|
Experts Frown on Botox Parties
Wrinkle treatments offered in party settings carry risks, they
say
FRIDAY, May 31 (HealthScoutNews) -- They're quickly becoming the
Tupperware parties of the new millennium, but the growing trend
of so-called Botox parties - - where women gather for hors d'oeuvres,
chit-chat and a few wrinkle-removing Botox injections - - is bringing
out the frown lines of many medical experts.
Ever since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval
this spring of the use of Botox to treat wrinkles, age-conscious
patients are apparently attracted to such events not only by the
social aspects, but also by the price, which is usually discounted
from the cost of a scheduled appointment. There have been reports
of parties popping up across the nation not only at doctors' offices
but also at non-medical sites, including gyms and spas, according
to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
However, experts say such treatment is nothing to celebrate and
raises significant safety and ethical questions.
In a recent "patient alert" issued by the American
Academy of Dermatology (AAD), academy president Fred F. Castro
II blasts the notion of a sensitive medical procedure being offered
in a party setting.
"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," he says.
And ASAPS is equally riled by the party reports, issuing a statement
saying parties outside of doctors' offices put patients at risk
of "improper technique, inappropriate dosages and unsanitary
conditions."
Doctors have worked hard in getting the message out that Botox,
which temporarily weakens muscles by blocking nerve impulses,
can be a safe and effective treatment for conditions ranging from
excessive sweating to incontinence. The recent FDA approval for
wrinkles appears to have sealed public confidence.
Now, however, experts are faced with having to add an asterisk
to that message, emphasizing the importance of a safe environment
for treatment.
"To us, this is a medical treatment that should not be handled
in a frivolous way," explains Dr. William Coleman, a clinical
professor of dermatology at Tulane University Health Sciences
Center in New Orleans and spokesman for the AAD. "The whole
idea of taking this substance out of a medical office opens up
a Pandora's box of problems."
For one thing, the distractions of a festive party present risks
to any medical procedure, Coleman says. "A party atmosphere
is not the place for any kind of drug-mixing or thoughtful medical
treatment at all."
Then there's the handling of the Botox itself, he adds.
"There are many very important storage procedures for Botox,
including where it's stored and how long it's out of a refrigerator.
And if it's in a refrigerator, you certainly wouldn't want your
bottle of Botox being accidentally placed on top of the pizza
you're going to be eating later in the day, for instance,"
he says.
Dr. Richard Glogau, a clinical professor of dermatology at the
University of California, San Francisco, goes one step further
in his disapproval. He says even if the gatherings are held in
a doctor's office, offering medical treatment in the context of
a party pushes the bounds of acceptable medical practice.
"Sure, the office may be safe, but the devil's in the details,"
Glogau says. "If you've got alcohol being served at these
functions, it's not only illogical, it's unethical -- even American
Medical Association guidelines say introduction of the consumption
of alcohol immediately invalidates the informed consent process."
Coleman adds that alcohol use while having a Botox treatment
could also have medical consequences, such as increased bruising
following the procedure.
However, at least one dermatologist who hosts monthly evening
Botox parties defends the practice.
Dr. Scott Greenberg, who practices in Winter Park, Fla., says
he agrees with all of the associations' objections, but argues
that he is able to hold such events without compromising any professional
or ethical standards.
"The whole process is really no different than if (patients)
came in during the day, with the exception that they experience
more of a social situation than a medical one," Greenberg
says.
Wine indeed flows at his parties, Greenberg adds, but he emphasizes
that patients only have a glass or two -- and only after an individual,
private consultation that includes signing a consent form. Regarding
bruising, Greenberg says that "hasn't been an issue."
Greenberg says he usually charges anywhere from $250 to $450
for a Botox treatment, depending on the area, and those attending
the Botox party receive a $50 discount.
Botox parties also appear to represent a nifty solution to an
often-frustrating problem with Botox's packaging: the substance
is sold in vials containing 100 units, which is enough for about
five treatments. Once open and mixed, however, the Botox must
be used within four hours, according to specifications by its
maker, Allergan. At about $400 per vial, doctors better make sure
they've got more than one patient lined up.
"Any Botox I don't use, I just have to throw out,"
says Dr. Greenberg. "So, it really makes sense to have a
number of patients coming in. You can get a much more efficient
use of your Botox than if you just have one patient."
With Botox's booming popularity, however, that's a problem fewer
and fewer doctors are likely to face. The ASAPS reports that more
than 1.6 million Botox procedures were performed last year, and
the treatment has moved into the position of becoming the No.
1 non-surgical cosmetic procedure conducted in the United States.
|
