Visiting a dermatologist can do wonders for your skin, but it can also mean you’re in store for some surprises. While it’s not always the case, some doctors don’t offer you all the information they have on treatments and procedures. “They can’t tell you every possible thing that can go wrong because they’re short on time and they’ll scare you away,” says Neal Schultz, MD, a New York–based medical and cosmetic dermatologist and member of the American Academy of Dermatology. What might your doc be holding back? Check out the below eight secrets dermatologists tend to keep to themselves.
 

1. Simple mole removals can go wrong.

When it comes to side effects of even the most mundane procedures like removing moles, most dermatologists mention only what’s most applicable to the patient, says Dr. Schultz. “Doctors filter out what they think is irrelevant,” he says. So your MD may not prepare you for rare side effects, like contracting flesh-eating staph, which, scary enough, can happen. But there’s no reason for concern since most side effects are extremely uncommon, explains Dr. Schultz.
 

2. Laser treatments aren’t perfect.

Although dermatologists tout lasers’ benefits, they may not mention some important facts that may make you reconsider treatment. For instance, “laser resurfacing takes longer to recover from than patients expect,” says Debra Jaliman, MD, author of Skin Rules and a member of the American Academy of Dermatologists. Anticipate some oozing and skin discoloration following treatment. And your desired results may not actually appear for as many as 10 days, she says. Plus, using lasers on darker skin can cause long-lasting discoloration.
 

3. You can (and should!) boost your skin health from home.

It’s not all prescriptions and minor skin fixes that can keep your epidermis dandy. Many dermatologists don’t tell their patients what they can do outside of the office to help their skin glow. “I like to talk about how diet can contribute to healthy skin,” says Dr. Jaliman. What to put on the menu? Munch on fruits and vegetables and drink green tea because they’re good sources of antioxidants, which protect skin from sun damage.
 

4. Predicted procedure results may be better than the final results.

“Some doctors exaggerate procedure benefits,” says Dr. Schultz. His office tells patients that results are slightly worse than the projected outcome to manage expectations. In other practices, doctors may say all of your wrinkles will disappear after a procedure rather than telling you that 60% improvement is more likely, he explains. Before committing to a procedure, be sure that the doctor isn’t over-promising on the results. If she guarantees a perfect outcome, get a second opinion.

Click here for 4 more things dermatologists won’t tell you!
 

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Are you surprised by any of these? If so, which one(s)?