Patients to Avoid Unqualified Personnel Performing Cosmetic Treatments
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi was asked by the media to comment on an article published in the Health section of the digital journal website on 19 August 2013 which voiced The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)’s warning to patients to avoid the dangers of unlicensed personnel performing cosmetic procedures in non-clinical settings.
It has been said that in America many individuals have been arrested for performing illegal injections of Botulinum Toxin Type A, fillers and Collagen Stimulation at shopping malls and beauty salons or in their homes and hotel rooms without sufficient training or licenses.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi supports ASAP’s advice that cosmetic procedures, including tissue filler injections, laser therapies, chemical peels and skin resurfacing, should only be done under the care of properly credentialed and trained medical professionals using only products approved by the FDA.
Dr Jack Fisher, MD stated “Non-surgical does not mean non-medical. Patients deserve to know who is treating them, what their qualifications are, who the supervising physician is, and where the product is coming from.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi agrees with this, as well as Michael Edwards statement “Physicians can appropriately provide oversight for patient care in a variety of medical settings, our concern is that physician supervision in non-surgical cosmetic procedures may be inadequate or non-existent.”
ASAP discussed that over the last few years, there has been explosive growth in non-surgical cosmetic-procedures often performed in retail or spa-like settings.
Unlike physician offices where clinicians oversee the treatment and maintain medical records, spa-type centres may have limited or no full-time medical staff and may lack the experience or training to handle more than routine beauty services.
Dr Ayoubi Al-Ayoubi supports ASAP’s belief that patients need assurance that a qualified and trained practitioner will perform their procedure appropriately, under sanitary conditions, and with product where the quality and source is known and FDA approved.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi is disappointed to hear that the individuals performing these cosmetic medical treatments lack the adequate training to safely perform the procedures, and do not spend the time or have the training to conduct an adequate informed consent consultation.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi supports ASAP’s advice is that patients should do their homework when choosing a physician, and know that whilst spas and salons are convenient for cosmetic medical treatments, convenience should never outrank safety and expertise when having a medical procedure.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi agrees that all medical societies should work collaboratively with allied health professionals, and industry to raise awareness of the dangers of such procedures being performed by unqualified or untrained professionals.
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