aesthetic society news - surgery...aesthetic society news • summer 2014 3 september 11 – 14,...

Membership FAQ

Aesthetic Society NewsQuarterly Newsletter of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Volume 18, Number 3 • Summer 2014

Is ASAPS continuing to forward my AestheticMeeting CME Credits to ASPS? Yes, your Aesthetic Meeting CME Credits will be automatically sent to ASPS for uploading into thecombined plastic surgery database. If you’ve completed the brief Meeting evaluation form locatedat www.surgery.org/eval, expect your credits to display on your ASPS “My CME” record.

■S an Francisco, CA, proved to be a wonderful host city for The Aesthetic Meeting2014, which was held at the Moscone Centerin April. Throughout the meeting, I heard

praise from members and guest surgeons alikeon the quality of the educational content, theease and accessibility of the venue, and the excitement in The Aesthetic Marketplace.

In all, 1,671 of the world’s finest aestheticplastic surgeons gathered, making it amongour highest attended meetings ever. Of thosesurgeons attending, 378 were international,coming from 60 countries outside the US,with the highest number coming from Brazil,Columbia, France, Mexico, and Turkey. 149residents from the United States and Canada

The Aesthetic Meeting 2014: We Are Aesthetics.By Michael C. Edwards, MD

Continued on Page 23

WE ARE AESTHETICS.

Continued on Page 7

ASAPS New Code of EthicsBy Bob Aicher, Esq.■O ur Society has a new Code of Ethics.What was wrong with the old code?

For starters, it belonged to ASPS in whichaesthetic practitioners are in the minority.Second, for more than a decade it muddledour legal identity with that of ASPS when weadopted their code in a futile attempt atcollegiality. Having our own code of ethicsserved us well in 1980 when the FederalTrade Commission investigated ASPS for anti-trust collusion with the AMA. Having ourown code will serve us well again. Third,much of the old code has hardly changedsince it was adapted from the AMA Principlesof Medical Ethics in 1957 (www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/ethics/1957_principles.pdf).Members of The Aesthetic Society deserve acode as modern as their practices.

The new Code is divided into five topics:1. Ethical Responsibilities to Patients2. Ethical Responsibilities to Other ASAPS

Members3. Ethical Responsibilities in Practice Settings4. Ethical Responsibilities Toward the Profession5. Discipline

■D uring The Aesthetic Meeting in San Francisco, a memorandum of understandingwas signed between the American Society ofAesthetic Plastic Surgeons and the ItalianSociety of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery(AICPE). ASAPS Immediate Past PresidentJack Fisher, MD, noted, “The benefits of thiscollaboration are very exciting for both societies and we look forward to a closer affiliation between the two organizations.”

For The Aesthetic Society, such acollaboration will help more fully promote the Society and its educational offerings to theItalian surgeons’ community, allow discountedfees for ASAPS members attending scientificevents organized by AICPE, and offer moreopportunities to promote the Aesthetic SurgeryJournal to our fellow organization. Through a

closer working relationship, AICPE will benefitthrough more promotion of its meetings andcourses to the American surgeons’ communityand be able to offer its members special feesfor ASAPS educational symposia.

New Collaborative Effort between ASAPS and the ItalianSociety of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (AICPE)

Save the Dates! ASAPS Las Vegas 2015 Aesthetic Symposium

January 29–31, The Bellagio Hotel

The Aesthetic Meeting 2015 May 14–19, Palais des Congrés de Montréal,Montréal, Canada

Drs. Gianluca Campiglio, Michael Edwards, Jack Fisher, and Jim Grotting.

Aesthetic Society News • Summer 2014 ▲3

September 11 – 14, 2014The 3rd Annual International Society of Plastic RegenerativeSurgery CongressRitz-Carlton, Miami, FLTel: 314.878.7808

September 19 – 22, 2014ISAPS 2014Windsor Convention Center Rio De Janeiro, BrazilTel: 314.878.7808www.isapscongress.org/congressRegistration.html

September 25 – 26, 2014BAAPS Annual Scientific MeetingQueen Elizabeth II Conference CentreLondon, UKTel: +44 (0) 7430 1840www.baaps.meeting.org.uk

November 6 – 9, 2014QMP’s Tenth Annual Aesthetic Surgery SymposiumRenaissance Chicago HotelChicago, ILTel: 314.878.7808

December 4 – 6, 2014The Cutting Edge 2014 AestheticSurgery SymposiumThe Waldorf Astoria HotelNew York, NYTel: 212.327.4681www.nypsf.org

January 29 – 31, 2015 ASAPS Las Vegas 2015 Aesthetic Symposium—Focus onFacial AestheticsThe Bellagio HotelLas Vegas, NVTel: 800.364.2147www.surgery.org/lasvegas2015

February 12 – 14, 201549th Baker Gordon EducationalSymposiumHyatt Regency Miami, Miami, FLTel: 305.859.8250www.bakergordonsymposium.com

February 15 – 18, 2015American-Brazilian AestheticMeetingPark City Marriott, Park City, UtahTel: 435.901.2544www.americanbrazilianaestheticmeeting.com

May 12 – 14, 2015Society of Plastic Surgical SkinCare Specialists—Skincare 2015The Westin HotelMontreal, QC, CanadaTel: 562.799.0466www.spsscs.org/meeting2015

May 14 – 19, 2015The Aesthetic Meeting 2015The Palais des Congrès de MontréalMontreal, QC, CanadaTel: 800.364.2147 www.surgery.org/meeting2015

August 9 – 17, 2015The Aesthetic Cruise 2015—Controversies & Challenges inAesthetic SurgeryBarcelona, Spain to Lisbon, PortugalTel: 800.364.2147www.surgery.org/cruise2015

April 2 – 7, 2016The Aesthetic Meeting 2016Mandalay Bay Resort & CasinoLas Vegas, NVTel: 800.364.2147www.surgery.org

