There are a lot of salons and day spas that are not affiliated with plastic surgeons in the Syracuse, NY area. Although they may be lovely establishments with high standards, it’s important to keep in mind that you may not be under a doctor’s supervision if you visit such a business for a chemical peel or injectable treatment.
Non-surgical procedures are often marketed with names that downplay the medical nature of the treatments. Think “Lunchtime Facial.” But facial rejuvenation treatments and laser-oriented procedures include risks that are minimized when a board-certified plastic surgeon actively oversees a medical spa.
The regulation of medical spas is somewhat murky. Legal definitions of a medical spa vary from state to state, as does the amount of time a licensed doctor must be present at the facility. Some physicians use their names and medical licenses to allow other personnel — a nurse, an aesthetician, even an unlicensed worker — to perform procedures.
In other cases, any physician — even one without cosmetic surgery training — can operate a medical spa. Recognizing that an increasing number of spas offered medical treatments without adequate supervision, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery issued joint Guiding Principles in 2009 establishing guidelines for medical spas.
There is a strong financial incentive for physicians without specialized plastic surgery training to offer med spa-style procedures, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic injections, and then delegate them to personnel who may have a day or 2 of training.
The best thing a patient can do is find out whether a licensed, board-certified physician actually oversees the medical spa. Then check to ensure that the doctor is a plastic surgeon certified by a board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties.