Posted December 15, 2008 in Blog, Botox and Facial Fillers, Uncategorized
Physicians offering bargains on cosmetic injections like Restylane, Juvéderm, or Botox may be offering possibly counterfeit or illegally imported cosmetic injectables, according to the Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety, an alliance of specialty physician organizations.
Bargains on consumer goods and services may be designed to encourage spending in tough economic times, however when related to cosmetic injections like Restylane, Juvederm or Botox, the multi-specialty Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety warns that discounts raise a red flag. “Bargain prices, deep discounts or purported sales on cosmetic injections are warning signs of potential counterfeit or illegally imported cosmetic injectables, or an injector who is inexperienced or does not specialize in the procedure,” cautions facial plastic surgeon and Coalition spokesperson Mary Lynn Moran, MD of Woodside, CA. “Consumers must adopt a buyer-beware approach to offers that seem too good to be true.”
The group last week issued the warning in the wake of recent FDA hearings on the safety and efficacy of fillers and injectables. And unlike common over-the-counter and prescription medications, cosmetic injectables do not have lower-priced generic alternatives. “Branded cosmetic drugs or devices are sold to physicians at defined prices,” said Coalition leader, plastic surgeon Renato Saltz, MD, of Salt Lake City. “There are generic lower-priced brands, no sales for physicians who stock up on injectables, and no bona-fide sources who sell genuine product at lower than market prices; and therefore, there are no deep discounts physicians can pass along to consumers.” Some injectable brands do, however, offer post-treatment rebates directly to the consumer.
The Coalition issued the warning to consumers, but the news release was also clearly aimed at practitioners.
Source: Medical News Today