April 27 – May 1, 2017The Aesthetic Meeting 2017San Diego, CATel: 800.364.2147www.surgery.org

Aesthetic SocietyNewsThe American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

The Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation

Editor-in-ChiefSanjay Grover, MD

ASAPS Board of Directors

PresidentMichael C. Edwards, MD

President-ElectJames C. Grotting, MD

Vice PresidentDaniel C. Mills, II, MD

TreasurerClyde H. Ishii, MD

SecretaryW. Grant Stevens, MD

Members-at-LargeWilliam P. Adams, Jr., MD

John E. Gross, MDSanjay Grover, MDHerluf G. Lund, MDKiya Movassaghi, MDSteven Teitelbaum, MDJennifer L. Walden, MDSimeon H. Wall Jr., MDRichard J. Warren, MD

ParliamentarianMelinda J. Haws, MD

Immediate Past PresidentJack Fisher, MD

ASERF PresidentAl Aly, MD

Statements and opinions expressed in articles, editorials, and communications published in ASN are those of the authorsand do not necessarily reflect the views of ASAPS or ASERF.

Publishing of advertisements in ASN is not a guarantee, warrant, or endorsement of any products and services advertised.

Send address changes and membership inquiries to Membership Department, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 11262 Monarch Street,

Garden Grove, CA 92841. Email [email protected]

© 2014 The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

ASAPS Members Forum: www.surgery.org/membersASAPS Website: www.surgery.orgASERF Website: www.aserf.orgASAPS Consumer Education: www.smartbeautyguide.com

®The Aesthetic Surgery Education

and Research FoundationThe American Society forAesthetic Plastic Surgery

ASAPS CalendarASAPS Jointly Provided & Endorsed Symposia


■A s the new President of The Aesthetic Society, I would like to thank my colleaguesand members for trusting me with this important position. I am honored and humbled and will do my best to provide my own version of the vision and leadershipof my friends, colleagues, and ASAPS Past Presidents Jack Fisher, MD, and Leo McCafferty, MD.

I don’t need to tell any of you that ourworld of aesthetic surgery is a changing onefrom both the commercial and Societyperspectives. We have all heard the newsconcerning a potential takeover of Allergan byValeant. While as plastic surgeons we eachhave our own feelings and opinions aroundsuch evolutions, as the Society representingthe largest group of aesthetic surgeons in theworld, our hopes for industry center on threeprimary issues:

Clinical ResearchDevice and Pharma companies in the

United States have traditionally beenat the forefront of product research anddevelopment (R&D), and this is particularlytrue in the aesthetic market. R&D is in thebest interest of the aesthetic patient. Manyproducts didn’t exist 15 years ago, particularlyin the injectable and device worlds. Thedevelopment and launch of these productshas provided considerable depth to theaesthetic surgeon’s armamentarium andprovides our patients with options far beyondwhat was available to earlier generations. It is vital that research, development, andinnovation in our field continue to flourish.

Aesthetic EducationOur industry allies have been financially

supportive of our Societal educational efforts,and that support has allowed us to shift ourresources to provide vitally-needed consumereducation. While our organization is self-sustaining, a reduction in or elimination ofsuch funds would not only hurt the Society’spublic outreach, but ultimately may impactpatient care, taking away our valuablecounterpoint to the array of misleading andself-serving web resources widely available.

Practice SupportAsk plastic surgeons who helped them the

most when they were first starting out,learning the practical applications of productsand devices, and many will tell you “theIndustry Representative.” As many of us arenot in hospital-based practices, the rep hasoften provided us with our own personal“inservice,” offering valuable information notreadily available elsewhere. The relationshipsand friendships developed from such interactionscan last for years, and it is a service many ofus would miss if consolidation and corporateconcerns severely diminished their presence.

Clearly, financial success and stock pricesare important for all involved. As a Society, itis our hope that such transactions will serve tostrengthen our specialty and continue to moveus thoughtfully forward. As surgeons, ourprimary interest is in ensuring the health andwell-being of our patients, and the tools andproducts developed by our industry partners,derived through extensive research anddevelopment, allow us to do just that.

On the Society front, there are two majorinitiatives I would like to bring to yourattention. The first is a strategic focus on oureducational offerings. As you may know, everyyear the Society holds a strategic planningsession to address member needs and take a“deep dive” into the core offerings of theorganization. This year the focus is oneducation. With the help of the consultantteam from Minding Your Business, everyaspect of member education will be analyzed,new programs will be conceived, and newdelivery methods explored, as preferredlearning methods change from the lecture tothe tablet.

The second goes to the very core of what itmeans to be an aesthetic surgeon. The newSociety campaign “We Are Aesthetics,” rolledout to great success at this year’s AestheticMeeting, was originally conceived as aplatform to inform potential members of thevalue ASAPS can bring to their education andpractice needs. But, as we all know, whenplastic surgeons get together the conversationflows. What came out of these conversationswas how “We Are Aesthetics” really captures

The Business of Plastic SurgeryMichael C. Edwards, MD

President’s Report

what it means to be an ASAPS member. For example:• Only Aesthetic Society members undergo

the extensive training and practicerequirements necessary for membership

• ASAPS is the only organization completelydedicated to aesthetic procedures of theface, breast and body

• There is some evidence that suggests thepublic now views cosmetic surgeons asbeing less qualified—We Are Aesthetics

• Only one organization has among its familysome of the leading thought and opinionleaders in the world in aesthetic surgery—We Are Aesthetics!We are developing tools to help you define

yourself in your market, touting your expertiseas an aesthetic surgeon, utilizing the “I AmAesthetics” tagline, and look forward tosharing those with you soon.

