who will perform the procedure.
Why entrust skin problems to a board-certified dermatologist
Just as we wouldn't seek a dermatologist for a brain problem, a board-certified dermatologist knows skin problems best. Generally, anyone who graduates from medical school can become a doctor, but a board-certified dermatologist undergoes a 1-year internship and a 4-year residency program specializing only in dermatology. Through this total of 5 years of specialized training, they acquire very in-depth knowledge and experience regarding the skin.
How to distinguish a board-certified dermatology clinic
It is often difficult to tell from the signboard alone whether a clinic is run by a board-certified dermatologist or a general practitioner offering dermatological services. Here's a simple tip:
- If 'Dermatology' appears before 'Clinic' on the signboard, like 'Hong Gil-dong Dermatology Clinic', it is a clinic where a board-certified dermatologist practices.
- If 'Dermatology' appears after 'Clinic' on the signboard, like 'Hong Gil-dong Clinic Dermatology', a board-certified dermatologist may work there, but it is also possible they do not.
In other words, if 'Dermatology' is explicitly stated before 'Clinic' on the signboard, you can assume that the clinic is run by a board-certified dermatologist.
Utilize the Korean Academy of Dermatology website
There is an association composed only of board-certified dermatologists. A representative one is the Korean Academy of Dermatology. This website provides a function to search whether a particular doctor is a board-certified dermatologist or not. It also has a function to search for dermatologists near your address, so if you have questions or concerns about a specific clinic, we recommend consulting with a nearby board-certified dermatologist.
Diverse equipment and rich experience in procedures are important
Especially in cosmetic dermatology, many treatments involve various devices in addition to simple procedures. Therefore, it is better to choose a clinic with diverse equipment rather than one with only one or two devices. Also, choosing a doctor with extensive and varied experience over a long period, rather than one with short experience, is one way to receive better treatment.
Today, I explained how to find a good dermatology clinic. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to inquire via comments or KakaoTalk.