Due to the proliferation of spas, salons and walk-in clinics offering cosmetic procedures performed by non-physicians, ASDS has noted a significant increase in patient complications.

In response to this alarming national trend, ASDS has launched a campaign warning consumers that cosmetic treatments, such as those using lasers, high-tech light devices, chemical peels, soft tissue fillers, botulinum toxin and microdermabrasion techniques, are medical/surgical procedures that should be performed by a fully qualified physician or under the direct supervision of the physician.

The links below include news releases on the hazards of the non-physician practice of medicine; consumer safety tips; ASDS’ position statements as well as compelling photographs of patient complications. There are also links to articles on patient complications on several news websites.

The links are divided into two topics: Non-Physician Practice of Medicine and Office Safety.

Non-Physician Practice of Medicine
The following links relate to the risks of unsupervised non-physician practice of medicine - what to know, what to ask before you undergo a cosmetic surgery procedure.

• Highlights of the ASDS Patient Safety Campaign 
• Cases of patient complications 
• Fillers gone wrong: Tips for avoiding common complications (from The Skin Source: Summer 2006)
• Don’t get burned: What you need to know about laser hair removal (from The Skin Source: Summer 2006)
• Warning to consumers: Know who’s behind the needle (Mar. 2006)
• Do’s and don’ts for patient safety 
• Pre-cosmetic surgery questionnaire  
  print the Word version 
  print the pdf version    
• ASDS Position Statement on the Practice of Medicine and Use of Non-Physician Office Personnel 
• ASDS Position Statement on the Definition of the Practice of Medicine 
• ASDS Position Statement on The Use of Lasers, Intense Pulsed Light, Radio Frequency, and Medical Microwave Devices 
• ASDS Position on the Use of Dermal Fillers and Injectables 
• Photo booklet of patient complications (contains graphic images) 

Office Safety 
The following links relate to Office Safety in cosmetic surgery. They contain recommendations to help you make good decisions about your cosmetic surgery options.

• ASDS Top Five Consumer Safety Tips 
• ASDS Position Statement on the Definition of the Practice of Medicine 
• ASDS Position Statement on Office-Based Surgery 
• Call for nominations: Patient Safety Hero Awards 

For questions or further information, contact Lisle Poulsen at lpoulsen@asds.net. 

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