It's a Jungle Out There

I have repeatedly written about the necessity of choosing a reputable specialist to assist you in cosmetic enhancement. This field is largely unregulated and action is often taken only after some catastrophe occurs. The Centers for Disease Control has recently reported about 3 patients from North Carolina who had kidney failure after injections of a mixture of silicone oil, probably adulterated, and saline for buttock enhancement.

The facility was labeled as a family medical practice and it used the name of a physician who apparently was not affiliated with the organization. The injections were performed by a radiology technician who was arrested for practicing medicine without a license. The injections were performed on a single date, December 22,2007, and patients who were injected on other dates did not have this problem, although one experienced pink urine.
Inspection of the facility showed breaches of standard infection control procedures, vague consent forms that did not specify the filler material, and there were no records or invoices that indicated the nature of the fillers used.
It is very possible that people who had these injections will experience long term disfigurement, since this has been previously seen after similar types of injections.
Currently you cannot rely on the governmental authorities to insure your safety. You have to be an informed consumer and remember that price is only one factor to consider in making your choices.

Gerald N. Bock MD
California Skin & Laser Center
Stockton & Lodi, CA