Patient Handouts
OPTIMIZING THE IN-CLINIC PATIENT EXPERIENCE
Patient educational materials developed by board-certified dermatologists
Patients have many ways of obtaining information about desired treatments. However, this information is not always reliable, accurate, or written by dermatologists. In order to help to optimize the in-clinic experience of cosmetic patients, and to provide patients with unbiased, scientifically valid, and understandable information, the AACD Patient Experience Committee has put together a collection of patient handouts on common cosmetic and laser procedures.
AACD members may download and print all handouts for use as part of patient education in clinic. Developed by board-certified dermatologists with expertise in performing and teaching cosmetic and laser dermatology, these handouts are based on the latest scientific information, have a standardized format, and presented at no higher than an 8th grade level.
Because handouts contain specific patient instructions and should be explained by a healthcare provider, these are currently available only to AACD members.
In general, for each procedure, there are three handouts:
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Before & after treatment instructions
A single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Some procedures, such as chemical peels and CO2 laser, require more specific instructions and are formatted in a slightly different way.
This material is for informational or educational purposes only. These handouts are not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from a dermatologist or other health care professional. The AACD makes every effort to provide information that is both accurate and timely but makes no guarantee in this regard.
Example Handouts


Member Log In Required to Download Patient Handouts
If you have any questions or concerns, please email info@theaacd.org.
Chemical peels (medium depth and superficial)
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions for medium depth peels
- Before/after treatment instructions for superficial peels
Contributed by Drs. Kira Minkis, MD, PhD, Bianca Kang, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
CO2 laser (fully ablative and fractional)
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions for fully ablative laser
- Before/after treatment instructions for fractional laser
Contributed by Drs. Elika Hoss, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
Fraxel
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Ronald Sulewski, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
Hyaluronic acid filler (e.g., Juvederm®, Restylane®, Belotero®, RHA®)
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Elika Hoss, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
Intense pulsed light (IPL, broadband light/BBL, photorejuvenation)
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Roberta Lucas, MD, Bianca Kang, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
Kybella® (deoxycholic acid injection)
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Ronald Sulewski, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
Laser for pigmented lesions
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Milad Eshaq, MD, and Deirdre Hooper, MD
Laser hair removal (LHR)
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Milad Eshaq, MD, and Deirdre Hooper, MD
Neuromodulator (e.g., Botox®, Dysport®, Xeomin®, Juveau®)
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Alison Boucher, MD, Bianca Kang, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
Pulsed dye laser (PDL)
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Alison Boucher, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
Radiesse® (calcium hydroxylapatite filler)
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Diana Antonovich, MD, Bianca Kang, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
Sclerotherapy
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Diana Antonovich, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
Sculptra (poly-l-lactic acid/PLLA)
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Ronda Farah, MD, Bianca Kang, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
Subcision
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Roberta Lucas, MD, and Gabriella Alvarez, MD
Radiofrequency microneedling (RFMN)
Must be logged in to download.
Included handouts:
- FAQs
- Before/after treatment instructions
- Single page handout including both FAQs and before/after care
Contributed by Drs. Rawaa Almukhtar, MD, and M. Laurin Council, MD, MBA
From the AACD Patient Experience Committee
CHAIR: Roberta Lucas, MD
CO-CHAIR: Ronald Sulewski, MD
MEMBERS:
Diana Antonovich, MD
Alison Boucher, MD
Ronda Farah, MD
Elika Hoss, MD
Kira Minkis, MD, PhD
Thank you also to Gabriella Alvarez for making this initiative possible.