“The results of the CDC’s investigation emphasize the growing patient safety concerns regarding the lack of regulation and proper oversight of medical spas/procedures. Patients deserve optimal safety in all settings when receiving medical procedures. We recommend that all patients visiting a medical spa ask: Who owns and operates the med spa? Who is performing the medical procedure and do they have the proper education, training and oversight. And is a physician present onsite?” – ASDSA President Seth Matarasso, MD

Read ASDSA’s statement regarding the CDC's report of the first known transmission of HIV through cosmetic injection services via contaminated blood.

#ASDSAdvocacy #PatientSafety #MedSpaSafetyAct #CDC #VampireFacial

Recent tragedies highlight the need for increased patient safety. The CDC recently investigated reported cases of HIV from vampire facials at an unlicensed Albuquerque medical spa.

Learn about ASDSA’s efforts to protect patient safety through ASDSA’s Medical Spa Safety Act.

#ASDSAdvocacy #MedSpaSafetyAct #PatientSafety

“Just because you walk into a treatment room and someone has a white coat on does not mean that they are a physician,” said Dr. Seth L. Matarasso, a cosmetic dermatologist and the president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

We urge patients when visiting a med spa to ask: Who owns and operates the med spa? Who is performing the medical procedure and do they have the proper education, training and oversight. When in doubt don't get the procedure.

ASDSA works to protect patients who visit med spas through the Medical Spa Safety Coalition. Read the New York Times Article to learn more.

#ASDSAdvocacy #PatientSafety #CounterfeitBotox #CDC

The CDC advises consulting a physician or going to the emergency room immediately if patients have any symptoms of botulism, including:

• Blurry or double vision
• Drooping eyelids
• Trouble swallowing or breathing
• Muscle weakness

If you experience these symptoms or are a physician who encounters any patients seeking medical care for adverse reactions after receiving botulinum toxin injections, please report them to the Cutaneous Procedures Adverse Events Reporting (CAPER) Registry

Patients deserve safety for medical procedures in every setting.

“ASDSA takes the safety of patients very seriously, and we urge states to consider this in regulating medical practice in all settings of care. It is important to make sure all patients receive FDA approved products and not counterfeit or otherwise unsafe treatments. Lack of regulation and enforcement has enabled many to offer medical procedures for cosmetic purposes outside of their training and expertise.” – ASDSA President Seth Matarasso, MD

Read ASDSA’s full press to learn more.

#asdsadvocacy #patientsafety #MedSpaSafetyAct

Patients deserve to make informed decisions about from whom they receive medical treatment. This recent tragic patient death in CA highlights the dangers of physicians claiming treatments, conditions, or procedures outside the scope of their residency or fellowship training.

ASDSA supports patient safety by advocating for transparency in medical advertising and direct-to-patient interactions as it relates to physician board certification, physician specialization and subspecialization, and level of licensure. Read ASDSA’s statement regarding this tragedy.

#ASDSAdvocacy #PatientSafety #boardcertifieddermatologists

Patients deserve safety for medical procedures in every setting. Recent tragic events at medical spas, including a patient’s death and HIV transmission from ‘vampire’ facials, highlight the need for increased patient safety and direct physician oversight. Learn about ASDSA’s work to protect patients who visit med spas at asds.net/medical-spa-safety-coalition.

#ASDSAdvocacy #ASDSSkinMD #PatientSafetyAwarenessWeek #MedSpaSafetyAct

Patients have purchased unsafe fat dissolving injections such as Aqualyx, Lipodissolve, Lipo Lab and Kabelline online, or have had access to them in med spas by unqualified personnel. These injections are not approved by the FDA and have been reported to cause adverse reactions to the skin such as scars, serious infections, skin deformities, cysts and deep, painful knots.

ASDSA recommends that patients consult with a board certified dermatologist if they are considering fat-dissolving treatment. Read the FDA’s warning to learn more.

#asdsadvocay #patientsafety #boardcertifieddermatologist #FDA # AdverseEvents #CAPER

“ASDSA welcomes attention about med spa patient safety reports, which highlight the need for increased oversight and regulations for med spas. We urge patients when visiting a med spa to ask: Who owns and operates the med spa? Who is performing the medical procedure and do they have the proper education, training and oversight. ASDSA recommends that states pass the Medical Spa Safety Act, which includes that a physician be onsite and immediately available should any complications occur.” – ASDSA President Seth Matarasso, MD

See NBC’s story to learn more.

#asdsadvocacy #NBCnews #boardcertifieddermatologists #patientsafety #dermsurgery #MedSpaSafetyAct

The ASDSA “Medical Spa Safety Act” calls for onsite physician supervision.

This recent tragic patient death in a TX medical spa highlights the need for increased medical spa safety.

#ASDSAdvocacy #medspasafety #patientsafety #boardcertifieddermatologists

New research supports physician involvement in medical spas to protect patient safety.

• “Who Is Holding the Syringe? A Survey of Truth in Advertising Among Medical Spas” revealed that non-physicians perform most cosmetic medical procedures at med spas often without patients’ knowledge of the significant variation in medical supervision and training.
• “Evaluating Public Perceptions of Cosmetic Procedures in the Medical Spa and Physician's Office Settings: A Large-scale Survey,” highlights patient safety concerns at medical spas without physician involvement and linked lower physician involvement to higher complication rates in certain cosmetic procedures.

These findings highlight the importance of public protection measures, such as ASDSA’s “Medical Spa Safety Act” to ensure patient safety and proper oversight of care in medical spas. Read the full press release to learn more! #asdsadvocacy #boardcertifieddermatologists #patientsafety #dermsurgery #MedSpaSafetyAct

New Mexico’s Department of Health has linked new HIV cases to ‘vampire facials’ from to Albuquerque med spa.

Patient safety is ASDSA's mission. We urge patients to visit a board certified dermatologist for all medical procedures of the skin and encourage states to pass ASDSA's Medical Spa Safety Act to protect patients who visit med spas. Visit asds.net/model-legislation for more information regarding our Medical Spa Safety Act.

"Having filler injected should be considered a medical procedure, not a cosmetic treatment." - FDA Dermal Fillers Webpage

#ASDSAdvocacy #DermalFillers #Dermatologist #AdverseEvents #PatientSafety #SideEffects #FDA