Nearly 30% of people are considering a cosmetic procedure, and by and large, their go-to specialist is a dermatologist, according to a new survey released by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS).

The first-ever ASDS Consumer Survey on Cosmetic Dermatologic Procedures polled more than 6,300 people about cosmetic treatments in general and ratings for 10 specific procedures.

While 6.4% of those surveyed had a cosmetic treatment, nearly 30% said they are considering one. When asked what provider they chose, consumers not only picked dermatologists as the physician of choice for nine of the 10 procedures but also said dermatologic surgeons are their dermatologist of choice in nine of the 10 categories.

Board Certification Counts

In this poll, dermatologists exhibited a greater influence on decisions to have cosmetic procedures than friends, physician referral, or 11 other choices. Respondents also said the specialty in which a physician is board certified is the most important factor when contemplating a cosmetic procedure – more important than cost, physician referral, or eight other choices.

Individuals who were thinking about cosmetic surgery said that they wanted it to look “as young as I feel for my age,” want to “appear more attractive” or “feel more confident.”

More than 80% of respondents said excess weight was the cosmetic condition that bothers them the most. Other conditions consumers are “most bothered” by include:

• Lines and wrinkles around the eyes (63%)
• Skin texture and/or discoloration (62%)
• Sagging facial skin (61%)
• Excess fat under the chin (60%)
• Lines, wrinkles and/or folds in the mid-face around the cheeks and mouth (60%)

Procedures being considered the most by consumers include ultrasound, laser, light and radiofrequency treatments for wrinkles; laser and light treatments to reduce facial redness, improve skin tone, or improve scars; and body sculpting. Consumers gave the highest overall satisfaction rates to cosmetic procedures that are performed by dermatologists more often than by other practitioners – such as injectables wrinkle treatments (92%) and injectable filler treatments (92%).

Data were obtained through a blind online survey conducted March 26 to April 1 through the web-based ZoomPanel service. The survey received nearly 6,350 responses.