In closing, I would be remiss withoutoffering hearty congratulations to our ASJEditor-in-Chief and past president FoadNahai, MD who was named as one of the 10most influential plastic surgeons of the currentera in surveys conducted of ACAPS andSESPRS members. Dr. Nahai’ s work on muscleflaps (in collaboration with Drs. McCraw andMathes) was also chosen as one of the 10 mostinfluential and innovative contributions to theplastic surgery literature.

Thank you, Foad, for being a leader in ourfield and for giving so much of yourself to ourspecialty. Together, We Are Aesthetics.

Michael C. Edwards, MD is an aesthetic plasticsurgeon practicing in Las Vegas, NV, and serves asPresident of The Aesthetic Society.

Our industry allies have beenfinancially supportive of ourSocietal educational efforts,and that support has allowedus to shift our resources to provide vitally-needed consumer education.

www.x-Medica.coma Medical Education Community

xMedica delivers innovative, accredited educational programs designed

care professionals. Our goal is to provide objective, well-balanced

Explore CME. Expand Your Mind. Excel In Practice.

▲6 Aesthetic Society News • Spring 2014


Continued from Cover

The Aesthetic Meeting 2014

EDUCATION

attended the meeting, with another 122residents from other countries.

This wonderful attendance of surgeonsfrom all around the world provided anexcellent lineup of presenters for our GlobalSessions on Saturday afternoon and Tuesdaymorning.

Premier Global Hot Topics proved a top drawagain and led to some wonderful discussions.Popular courses this year included The Powerof Cosmetic Medicine, the new cadavercourse, Staying Out of Trouble in FacialAnatomy, and the Medical Life Drawing &Sculpture: The Human Body, which doubledits attendance over previous years. Otherinnovative sessions included our new AIM(Aesthetic Immersion Modules) Series whichfocused on continuing the education after thecourse ends. The AIM series had attendancethat surpassed all expectations for theprogram’s meeting debut and featured courses

on Body Contouring, Breast, Face andRhinoplasty. The Business Side of AestheticPlastic Surgery was also well attended, withmany interesting presentations on how tomore effectively market our services. Ourannual Residents and Fellows Forum and “Re-Designing Your Aesthetic Practice—How to Get Beyond Today” were both verysuccessful, and continue to grow each year.

New Campaign: We Are Aesthetics.A highlight of the meeting was The

Aesthetic Society’s new campaign, We AreAesthetics, which highlights the importance of continuing education, the relevance ofbeing a core specialist, and the value ofSociety membership. Testimonial videos andsignage were visible throughout the venue,reminding attendees about the valuableservice The Aesthetic Society plays in ourprofessional lives.

ASERF Silent Auction a SuccessThanks to our generous vendors and bidding

surgeons, our auction to raise funds forASERF’s Data Hub proved very successful,with over $205,000 raised. The auction tookplace in the Aesthetic Marketplace, whichhelped drive attendance to our vendors’booths, and this year we had the option to bidelectronically, whether at the meeting or not,

1,671 of the world’s finest aesthetic plastic surgeons gathered, making it among ourhighest attended meetings ever. Of those surgeons attending, 378 were international.

Continued on Page 8

so that all members could join in the fun.(For more on the ASERF Silent Auction,please see Page 15)

Aesthetic Marketplace—The Place to Be!The Aesthetic Meeting 2014 attracted 229

vendors who exhibited in our AestheticMarketplace, including 42 first time exhibitors.At the annual exhibitor breakfast, participantswere very positive about their experience atthe Meeting, reporting significant sales andbrisk traffic. In addition to the silent auction,other activities occurred in the AestheticMarketplace which helped draw participants,such as the Practice Changers theaters. These stages featured short presentationsoccurring during coffee breaks and were very well attended, with attendees noting their desire for even more of these stages atfuture meetings.

WE ARE AESTHETICS.

▲8 Aesthetic Society News • Summer 2014

EDUCATION

Education on DemandScientific Sessions were filmed, as well as

numerous Teaching Courses, with viewingavailable through the Education on Demandportal.You can now watch various edited sessionsat www.surgery.org/educationondemand2014.Some of the classes also offer the opportunityto earn CME credits.

Enhancing the Aesthetic Meeting Experience with Social Media

ASAPS’ continued use and expansion of itssocial media platforms have greatly enhancedthe ASAPS Annual Meeting experience byfacilitating meaningful interactions betweenattendees while keeping them abreast ofscientific courses, exhibitions and socialactivities.

At this year’s annual meeting, The AestheticSociety launched the ASAPS 2014 app completewith course options, meeting schedules andtheir respective times and locations, soattendees could plan their schedules and getthe most out of the meeting.

Using the hashtag #ASAPS14, attendees,exhibitors and staff shared their highlights ofthe meeting on Facebook and Twitter throughphotos, meeting specials on products,

thoughts about the meeting and respectivecourses. Prior to the annual meeting, exhibitorssubmitted tweets which were then tweeted viathe ASAPS twitter account driving traffic totheir respective exhibit booths. As a result ofsuch collaborative efforts, Enaltus raised$20,000 for ASERF research by pledging a$50 donation for each badge scanned at their booth.

By the NumbersAttendees could earn up to 51.25 AMA

PRA Category 1 credits towards state licensureand hospital credentialing requirements.Those attending the entire 2014 Scientific

Continued from Page 7

The Aesthetic Meeting 2014

Session could earn 22.25 patient safety CMEcredits, with up to 29 CME credits availablefor special seminars and optional courses.

Next year we will be meeting in thecharming city of Montreal in Quebec, Canada,May 14–19. Between the draw of this enticingcity and the impactful education you’ll receive,The Aesthetic Meeting 2015 will be onemeeting you won’t want to miss. I lookforward to seeing you there!

Michael C. Edwards, MD is an aesthetic plasticsurgeon practicing in Las Vegas, NV, and serves asPresident of The Aesthetic Society.

