Many people see the field of dermatology as one that focuses mainly on cosmetics and beautiful appearance.
However, that is only half of the truth. Cosmetics is just a portion of what dermatologists specialize in.
The truth is, dermatology is primarily a medical field. Dermatologists provide diagnosis, treatment and care for a number of medical conditions that affect the skin, hair, nails and even mucous membrane.
In addition to that, some dermatologists also specialize in performing surgery and procedures for certain medical conditions in the scope of what they treat. So if you have a medical condition that affects your skin, hair, or mucous membrane, it is best to see a dermatologist.
One question you may have before going, however, is how much does a dermatologist cost? The answer to that heavily depends on what you are going to see them for. Below we’ll look at what you can expect to pay for a visit to a dermatologist.
How Much Does A Dermatologist Cost?
The fees and rates of dermatologists vary depending on multiple factors. However, on average, a single visit to the dermatologists’ clinic may cost you anywhere between $150 to $250. This is the average cost for those who do not have insurance and have to pay out of pocket.
Health Insurance
On the other hand, if you are insured, then you may just have a copayment that typically ranges from $20 to $40. However, not all health insurance provides coverage for dermatology services.
So whether you have health insurance or not is a big factor that affects your costs. Another is what dermatology procedures your health insurance policy will or will not cover.
First Time Visit vs a Regular
Another thing that will affect how much your visit to the dermatologist is whether it is your first time or if you are a regular visitor.
At least part of the reason for this is that your first visit to a new dermatologist is usually a longer, more in depth visit. This gives the dermatologist a chance to get your history, perform necessary tests and more.
Follow up visits tend not to take as long as let the dermatologist monitor your condition and check on how you’re responding to treatment.
Location
Where you live will definitely be a factor in how much your visit will cost. If you live in a big city, where the costs of living is higher, you’ll usually pay more than a visit in a smaller city or town.
Your Condition/Treatment
The reason for your visit will have the biggest impact on what the costs will be for your visit to the dermatologist.
For those who go to the dermatologist for a cosmetic procedure, health insurance usually won’t pay for the treatment.
For those looking for Botox treatments, the average cost is around $800 if you go to a dermatologist for the treatment.
Another common cosmetic treatment is laser hair removal. Costs for this treatment will vary depending on what area you are getting the treatment. But figure the average on being a little under $300 per treatment.
Body contouring, especially CoolSculpting, has become quite popular in recent years. Costs for this procedure start at around $1200 and go up from there.
Medical treatment costs will depend on the type of treatment.
For acne, you can expect costs to range from around $50 to $200 a month (which includes visits to the dermatologist and prescriptions).
For eczema, costs can be under $50 a month for mild cases, but can get up to $300 – $500 a month for more severe cases.
For skin cancer treatments, costs depend on how severe the cancer is, where it’s located, the size and more. Costs can range from $1,500 to $50,000 or more.
So, as you can see, what you pay for a visit to the dermatologist very much depends on the reason for your visit and your health insurance. To get a better idea of costs for your situation, contact your local dermatologist to get some cost estimates.
