Off-Label Use and FDA-Approved Injectables Presented at American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting
For Immediate Release: September 24, 2005
CHICAGO – To show new and emerging ways plastic surgeons are using injectable wrinkle fighters and fillers to enhance patient results, live demonstrations of off-label use and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved injectables, from BOTOX® to Sculptra™, will be presented today at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2005 conference in Chicago.
“Numerous injectables have flooded the plastic surgery industry over the past several years, mainly due to customer demand,” said Rod Rohrich, MD, ASPS past president and co-chair of the ASPS Committee on Emerging Trends. “These treatments help people look like they did in their 20s, 30s and 40s quickly, effectively and safely.”
Americans flocked to their plastic surgeons last year for procedures using injectables, demanding more options to smooth wrinkles for longer periods of time. From their use in preventing future wrinkles in younger patients, to eradicating minor wrinkles in people in their 30s and 40s, to combining them with more invasive procedures such as facelifts, injectable wrinkle fighters and fillers are becoming important to enhance patient results. In 2004 alone, Hylaform®, Hylaform Plus®, Captique™ and Sculptra™ received FDA-approval.
“Using a combination of injectables with other plastic surgery techniques is becoming essential to relax, refill and reshape the patient’s face for maximum results,” said Dr. Rohrich. “With the revolutionary fillers that have entered the market, patients can benefit from safe and effective injectables that last three times longer than previous collagen products. However, with the potential for permanent fillers, there is a potential for permanent problems.”
Plastic surgeons are also using some injectables off-label – legal use of an FDA-approved product outside of the clinical indications of the product’s labeling – to provide patients with more options.
Last year, nearly 4.1 million minimally-invasive procedures using injectables were performed, according to ASPS statistics.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 5,800 Member Surgeons, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