ASAPS Past Presidents gathered to celebrate new ASAPS President Michael C. Edwards, MD. Back row, left to right: Foad Nahai, MD, Leo R. McCafferty, MD, Alan H. Gold, MD, Mark L. Jewell, MD, Robert Singer, MD, Michael C. Edwards, MD,Jack Fisher, MD, Renato Saltz, MD, Felmont F. Eaves, III, MD. Front row, left to right: Daniel C. Morello, MD, Jeffrey M. Kenkel, MD, James L. Baker, Jr., MD, Gilbert P.Gradinger, MD, Thomas J. Baker, MD, Jack A. Friedland, MD, Lawrence B. Robbins,MD, Fritz E. Barton, Jr., MD.


ASJCreates Community and Buzz in San Francisco

Tiffany Award Best Scientific PresentationMark B. Constantian, MD “The Impact of Nasal Shape, Motivationand Interpersonal Trauma on Satisfactionwith Secondary Rhinoplasty”

Simon Fredricks AwardBest PanelistJames M. Stuzin, MD“Surgeon Beware! Anatomic Facial DangerZones: Designing Safe Techniques to AvoidFacelift Complications”

Sherrell J. Aston AwardBest Presentation by a Resident or CandidateJeffrey Gusenoff, MD (Candidate)Panelist—“What Did I Learn from Disappointing Long-Term Results in Massive Weight Loss Patients?”

Raymond Vilain AwardBest Presentation by an International DoctorMario Pelle-Ceravolo, MD Panelist—“Surgeon Beware! Anatomic Facial Danger Zones: Designing Safe Techniques to Avoid Facelift Complications”

Best Panel Moderator AwardGlenn Jelks, MD Panel—“Unraveling the Lateral Canthus:Blepharoplasty in Negative Vector Patients”

Best Journal Article (Domestic)Clinton D. McCord, MD; Peter Kreymerman, MD; Foad Nahai, MD;Joseph D. Walrath, MDManagement of Postblepharoplasty Chemosis—Aesthetic Surgery Journal July 2013 (Vol. 33, Issue 5, Pages 654–661)

Best Journal Article (International)Patrick L. Tonnard, MD; Alexis M. Ver-paele, MD; Assaf A. Zeltzer, MD, FCCPAugmentation Blepharoplasty: A Review of500 Consecutive Patients—Aesthetic SurgeryJournal March 2013 (Vol. 33, Issue 3, Pages 341–352)

serving as the ManagingEditor of medical andscientific peer-reviewedjournals. She was employedby Wiley-Blackwell from2006 until April and hasmanaged Evolution,

Conservation Letters, The Journal of HospitalMedicine, Clinical Cardiology, The Journal ofClinical Hypertension, Congestive Heart Failure,Scanning, and the Journal of ScanningMicroscopies. You can reach her at:[email protected].

Hunter Alexander was recently promotedfrom Editorial Coordinator to Editorial Manager.Hunter manages the daily peer review processfor ASJ, and works closely with ASJ’s authors,reviewers, and editors to ensure the process isrigorous and smooth. Please contact him([email protected]) if you are interested insubmitting an article, would like to serve as areviewer, or for ASJ-related inquiries.

We would also like to recognize the membersof our Editorial Board who began their termsin 2013 and 2014. Clinical editors: William P.Adams, Jr., MD (Dallas, TX); John Hunter,MD (New York, NY); Geoffrey Keyes, MD(Los Angeles, CA); Renato Saltz, MD (SaltLake City, UT); and Achilleas Thoma, MD(Hamilton, Ontario, Canada). Interspecialtyeditor: Steven Dayan, MD (Chicago, IL).International editors: Rajiv Grover, MD(London); Ash Mosahebi, MD (London); andMichel Rouif, MD (Tours, France).

2014 Scientific Awards

■A highlight of The Aesthetic Meeting 2014were the awards honoring those in the aesthetic community who have shown excellence in research and contributions to the specialty. The Aesthetic Society salutes thefollowing individuals and thanks them fortheir efforts in aesthetic plastic surgery.

The ASJ team shot video interviews with key opinion leaders and immediately sharedthem with the community via Twitter and Facebook. Visit the ASJ website at www.aestheticsurgeryjournal.com to watch the complete set of video interviews.

EDUCATION

■T he Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ) presenceat The Aesthetic Meeting 2014 was strong andwe maximized video interviews and socialmedia to create, maintain, and strengthen relationships with ASAPS members and theASJ readership. The professionalism of thestaff, video, and photographers, coupled withthe convenient Press Office location affordedthe ASJ team the ability to meet with key leadership and renowned aesthetic surgeons.ASJ will change publishers in January 2015and welcomed Publisher Chris Reid, OxfordUniversity Press, at the meeting; he met withASJ staff and board members and gained valuable insight into our specialty. Dr. FoadNahai, Phaedra Cress, and Hunter Alexanderparticipated in a Short Course on writing andgetting a scientific article accepted and heldthe ASJ annual editorial board meeting. Dr.Nahai and Dr. Jeff Kenkel, ASJ’s Associate Editor, spoke at the Residents and FellowsForum about a number of ASJ-related matters(including the annual Resident Paper Competition!) and encouraged all residents inthe US and Canada to take advantage of theircomplimentary access to ASJ online. Thankyou for supporting your “Gold Journal” as welaunch forward with innovative initiatives.

Changes Within ASJ’s Editorial OfficeWe are pleased to welcome Phaedra Cress

as ASJ’s new Executive Editor. Phaedra has 14years of professional publishing experience,


Premier Industry Partners Recognized

Phillipe SchaisonCorporate Vice President and President Aller-

gan US Medical Robert GrantChairman

Zubin MeshginpooshEVP and COO

Jim HartmanVice President & Head, U.S. Aesthetics and OTC

The Aesthetic Society values its industry partners and the support they offer to the Society. At The Aesthetic Meeting 2014, Dr. Steven Teitelbaum, Chair of the ASAPS Industry

Support Committee, presented our partners with tokens of the Society’s appreciation.


