Mesotherapy (injection lipolysis) is a cosmetic procedure that was originally developed by Dr. Michael Pistor in Europe. This technique claims to reduce excess fat in localized areas of the body. Recently, here in the United States, this “therapy” has been widely advertised as a viable alternative to conventional liposuction. Conventional liposuction is a surgical procedure requiring anesthesia and the skill of a good surgeon. Injectable lipolysis, on the other hand, is the practice of injecting a chemical “cocktail” into an area of localized subcutaneous fatty deposits. The procedure must be repeated several times to attain any indication of reduced fatty deposits.

Currently there are no guidelines, benchmarks or standards by which to gauge the effectiveness of the technique and no standard regarding the chemical make-up of the mixure injected. The procedure for injecting the mixture is not standardized either. For this reason, the FDA has not approved this procedure for cosmetic use or any other purpose.

The American Society of Plastic Surgery maintains the position that there is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of mesotherapy/injectable lipolysis for fat reduction and therefore does not endorse its use. Plastic surgeons who are members of the A.S.P.S. respect the Society’s recommendations on such matters and adhere to their guidelines. Please click on the link below to learn more about the Society’s position on localized fat reduction techniques currently popular and often highlighted in the media.

Click here to read the guidelines.

A Botox mini-seminar was just completed several days ago at Spascape Dayspa in Scituate. The anti-aging effects of Botox were demonstrated on several patients. The injections were extremely well-tolerated and any discomfort was thought to be minimal in all patients.

With Vancouver and the Olympics on everyone’s mind right now, it is interesting to note that it was the Drs. Carruther, who still practice in Vancouver, that played a large part developing the cosmetic use of Botox. This cosmetic treatment continues to be very popular for men and women, helping to lessen wrinkles and soften features. Although the effects are not permanent, this nonsurgical treatment is a safe and effective anti-aging cosmetic treatment with almost no downtime. Botox is an extensively studied medication proven to be safe, and though originally approved as effective for use in the frown-line area, Botox is now used “off-label” and is appropriate for other facial areas as well such as the forehead, “smile lines”, the crow’s feet area around the eyes, and on wrinkles in the mid and lower face.

The use of Botox and wrinkle fillers continue to be among the most popular minimally invasive cosmetic procedures done today. As always, insist on an appropriately-trained medical professionals experienced in these treatments to administer them.

S. Delia, M.D.

Click here for recent Today Show segment on Botox

In 1998, the federal government passed the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act.

In essence, this Act required all health insurance carriers to provide the following benefits to women following mastectomies:

–Health insurance companies must pay for all stages of reconstruction on the post-mastectomy breast/breasts.

–Similarly, health insurance companies must pay for reconstruction of the unaffected breast if such reconstruction is needed to attain a symmetrical appearance.

–If complications were to arise post-mastectomy. any corrective surgery must be covered by the health insurer.

Click here to read this all-important Act in full.

Now that the holidays are over, the media is once again concentrating on the proposed congressional healthcare bill. One of the components of that bill is a federal surtax on cosmetic procedures—surgical and non-surgical. This is considered a “vanity tax” which allegedly will help to pay for insuring the uninsured. The perception is that only wealthy people go to plastic or cosmetic surgeons and thus it is their responsibility somehow to partially bear the burden of insuring the uninsured millions. However, information gathered by the American Society of Plastic Surgery has revealed that not only are 91% of cosmetic patients women, but that 60% of these women earn between $30,000-$90,000 yearly. The desire to look good and feel good about oneself is hardly limited to the wealthy upper classes. New procedures, especially non-surgical procedures such as Botox and fillers, fit the budgets of many individuals and cosmetic surgery patients no longer reflect only the rich and privileged in our country.

The Society is protesting this tax primarily on the basis that it singles out one demographic in our society and places an unfair tax burden on them. With much debate going on in Washington at the moment, we will not have to wait long to learn whether this “vanity tax” on cosmetic procedures will be included in the bill or not.

Many patients prefer a safe and and private facility in which to have their cosmetic surgery procedure performed. It is for this reason that many cosmetic surgery procedures are done at outpatient surgicenters or other private facilities. It is, however, important to research the facility and insist that it is certified by a national organization such as the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). Such an organization (sometimes referred to as a “quad A” facility), establishes stringent guidelines and ensures that specific procedures and protocols are in place. This ensures that all cosmetic surgerical procedures done in this setting are carried out in a safe and effective manner. In fact, plastic surgeons who are members of the American Society of Plastic Surgery will only perform surgery in an accredited hospital or an approved outpatient surgicenter. Patients should insist on these standards and be very cautious about having a surgical procedure done in a facility that does not meet these qualifications or criteria.