How Much Does It Cost To See Dr. Pimple Popper

Like millions of others, you may be obsessed with watching the extractions performed by TLC's Dr. Pimple Popper, who tackles the toughest skin blemishes from deep black heads to stubborn cysts. With over four million Instagram followers, the popular board certified dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee is largely sought after for those needing treatment. In an interview with Forbes, Dr. Lee revealed that people travel from all over the globe for a consultation with her. Celebrities seek out her services, too. Dr. Lee tells Refinery 29, "Even Ayesha Curry called when she had a mini pimple emergency, so I drove down to give her a cortisol injection on set."

While not everyone has readily available funds for an on-call skin doctor, anyone can make an appointment to see Dr. Pimple Popper in her California based office. For $120, you can book a consult with Dr. Lee at her practice, Skin Physicians and Surgeons, and use that payment toward a procedure, which can cost upwards of $600 (via The Cheat Sheet). Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not cover cosmetic procedures. When it comes to skin blemishes, Dr. Lee tells Forbes, "They're benign and they're not anything that needs to be removed medically, which is why insurance won't pay." 

If you don't mind five minutes of fame and aren't squeamish about the world seeing you squeezed clean, you can possibly see Dr. Pimple Popper for free. According to Refinery 29, you can apply to be on the Dr. Pimple Popper show, and if chosen, your procedure is on the house. Dr. Lee states, "The production company foots the patient's bill for their travel expenses as well as my fees." 

Dr. Lee tells Refinery 29 that while "There are casting agents who are hired by TLC to find potential patients for filming," there is also an outreach on online forums, like Reddit and Facebook. Make sure when applying you submit detailed photos of your skin condition, and, if picked, you will be put through an audition process and then — hopefully — off to film your procedure. 

If you don't make it onto the show, but still need medical advice, Dr. Lee recommends finding a board-certified dermatologist near you. She emphasizes to her audience, "If you have any kind of skin condition that you think may be abnormal, I recommend seeing a dermatologist."