Jeff StraussVice President of Marketing, Valeant

Injectables and Solta Medical

Hani ZeiniFounder & CEO

Steffanie AttenbergVice President & Group Publisher

James HeadleyPresident & CEO

Premier Industry Partners Recognized

Our Partners support our mission, which enables The Society to provide first-in-class education, products and services. Please support them in return.


■A s a resident or fellow, having the oppor-tunity to attend The Aesthetic Meeting and directly meet with and learn from the top surgeons in their field of expertise sets themapart from their peers and gives them exposureto the new and exciting hot topics in the field.

For the second time, The AllerganFoundation has provided a grant to the ASERFTravel Scholarship Program, in the amount of$20,000 which sponsored 10 residents toattend The Aesthetic Meeting 2014 in SanFrancisco, CA. Each resident received $2,000towards travel, hotel and a per diem expenseduring their time at the meeting. Registrationfor The Aesthetic Meeting is always free toresidents & fellows in approved plasticsurgery programs.

To qualify for this scholarship, the residentsand fellows must be in good standing in anapproved plastic surgery program, submit aletter of recommendation from their programdirector, submit a summary of why they

EDUCATIONThe Allergan Foundation Grant Pays Way for Ten Residents and Fellows

Mouchammed Agko, MD■I t was a packed generalsession at the IPRAS Vancouver meeting in May of2011. The late Dr. Marchacgot to the microphone andelegantly suggested with hisFrench accent to use the

term “Aesthetic Surgery” instead of “CosmeticSurgery.” Even though I was a newbie, just finishing my general surgery residency andgetting ready to embark on my plastic surgerytraining, I did appreciate the difference. Withmy classical Greek education, “Aestethics”—aphilosophical approach to the appreciationand creation of beauty—was much more appealing to me than “Cosmetics”—adorning,beautification. Thus, I was excited to note thatthe main slogan of The Aesthetic Meeting thisyear was “WE ARE AESTHETICS.”

What was even more exhilarating wasrealizing that ASAPS was absolutely sincere inthis statement. As a recipient of the ASERFTravel Scholarship, I was fortunate enough toattend the entire meeting on my last year ofplastic surgery training. I started the conferenceby attending the Rhinoplasty Society Meeting. I had the chance to meet personally with

William Abouhassan, MD University of CincinnatiHamid Abdollahi, MD Temple University

Mouchammed Agkov, MD University of Southern CaliforniaMatthew Brown, MD Case Western Reserve University

Bryan Correa, MD Baylor College of MedicineDaniel Krochmal, MD University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Heather Rosen, MD Vanderbilt UniversityThomas Scholz, MD University of California, Irvine

Sachin Shridharani, MD MEETH—Aesthetic Surgery FellowshipChristopher Surek, MD University of Kansas

deserve the scholarship and they must agreeto attend the entire educational session duringthe meeting.

The Residents & Fellows Committee hadthe difficult task of selecting 10 recipientsfrom more than 30 applicants. It is the goal ofASERF to give deserving residents and fellowsthe opportunity to see the bigger landscape ofplastic surgery and to have the educational

tools required to advance in this field. The Allergan Foundation has another grant

for the ASERF Travel Scholarship Program,this time in the amount of $50,000. With thisgrant, ASERF will be able to sponsor 25residents and fellows to attend The AestheticMeeting 2015 in Montreal, Canada. Theapplication will be available on surgery.orgbeginning in October.

Dr. Onur Erol, the rhinoplasty wizard whointroduced the “Turkish delight” technique. Twothings made this an unforgettable experience:Witnessing Dr. Gruber gracefully comforting ayoung attendee who had received criticism onhis presentation and the presidential address ofDr. Murrell. He shared with us his “SmallSuggestions for Big Success.” Once again, itdawned on me that humility is what makesgreat surgeons masters.

As if a whole day was not enough, benefitingfrom the “free courses for the residents” policyof ASAPS, I continued to indulge myself intothe craft of rhinoplasty by witnessing thespectacular results of Dr. Cerkes. He generouslyshared many tips and tricks during his lectureon “Achieving Balance in Rhinoplasty.” The nextday, I had the pleasure of listening to Dr.Fisher,who is a testament of the multitalented natureof plastic surgeons. His sense of humor is at theprofessional level. The ensuing presentations by Drs. Aston, Little, Mendelson and Stuzin on facial anatomy reminded me one more time that as a plastic surgeon we need to notonly have a working knowledge of normalanatomy, with details not described in themajor anatomy textbooks, but also be aware of the nuances of anatomy that are different in each patient.

During the awards ceremony for Dr.Vasconez, with introductions by his students,his speech reminded me of the real meaningof the word “mentor.” His aphorism “Don’tfollow the recipe, think like a chef” is so truefor plastic surgeons.

The importance of evidence-basedmedicine in aesthetic surgery, the notion thatthe clinical aesthetic faculty should not be justfaculty but mentors, the need to not be afraidfrom change but to embrace it, were the criticalpoints of the presentation by Dr. Rohrich onaesthetic surgery education.

The gluteal augmentation course by thepioneers in the field Drs. De La Pena, Gonzalezand Mendieta, the lipoabdominoplasty courseby the congenial Dr. Saldanha and Dr. DeCastro were extremely educational for me. Aswas the awe-inspiring presentation by Dr.Heden on preoperative planning and surgicaltechnique breast augmentation with formstable implants. The tissue based planning isnot just breast width.

Overall, I feel fortunate to have attendedthis meeting and am grateful to ASERF forgiving me the chance to do it at no cost. I would like to thank my bosses, Drs. Urata and Garner for allowing me to travel to San Francisco.

