Liz Weston MY TWO CENTS
Doctors
Who Deal
Dear Liz: I’ve landed
great bargains on
deal-a-day websites.
Now they’re offering
discounts on medical
services like Botox
injections and laser eye
surgery. Are they safe?
Most discounts from sites
such as Groupon and
LivingSocial aren’t risky:
A bad burrito or mediocre
massage won’t ruin your
life. With medical services,
though, the stakes are
higher. Procedures like
dental implants, liposuc-
tion, skin-rejuvenation
treatments, and Lasik eye
surgery—all of which have
been offered at discounts
of 50 percent or more on
these sites—carry real
dangers. A recent Groupon
deal, for example, provided
discounts for a treatment
called lipodissolve, which
claims to dissolve fat with
minimally invasive drug
injections. The FDA, how-
ever, hasn’t approved the
drugs for fat removal and
warns that the procedure
is unproven. The agency
has also received reports
of scarring, skin deforma-
tion, and deep, painful
knots under the skin at
injection sites.
Of course, deal sites
won’t say whether a proce-
dure is risky or help you
determine which doctors
are competent. Before
pursuing any medical
service, discuss your op-
tions with a board-certified
specialist. (Check with
your state’s medical or
dental board to confirm the
provider is licensed and
whether he or she has a
disciplinary history.) Deals
are enticing, but a botched
procedure or risky treat-
ment is no bargain. ;
NIP/TUCK
Tips
Medical services
offered on
deal-a-day sites
are typically
elective, so don’t
expect your
insurer to help
pay the cost.
Liz Weston, author of The 10
Commandments of Money,
blogs at asklizweston.com.
Many providers
of cosmetic
procedures offer
financing plans to
help patients pay
for services.
Some services need supervision Safe at the Spa
So-called medical spas do cosmetic procedures such as chemical peels
in addition to manicures and massages. State laws vary, but most say these
services should be done by a physician or a registered nurse, nurse practitio-
ner, or physician assistant under the supervision of a physician. For any treat-
ments more serious than a facial—such as Botox injections or a skin peel that
requires sedation—make sure there’s a doctor in the house. —L. W.
Ask your
friends and your
physician
for referrals
to dermatologists
and cosmetic
dentists
they trust.
GOT A MONEY
QUESTION?
Let us know what’s on your mind at aarp.org/askliz.
