NEW YORK, April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety, an alliance of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (AAFPRS) and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASOPRS), announces their partnership to the U.S. FDA Counterfeit Alert Network. The Coalition is the first organization accepted into the Network whose member physicians are surgeons providing cosmetic treatments.
"Whether a medically necessary or cosmetic medical treatment, counterfeit drugs or devices present a health risk to consumers," stated Coalition leader Mark Jewell, MD, of Eugene, Oregon and past president of ASAPS. "Cosmetic injectable treatments provide very positive aesthetic outcomes without surgery. As a result, interest is high, but risks are also high when consumers are unaware of providers who offer or use off-shore, counterfeit or non-FDA approved injectable drugs and devices." A survey of Coalition member physicians in July 2007 reported that 32% of cosmetic injectable complications seen resulted from injections of unknown substances*.
"The goals of the Counterfeit Drug Network parallel our goals as a Coalition," said Ira. D. Papel, associate professor, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland and past president of AAFPRS. "It is appropriate that we work together to disseminate information, educate consumers, physicians and all health care providers about the risks of counterfeit drugs and devices, and network to protect public health."
The Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety offers comprehensive information about cosmetic injectable drugs and devices at http://www.injectablesafety.org/. FDA approval status of cosmetic injectable drugs and devices, and images to help guide consumers in identifying genuine FDA approved injectables such as Botox(R) Cosmetic, Restylane(R), Juvederm(R), Radiesse(R) and Artefill(R) are all readily accessible to consumers. In addition, the Coalition advocates consumers ask physicians to see injectable packaging prior to treatment. Choose a qualified and well-experienced provider and accepting treatment only in a medical setting further reduce the risk of complications with cosmetic injectable procedures.
* Survey conducted in June/July 2007 represents physicians who are members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, with a +/- 3.5% margin of error and a 95% level of confidence.
About Us
The Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety is an alliance of specialty physician organizations including the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The mission of the Coalition is to provide the public with unbiased and necessary information on injectable cosmetic treatments, appropriate injectors and where to safely access cosmetic medical procedures. Our goal is to promote treatment supervised by properly qualified and trained, board-certified doctors and to promote only the use of U.S. FDA-approved, appropriately administered product. More information can be found at http://www.injectablesafety.org/.
About ASAPS
The 2400-member American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), founded in 1967, is the leading professional organization of plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who specialize in cosmetic plastic surgery. With 2,100 members in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries, ASAPS is at the forefront of innovation in aesthetic plastic surgery around the world.
About AAFPRS
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is the world's largest specialty association that represents over 2,700 facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons throughout the world. The AAFPRS is a National Medical Specialty Society of the American Medical Association (AMA), and holds an official seat in both the AMA House of Delegates and the American College of Surgeons board of governors. AAFPRS members are board certified surgeons whose focus is surgery of the face, head, and neck.
About ASOPRS
The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery represent surgeons qualified in plastic surgery of the eyelids and surrounding facial structures. Fellows of the Society are board certified in ophthalmology, have completed fellowships in oculofacial plastic surgery (currently two years), and perform aesthetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery of the face, orbits, eyelids, and lacrimal system.
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
