Truth in Cosmetic Surgery

Reader Question:

Source: newsday.com/ny-plastic-surgery-group-fakes-
it-with-bogus-botox-1.1363307

Five doctors, a nurse and an administrator pleaded guilty in court to injecting a non FDA approved Botox like substance (Botulinum Toxin Topic A) without telling their patients. They told the patients that it was the FDA approved Botox and charged the full amount for Botox even though the other substance was cheaper. Is there any way for patients to see warning signs for something like this? With the economy being so bad do you predict that this may be happening more than we are told in the news?

This is a good story showing that practice integrity does not necessarily follow from training qualifications or a nice looking office. Apparently the medical staff of this practice told patients they were receiving Botox Cosmetic when they were not. They were dishonest.

I routinely use Myobloc (Botulinum Toxin B) in my practice, but I never tell patients it is Botox Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin A.) Myobloc is FDA approved (much as Botox TM was originally) for cervical dystonia and has worked well in my patients. It has been particularly useful for patients who have developed resistance to Botox Cosmetic giving many results when Botox Cosmetic did not.

Best Regards,

John Di Saia MD