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Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006 | 7:32 a.m.

Cosmetic treatments available at beauty salons or day spas might not be administered by a medical professional capable of ensuring your safety. Before you undergo such a procedure, consider these tips from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

DO:

* Choose carefully: Beware of businesses not in a physician's office, such as a spa, salon, or storefront in a shopping mall.

* Make sure a doctor is on-site: Most cosmetic procedures should be performed or supervised by a physician who is board-certified in an appropriate specialty.

* Check credentials: Putting people in scrubs and having medical charting on the walls make a facility appear professional, but it doesn't mean that the staff is qualified to perform a medical procedure. Ask about background and training.

* Discuss pain management options: Discomfort or minimal pain may be associated with some minor cosmetic treatments.

DON'T:

* Go to a home or hotel room for a procedure: Cosmetic treatments are medical procedures and shouldn't be performed in these settings.

* Shop by price: If you're getting a much cheaper price than the going rate for a procedure, you probably aren't getting the best treatment.

* Be afraid to ask questions: Ask what will be done if something goes wrong, what training the staff has received, who will perform the procedure, and anything else that comes to mind.

* Be afraid to walk away: If the provider can't prove that a physician is accessible, or if anything else doesn't feel right, find a more reputable location.