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Beth Lindstrom, Director of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business
Regulation in conjunction with Nancy Achin Audesse, Executive Director of
the Board of Registration in Medicine and Helen Peveri, Executive Director
of the Board of Registration of Cosmetology wish to warn consumers not to
undergo Botox® or any other medical procedure in a Cosmetology Salon.
The Cosmetology Board prohibits the use of syringes or the performance of
cosmetic medical procedures in cosmetology salons. The Cosmetology
Board is charged with establishing and administering sanitary standards for
cosmetology salons and those standards are not established to provide the
level of sterilization necessary for the provision of medical care. Similarly,
the Board prohibits piercing and tattooing in cosmetology salons.
The Board of Medicine advises that licensed medical doctors may only
provide medical care in a professionally appropriate setting and may only
provide medical care after they have entered into a valid and informed
doctor-patient relationship. The administration of Botox or any medical
treatment presupposes that a doctor has conducted a thorough medical
examination of the patient and taken a complete history. The physician must
also be equipped to handle any emergencies that may arise in the delivery of
the treatment.
Audesse also decried a rise in "Botox® parties" being held in spas, salons and
private homes. She pointed to an April 2002 statement from the American
Academy of Dermatology stating, " 'A casual social activity for the purpose
of administering botulinum toxin, such as a Botox® Party,’ is an
inappropriate and a potentially dangerous setting for performing medical
procedures of any kind,’ said Fred F. Castrow II, MD, President of the
American Academy of Dermatology. 'As with any medical procedure, the
possibility of adverse effects occurring from a botulinum toxin injection is
always a possibility. Therefore, the American Academy of Dermatology
strongly believes that patient safety comes first and should not be taken
lightly under any circumstance.’"
Audesse added, "Clearly, any administration of Botox® or other substances
outside a professional medical setting is incompatible with the high
standards that the medical profession has established." Audesse warned
that the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine would not tolerate
unsafe medical care from physicians or unlicensed medical practice from
non-physicians who are often involved in these actions.
Both Lindstrom and Audesse stressed that consumers should consult a
licensed physician when considering medical treatments such as Botox®
injections and should insist that all treatment be provided in a sterile
environment equipped to provide these services safely. For example, a day
spa that accommodates several different professional disciplines, including
cosmetology and medically supervised dermatology or plastic surgery in
separate and distinct physical locations may be permissible. Finally,
consumers are advised to exercise good judgment and to always verify that a
professional is licensed and in good standing before engaging their services.
For more information contact:
www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/hd
www.massmedboard.org
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