New York, NY (March 12, 2019) – A recent article published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (The Aesthetic Society) is calling for the FDA to expedite its oversight of companies and clinics offering stem-cell products and therapies.
Stem-cell technology, a compelling area of medical research, is widely accepted in therapies for cancer and blood disorders (with clinical trial evidence suggesting stem cells might speed wound healing, improve heart function, and treat scleroderma). Most applications are still in the early stages of being assessed for benefits, limitations, and safety. Yet, in the last decade many new manufacturers of stem cell products have come into existence, and a huge number of clinics offering stem-cell therapies have opened their doors to eager medical consumers as well as those seeking cosmetic solutions. The most frequent complications of cosmetic stem-cell treatments appear to be contamination and infection.
“We are not in favor of overzealous regulation, but the fact is, organized medicine on its own isn’t equipped to monitor and prevent abuses involving cellular-based treatments,” states Dr. Robert Singer, MD, FACS, past-president of ASAPS and an author of the study. “Any procedure marketed in the cosmetic arena holds immense interest to consumers and a high risk for patient abuse,” he explains.
The FDA announced a regulatory framework in 2017 giving cellular-based treatment clinics and companies 36 months to comply. To better protect public safety while allowing legitimate research to continue, the multi-specialty stem-cell task force recommends:
- Enlisting the help of national surgical-facility-accrediting agencies that already have useful systems in place for monitoring safety
- Collaborating more aggressively with state legislatures and medical boards on related issues such as medical scope of practice
- Requesting support from the Federal Trade Commission to stop false and misleading advertising regarding cellular-based therapies
Organized plastic surgeons are eager to cooperate with the FDA to work towards advancing stem-cell science while protecting the safety and welfare of our patients.
The full Editorial can be read here: https://academic.oup.com/asj/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/asj/sjz033/5315584?redirectedFrom=fulltext
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About the Aesthetic Surgery Journal
The Aesthetic Society Journal is the official publication of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. It is published twelve times per year and contains scholarly articles on new advances and procedures pertaining to cosmetic medicine and the plastic surgery industry. ASJ is indexed by MEDLINE/PubMed and with the Clarivate Journal Citation Report (JCR; formerly ISI). It is the official English-language journal of more than 20 major international societies of plastic, aesthetic, and reconstructive surgery representing South America, Central America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It is also the official journal of The Rhinoplasty Society, The Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons . The Journal offers Continuing Medical Education articles and exams.
