A COSMETIC surgeon in Yangon is warning people against getting skin treatments without first investigating the procedures and choosing an appropriate practitioner.

Dr Khine Khine Zaw, an aesthetic dermatologist at Kembangan Pacific Medical and Dental Centre, said many people who visit skin clinics and beauty spas have problems because they do not understand what they are paying for or do not know enough about the people providing the treatment.

“I have often met patients like this. One patient came to me in October because her face was tense and heavy after her freckle treatment at one clinic. She didn’t know anything about her doctor except his name,” Dr Khine Khine Zaw said.

Since 2000, the number of cosmetic surgeons and skin clinics has increased in Myanmar and more people are interested in getting treatment for such things as acne control, freckles and skin blemishes. Laser skin treatment and eyelid surgery are also more popular.

An official from Pan Haling International Hospital said that since last year, the number of patients interested in cosmetic surgery has tripled.

She added that most of the patients are women who get skin treatments to enhance their beauty.

Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Myint Myint Khaing from Thukhakaba Clinic said that only about 40 percent of her patients come in to get treatment following an accident, while the rest come in for beauty enhancement.

Dr Khine Khine Zaw, who offers Botox injections for wrinkles, face lifts, chemical peels and laser skin treatment, warns that if patients don’t do their own research beforehand, they may get bad results from some clinics. One victim said that last year she went to a well-known beauty salon for non-surgical acne treatment.

“They gave me medicine to apply to the acne with assurances that it would work but after I used it, my acne got worse and my face was red and tense,” she said. “I went back and told them, and they gave me other medicine but it made the acne worse. They refused to believe their medicine was to blame. After a month, I wanted to give them back my medicine because it was a lot of money for me but they refused. I wasted K500,000 without any benefit.” Dr Khine Khine Zaw said that some doctors have a little knowledge about the possible side effects of particular treatments or medicines.

“Every medicine has side effects. The doctor should know about these and tell the patient before the treatment,” she said.

Dr Khine Khine Zaw also said customers should be wary of claims by doctors that they studied abroad.

“Six months of training is not enough to make a good doctor,” she said. “And some of them call themselves dermatologists even if they studied a completely different field at school.”