Cutaneous laser and intense pulsed light treatments are two of the most popular aesthetic treatment modalities. More and more physicians regardless of their training background are providing such profitable services because there is still no regulation on the cosmetic procedures a physician can perform. The purpose of the present study was to find out the relative strength and weakness of different medical specialties in providing laser and intense pulsed light treatment. Major decision factors for physician selection were extracted from 19 physician choice criteria with factor analysis. Using analytic hierarchy process, the relative weight of these factors and that of dermatologists, plastic surgeons and aesthetic practitioners in each factor were calculated. After reading the training curricula of dermatologists and plastic surgeons, respondents were asked to rate again the 3 medical specialties. Our results indicated that medical competence (0.3296) was the most important major decision factor followed by recommendation (0.2198), friendliness (0.1350), cost (0.1307), complete service (0.0984) and physical attribute of the physician (0.0865). Compared with plastic surgeons and aesthetic practitioners, dermatologists had an advantage in all factors except complete service, which was the strength of plastic surgeons. New patients, aged under 40, with a college degree and a monthly allowance less than 20000 NTD were more likely to change their rating in favor of dermatologists after reading the curriculum profile..