In The News: MedSpa Regulations

Here at the Aesthetic Center we maintain high standards and limit the use of lasers to our experienced, licensed medically trained physician and nurse practitioner. Here is what's happening elsewhere in the country:

New Standards Urged For Treatment at Spas Use of Chemicals, Lasers Proliferates Boston Globe (2009-02-24) P. A1; Kowalczyk, Liz

A task force of lawmakers and physicians are fighting to create tougher regulations regarding medical spas in Massachusetts. The medical spa industry is growing; the number of spas has grown to 2,500 in the United States over the past few years. The group argues that consumers are at risk of injury because they are being treated by untrained and unlicensed workers. Jeffrey Dover, a dermatologist, says that the most common injury is caused by workers using the wrong laser or setting to get rid of body hair, which causes the removal of skin pigment as well. The proposal states that medical spas would be required to have a license from the Department of Health, and laser skin treatments would have to be done by a specially trained doctor or nurse. Medical spas are difficult to create legislation for because there are so many specialties, such as cosmetologists, electrologists, aestheticians, nurses, and physicians, within one business. Each specialty has its own rules and standards, so there are no laws about which professional can do which procedure. Owners of medical spas are split over whether they want their businesses to be regulated.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/24/new_standards_urged_for_treatment_at_spas/
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/laser.html