Melissa A. Watcher, MD

Expert Publications

• Comparison of the flashlamp pulsed dye laser with the argon tunable dye laser with robotized handpiece for facial telangiectasia.

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Get to know Dermatologist Dr. Melissa A. Watcher, who serves patients in California.

Dr. Watcher is a reputable dermatologist at Premier Dermatology Associates of Orange County in Newport Beach, California. She has been practicing in Orange County for more than twenty years, providing the highest level of general medical and surgical dermatology, including Mohs surgery. 

The skin specialists at Premier Dermatology Associates of Orange County pride themselves on taking care of the whole family from infants to mature adults. They offer a full array of medical, surgical and cosmetic solutions for all patients’ concerns. They work closely with each patient to make sure that their specific needs and objectives are met with comfort and convenience in mind.

In addition to seeing patients at Premier Dermatology Associates of Orange County, Dr. Watcher practices at Orange Dermatology and Laser Center. The state-of-the-art facility provides comprehensive skin care for the whole family, proudly offering highly advanced and individualized treatments in a welcoming and friendly environment.

Teaching is another passion of Dr. Watcher’s and she has shared her expertise through hundreds of hours spent with students of the Physician Assistant Program at Western University in Pomona. 

In good standing with a number of professional organizations, she is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society for Mohs Surgery, and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Growing up in Orange County, Dr. Watcher graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor’s degree in Bioscience. She then attended the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, graduating with her medical degree in 1989. She completed her internship in internal medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, after which she returned to southern California to complete her training in dermatology at the University of California, Irvine.

Helping patients look their best and maintain the health of their skin, she is board-certified in dermatology by the American Board of Dermatology (ABD). The ABD is a voluntary, non-profit, private, autonomous organization formed for the primary purpose of protecting the public interest by establishing and maintaining high standards of training, education, and qualifications of physicians rendering care in dermatology.

Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin, the largest organ of the body; a specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist doctor who manages skin diseases and deals with both internal and external causes and some cosmetic concerns involving the skin. Dermatological duties include taking consultations, providing screening tests, and undertaking non-invasive surgical procedures.

Among her numerous accolades, Dr. Watcher is the recipient of Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), Patients’ Choice Award (2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), Top 10 Doctor – City (2014), and On-Time Doctor Award (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018).

On a more personal note, her varied interests include traveling, antiquing with friends, and being an avid spectator for her children’s sporting events.  As an avid runner, she can be found putting on her running shoes and hitting the trails around the nearby back bay.

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