UC HEALTH LINE:
Patients Should Use Caution at ‘Medical Spas’
Cincinnati—The list
of “latest and greatest” cosmetic procedures aimed at improving our
personal appearance grows daily: SmartLipo. Laser bra lifts.
LipoDissolve. Power-assisted liposuction. Short-scar facelifts.
But in the quest to
find bodily perfection, some people fall prey to fast-fix procedures
that set high expectations for an even higher price tag. University of
Cincinnati (UC) cosmetic surgeons caution people to think twice before having an
elective cosmetic procedure without getting the facts about safety and
outcomes first.
“Many of these
newer procedures advertised for eliminating unwanted fat or eliminating
cellulite are not scientifically proven to work or have lasting
effects,” says
W. John Kitzmiller, MD, chief of plastic at UC and surgeon with
University Hospital. “Patients should focus on getting the best
treatment available rather than pursuing expensive quick fixes that
leave them frustrated with results and out of money.
“People need to
have a realistic understanding of what to expect from these new
treatments. If the results sound too good to be true, they probably
are,” he adds.
According to the
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), Americans
spent more than $13 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2007. More than
half that total was for nonsurgical procedures.
This growth has
resulted in a large number of “medi-spas” popping up across the country
offering an assortment of procedures including deep peel facials, hair
removal, pharmaceutical injections (Botox, skin fillers) and other
medical procedures designed to eradicate wrinkles, pigmentation problems
and stubborn fat deposits.
“No national
standards exist to quantify or regulate what constitutes such a
facility,” says Kitzmiller, a board-certified cosmetic and plastic
surgeon who sees patients at the
University Pointe Medical Campus in West Chester. “Without
oversight organizations, patients do not get the information they need
to make an informed, safe choice about these facilities.”
In the state of
Ohio, he says aestheticians are qualified to do facials on the top layer
of the skin. Nurses can perform hair removal with physician
supervision. Other cosmetic procedures should be performed by a
physician in a safe, well-regulated medical environment.
Kitzmiller
recommends considering the following factors, detailed by the ASAPS,
before choosing a cosmetic surgery procedure:
Check the
facility’s accreditation—it is a measure of quality and safety.
Cosmetic surgery
should be performed in a hospital, surgical center or office-based
outpatient medical facility. Although problems are rare with noninvasive
cosmetic procedures, these facilities have the medical personnel
available to address problems with treatment if they occur.
Seek out
board-certified physicians.
Board-certification
is the best indicator of a physician’s medical or surgical training. If
treatment occurs in a facility outside of a professional medical
setting, ask for the name and credentials of the physician providing
oversight and when they are available for consultations before having
any injectable, deep peel or laser treatment.
Understand exactly
what will happen during your treatment and what to expect afterward.
Consulting with
your doctor prior to surgery is an essential opportunity to ask
questions about both the benefits and risks of any given procedure. This
should also include a thorough review of your medical history to heed
off any potential complications or unnecessary risks.
For more
information on the safety of medi-spas, visit
www.surgery.org.
For appointments
with Kitzmiller and the other board-certified plastic and cosmetic
surgeons at UC, call (513) 475-8881.
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