ASDSA Raises Patient Safety Concerns After Study Finds Lack of Physician Oversight in Missouri Med Spas
A study published in a recent issue of Dermatologic Surgery reveals a concerning lack of physician supervision and discrepancies in the level of training among those performing cosmetic medical procedures in Missouri medical spas. The study findings highlight the need for regulatory oversight of medical spas to prevent harmful patient outcome, as suggested by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association’s (ASDSA) “Medical Spa Safety Act.”
The study, titled “Pulling Back the Curtain: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Medical Spas in Missouri,” examined the level of physician involvement in medical spa treatments across the state.
Almost 95% of medical spas reported an affiliation with a physician but only 22.52% had an on-site physician during cosmetic medical procedures. The majority of the treatments, including botulinum toxin injections, dermal fillers, and laser procedures, are perform by non-physician staff, according to a press release, and an average ratio of non-physician to physician affiliates per medical spa are listed as 2:1:1.
The state of Missouri currently does not have formal statues defining the supervision and training required to perform cosmetic medical procedures, which in turn creates significant variability in medical spa staff qualifications and patient safety measures.
The ASDSA explains that, without clear laws governing medical spas, patients may unknowingly receive treatments from individuals with limited medical education and training, increasing the risk of complications.
“Patient safety must be the priority, and this study highlights an alarming gap in oversight at Missouri medical spas,” said M. Laurin Council, MD, MBA, ASDSA President and co-author of the study. “ ASDSA recognizes the substantial threat that unregulated medical spas can post to patients and calls for appropriate supervision, oversight, and training by qualified on-sight physicians, as well as advocating for medical spa procedures to be based on patient outcomes and quality care.”
The study also found a lack of transparency in medical spa operations; some facilities were unable to confirm whether they stocked critical emergency medications, such as hyaluronidase for dissolving fillers in the event of complications. Other medical spas could not verify their level of physician involvement, leaving patients without clear information about who would be administering their treatments. The ASDSA supports clear and transparent communication with the patient about who will be providing care and opposes false and misleading advertisements that provide unclear information about licensure and training.