ASERF TravelScholarshipProgram 2014Recipients




Residents and Fellows

EDUCATION

Bryan Correa, MD■T he opportunity to enhance my aesthetic education in a dedicated academic setting has beenan invaluable experience. I truly feel my residencyprogram is one of the

strongest out there in terms of visiting professors and aesthetic clinical and didacticexperience, however, it is impossible get thisdepth of immersion without dedicating 6straight days where you can eat, breathe, and sleep Aesthetic Surgery.

I was wisely advised to set specific goals in order to get the most out of the meeting. My strongest affinity in aesthetic surgery istowards Rhinoplasty and Breast, and this yearI focused on these two topics to get a trulyimmersive experience. It was both inspiringand humbling to hear panels of truly world-renowned surgeons convincingly discussdifferent ways of tackling the same case. Thisis the very essence of plastic surgery and whatattracted me to the field since the beginning.

In addition to the didactic component ofAesthetic Surgery, I was also pleased with thePractice Management component of the meeting.I will be going into private, solo practice andtherefore the meetings and courses from bothsurgeons and non-medical professionals in theindustry were extremely helpful.

Surprisingly, I also found the exhibits to beextremely helpful. Although my expectationwas simply to be “sold” things I instead founda very relaxed, no-pressure environment whichfelt more educational than like a sales exhibition.It was also nice to be able to work hands-onwith some of the devices. For example, Iprobably spent over 2 hours playing with theaesthetic simulation software working onrhinoplasties and facelifts, with dedicated staff simply helping me learn the tools andtricks of the software.

On a more personal note, it was with greatenvy that I saw The Rhinoplasty SocietyMeeting on the schedule which I am of coursenot yet a member. However, it represented thereality of surgery that there is always more toachieve and strive towards. It is these goalsthat motivate me to continue to tirelessly exertmyself when I graduate (just a few monthsfrom now) as I have during residency.

Christopher Surek, DO■A s trainees in PlasticSurgery we are tasked with reading, retaining and applying as muchknowledge as we can before we are let loose onsociety. With the wealth of

information available and the many avenuesin which we can attain it, I feel overwhelmedat times with trying to select the best article orbook chapter to read. Once selected, I grabsome caffeine and attempt to secure a block oftime to learn the material contained. If readingdoesn’t keep my attention I can turn to thevideo supplement or picture archive. Onecould argue that since most of the materialand ideas presented at national meetings is already available in print or media, then whybother to travel to a meeting? Well, there iscertainly the appeal of the destination or thetime away from work. Maybe it’s the network-ing or the “free-stuff” at the industry booths.However, my experience this past April at TheAesthetic Meeting was far richer than that.

As my interest in aesthetic surgery hasgrown, I have found myself reading aestheticliterature habitually. In doing so I haveappreciated the interplay of artistry and constantevolution that dwells in this sub-specialty.Drawn to a certain surgeon’s concepts andtechniques, I begin to formulate an image ofthis individual in my mind. I give themcharacteristics, mannerisms, a voice, a lookand a persona. This helps me identify withthem and…in a sense, make them a mentor tome. Many consider mentorship a personalrelationship between an experienced surgeonand a young aspiring trainee. The bond isfostered through day-to-day interaction andfocused time of the mentor instructing thementee. Residents make decisions aboutprograms based on the faculty in them andwill go to great lengths to get acquainted withthese individuals in hopes that they will beselected as a mentee. For me, I greatly valuethe faculty at my home program and amgrateful for their dedication to my training.This meeting however, gave me chance tomeet up close the “celebrity” surgeons that livein our books and journals. In this setting, Icould compare the “person” whom I hadcreated in my mind with the individual

Thomas Scholz, MD■W hat makes a greatmeeting? My name isThomas Scholz and I was born and raised in Germany. After finishingmedical school I went toZurich, Switzerland, for

training in general surgery and thenconcentrated full time on basic science research in tissue engineering for three yearsbefore entering an integrated Plastic SurgeryResidency Training Program in the UnitedStates. I am currently completing my fifth yearat the University of California, Irvine and wasvery excited to enjoy for the first time thisyear’s Aesthetic Meeting in San Francisco. In the past, I have been to numerous local, national, and international meetings in manydifferent countries and languages, always trying to find out what makes a meeting most desirable for clinicians and researchersalike. All of them varied in length, size, interpersonal interactions, structure, and effectiveness. The Aesthetic Meeting brings together a high number of outstanding members who are very passionate about aesthetic surgery, thus generating many lively and productive discussions. Effectivecommunication in a large group of people isvery challenging and I have rarely attended ameeting, like this one, where the location,structure, interpersonal communication, and variety generated a platform that madethis meeting productive, effective, and so enjoyable for each individual. Being able topersonally meet and connect with so manysurgeons, that I have read about and lookedup to for so many years, made this meetingmagical for me. But being welcomed in such awarm and gentle way throughout the entiremeeting was an extraordinary privilege.

So, what makes a great meeting? I certainlycannot answer this question in general, but forme personally, the passion for the ‘art’ that isaesthetic surgery and that I saw in so manyparticipants colliding with the advent ofEvidence Based Medicine in this field, throwntogether into a great city with so many greatleaders and experts, didn’t make this meetinggreat, it made it grand. Thank you, ASAPS,“you truly are Aesthetics”! See you next year.


The Aesthetic Society’s Industry Partnership Program

Working together to advance the science, art, and safe practice of aesthetic plastic surgery among qualified plastic surgeons.

It’s more than just business to us.

Founding Partner: Sientra


EDUCATION

■T he second annual ASERF Silent Auctionwas once again a success. Raising more than$205,000 to fund the creation of a plastic surgery data hub, this was a win-win for allinvolved. New to the auction this year was theability to do all the bidding online throughHandbid. This was an exciting addition to theauction that allowed even our members athome to participate and increased brandrecognition for our participating companies.

