The Medi Spa Crisis; is there is Doctor in the House?

It seems that medispas are everywhere today with hair salons and health clubs offering treatments such as facials, lasers, microdermabrasion and even injections, such as Botox and facial fillers. Of course ‘medi’ suggests medical, and injections certainly fall under services that require skilled, licensed medical care. There is no gray area here. When someone is injecting a medication or medical filler into your face with needles, medical practice is the only way to define it. So, is the medical office where you receive Botox or Juvederm injections the same ‘medical’ office where you exercise or color your hair? According to government regulations it is one and the same. And if the hair salon or health club is where your medical care is provided, is there even a doctor in the house?

Recently in a California hair salon, Posh Hair and Skin Studio, offering Botox and fillers government inspectors arrived to find a nurse practicing without any supervision. She was arrested and is out on bail for medical practice without a license. The doctor with whom she was working was a gynecologist/hair salon operator seeing patients in another location. Yes, he was indeed a co-owner in the hair salon and argued that his nurse had standing orders to administer Botox to his patients. The doctor is unlikely to get off easy on this one, as the government views the hair salon part of his medical corporation and medical offices. How one manages infection control, medical waste, and patient confidentiality at the hair salon is anyone’s guess.

Nurses can be well trained and can become experienced at administering Botox, and even facial fillers. The laws as things stand require that a physician be present and determine by an exam that the treatment as prescribed is right for you. The physician must be available for questions and mishaps, and be responsible to you if problems occur.

A bad hair color or cut is disappointing; however a bad injection can be quite worse. Next time you consider Botox or filler at a day spa or health club, ask yourself, is the environment clean and secure? Is the medication secured and stored according to guidelines? Is there a record of what was done and instructions available to you? Is the person treating you properly licensed? And finally, is there a doctor in the house?