The Aesthetic Society would like to thank all the companies and bidders whoparticipated and showed their support ofASERF. Over 35 companies generouslydonated products and services and items tosupport ASERF. A special thanks to ASAPSmembers that also kindly donated theirvacation homes, training opportunities andvarious products.

ASERFSilent

Auction

Thank you to the following companies for theirgenerous donations.

Jim Romano, MD

THE AESTHETIC CRUISE 2015 Controversies and Challenges in Aesthetic Surgery

August 9–17Barcelona, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal

®

www. s u r g e r y . o r g / c r u i s e 2 015


EDUCATION

■Y ou won’t want to miss The AestheticCruise 2015: Controversies and Challenges inAesthetic Surgery. On this voyage you’ll havethe opportunity to interact with experts inaesthetic surgery in an intimate learning environment, all while visiting dazzling portsof call. Departing from Barcelona, Spain, theluxurious Regent’s Seven Seas Mariner willvisit such destinations in Spain as Ibiza, Valencia, and Almeria, then journey to Gibraltar and Tangier. The ship will then return to see Cadiz, Spain, before arriving atits final port, Lisbon, Portugal.

The world’s first all-suite, all-balcony ship,Seven Seas Mariner features four gourmetrestaurants with open seating. Hallmarksinclude generous amenities and a welcomespaciousness. Catering to only 700 guests, her staff-to-guest ratio of 1 to 1.6 ensures theabsolute highest level of personal service.

CME will be available. Please refer towww.surgery.org/cruise2015 for details.Education on The Aesthetic Cruise is overseen by Chair James C. Grotting, MD, and Vice-Chair Rick Warren, MD.

To book your cabin, please contact Bob Newman via phone at 401.223.4711 or 888.278.7776 or via email [email protected].

The Aesthetic Cruise 2015: Book Your Cabin Today!

I T INERARY

August 9Barcelona, Spain

August 10Ibiza, Spain

August 11Valencia, Spain

August 12Almeria, Spain

August 13Gibraltar, United Kingdom

August 14Tangier, Morocco

August 15Cadiz, Spain

August 16–17Lisbon, Portugal

EDUCATION

Highlighting Text■I n the Winter 2014 issue of Aesthetic Society News, we showed you how to save anentire article from a Journal in your binderson RADAR. Sometimes, you may want tomake a note for just a sample of the text froman article, and highlighting allows you to dothis. It may seem like one of the simpler features on RADAR, but when you highlighttext you have more options for saving, sharing, and interacting with the content than you might think. Here’s how…• Hold your finger on the screen and drag

across and down the text you wish tohighlight. When you let go, you will havethe options to:Highlight—this will simply highlight thechosen textNote—this will highlight the text and allowyou to create a note to save in a binder andmore easily access the text at a later timeAdd Discussion—this will highlight thetext and redirect to the RADAR DiscussionForum in order for you to start a discussion

thread and share the selected text withother RADAR usersCopy—copy the text

• If you simply “Highlight” the text anddecide later you want to create a note, starta discussion, copy the text, or delete thehighlight, hold your finger down over thehighlighted area and you are given theoptions to do so again.

• Quickly Access your highlighted text, bytapping the “My Binders” icon on thebottom toolbar and finding the noteattached to the text within its selectedbinder.

New Content on RADAR• All RADAR users have access to the May

and July issues of Aesthetic Surgery Journal.• Exclusive to Members of The Society, the

new bookshelf, “Aicher’s Legal Pad,”includes expert legal advice from ASAPSGeneral Counsel, Bob Aicher, Esq.

• “In the Spotlight” monthly presentations areavailable to Members and Candidates on the“Premier Global Hot Topics 365” shelf.

Aesthetic Surgery Journal& RADAR Resource Pearls—Tips & Tricks for Making the Most of the App

• A tribute to Dr. Tom Rees and two new PastPresident interviews in “ASAPS History”can be viewed by Members, Candidates,and Residents with Dr. Fritz E. Barton, Jr.and Dr. Jeffrey M. Kenkel.

• Members, Candidates, and Residents cancheck out the Scientific Posters from TheAesthetic Meeting 2014 on the “AnnualMeeting” Shelf.

Have questions about Aesthetic Surgery Journal? Contact our ASJ Editorial Office [email protected].

Have questions about RADAR Resource?Contact our Project Manager, CourtneyMuehlebach, at [email protected].



EDUCATION

■E ditor’s note: Dr. Stahl was the recipient of the2012 International Fellowship Award. The following is his accounting of his experience visiting and learning from American aestheticpractices.

Continuous improvement of clinicaloutcomes and patient satisfaction throughresearch and education is a commoncommitment of both the German and AmericanSocieties for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Thediscussion and exchange of views andinteraction with foreign colleagues is an excellentway to acquire a diversified approach thatreally meets the patient’s needs. Most Societiesoffer scholarships to their members to studyabroad. However, the ASAPS commitment tointernational exchanges is very unique becauseit offers foreigners the opportunity to visit USplastic surgeons.

The rewarding and enriching experience oflearning from new ways of thinking motivatedme to apply for the international fellowship atthe 2012 ASAPS meeting in Vancouver. I wasgrateful to receive it and start planning my tripto visit some of the most well-known plasticsurgeons in the world.

In Germany the medical health insurancepolicies exclude reimbursement of electiveaesthetic surgery. Training in aesthetic surgeryis typically offered in nonacademic clinics andis therefore preceded by several years of trainingin hand surgery, reconstructive microsurgeryand burn surgery in university hospitals.Fascinated by the refined techniques ofoculoplastic and facial aesthetic surgery andtheir impact on the patient’s appearance, I hada long list of names of surgeons in my mindthat I wanted to visit. However, my duties asan attending surgeon at a university hospitaldemanded that I focus and splint myfellowship on two periods of 4 weeks each.

The first segment of my visit brought me toAtlanta, GA and the offices of Drs. FoadNahai, Felmont Eaves, Mark Codner andAlbert Losken.

During my visit, Paces Plastic SurgeryCenter was in the process of becoming EmoryAesthetic Center. Emory had caught myattention because the center brings together amultitude of high level expertise in one teamincluding surgeons, nurses and aesthetician. I

Report from an International FellowBy Dr. Stephane Stahl

long before. His commitments to perfectionand to high safety standards have trulyimpressed me. I am now more rigorous atsystematically conducting a “time-out” andalways double check my notes and planbefore every surgery. He paid undividedattention to the patient at consultations andkept well prepared patient records. Theorganization of his clinic and unfailinglycourteous contact with patients are otherimportant aspects I pay more attention tosince my visit. I was fascinated with the carefuland detailed dissection while performing alower blepharoplasty (fat redraping withminimal removal, canthopexy at inner orbitalrim) or high SMAS face lift and above all thenice results. To my surprise, I have seen thatbreast reconstruction with subpectoralimplants and bovine Acellular Dermal Matrix®

can lead to very natural results.The fellowship experiences of my

Brazilian wife and of previous winners of theinternational fellowship program, as well ashis numerous books and overbooked classesat congresses convinced me that a visit to theclinic of Dr. Renato Saltz in Utah was a must.

It was a great pleasure to meet him and hiswife Flavia. The aesthetic consciousness,remarkable surgical skills and creativity ofBrazilian pioneers have influenced plasticsurgeons all over the world. The harddedicated work and efficient scientific research of US plastic surgeons has become abenchmark in the field of plastic surgery. Itwas fascinating for my Brazilian wife and me,being of French and German heritage, toobserve how Dr. Saltz has assimilated theBrazilian and American cultures.

In the OR I was impressed by his versatilityobserving his face and neck lift techniqueswith liposuction on platysma combined withendoscopic brow lift and corrugator resection.Beyond the great surgical achievements I sawin his consultations, I have come to know Dr.Saltz as a social-minded entrepreneur.Unfortunately the time was much too shortand I hope that I may come again in the future.

My first visit to New York to meet Dr.Sherrell Aston and Dr. Daniel Baker willremain unforgettable: “The city, whose plastic

was deeply impressed by Dr. Foad Nahai’sfriendly, unassuming and modest nature.Although his schedule was tight with surgeriesand preparing for presentations all over theworld, my questions were always welcome.His mastery of an immense variety oftechniques was astonishing. Even difficultcases like a secondary lower transcutaneousblepharoplasty with subperiostal preparationon the lower orbita, bone canthopexy and theuse of Enduragen® spacer graft seemed easy tohandle in his hands.

The enthusiasm and energy at Paces is veryinspiring and this attitude was personified byDr. Felmont (Monte) Eaves and his aestheticsurgeon wife Gabriele. From them I learnedthat various procedures of different complexitycan be combined smoothly to match thepatient’s need (lipofilling with upper andlower blepharoplasty with canthopexy andorbicularis flap, repositioning of lower orbitalfat combined with a facelift with SMASplication, platysma plication and buccal fatpad resection).

I also had a great time observing Dr. AlbertLosken in the operating room and duringconsultations. He also invited me to observehis reconstructive practice at Emory. His calmand courteous manner is contagious. Dr.Losken made me understand that one can besuccessful in aesthetic surgery in privatepractice and still perform high quality surgicalresearch and train residents.

My next stop in Atlanta was a visit with Dr.Mark Codner which was without a doubt ahighlight of my fellowship. His numerouspublications and books had raised mycuriosity for the field of oculoplastic surgery


It was a fantastic experience to meet so many famous surgeons, whom until then Ionly knew by their books andpublications. Thank you for the hospitality and generosity in sharing your deep understanding and experienceso openly and freely.


EDUCATION

■I n March 2014, I had the opportunity toattend a Scientific Advisory Panel on ALCL association with breast implants, convened byRAND Corporation (a nonprofit, nonpartisanresearch organization) at its Arlington, Virginia office. Commissioned by the PlasticSurgery Foundation and the Aesthetic SurgeryEducation and Research Foundation (ASERF),RAND Corporation had previously conveneda similar panel in 2011 and released key find-ings from a review of published ALCL cases.The Panel was enlightening and shed somemore information on this evolving entity. Thepurpose of this report is not to further the debate about causation, type of implant coating, or biofilm issues, but rather to adviseplastic surgeons about having a dialogue withpatients and some suggestions as to assistingour colleagues in pathology and oncology.

ALCL related to breast implants is theofficial name for this entity. The numbers ofpatients throughout the world affected arevery small, but continue to be investigated,collected, and confirmed. The three points Iwant to emphasize are 1: The presentation ofthis entity; 2: to have a discussion with breastimplant patients—prospective and currentabout this disease and inherent financialissues; and 3: to remain Involved inmanagement with Pathology and Oncology.

A pattern of presentation includes peri-prosthetic fluid accumulation, capsularcontracture, and capsular mass orlymphadenopathy. Capsular contracture andperi-prosthetic fluid are not exclusive to thisentity but one should be thinking of thisdiagnosis when a patient presents with thesesymptoms and findings. It may be suggestedto use Ultrasound as an aid in fluid diagnosisand to assist with aspirating and sending forinvestigation as much fluid as possible

assessing CD30 antigen, ALK gene testing,and cell block specifically noting possibleBreast Implant Related ALCL.

Prospective and current breast implantpatients should be aware of the need forfollow-up. They should be made aware of thisentity, and there may be additional expenseshould a diagnostic workup be required. Ibelieve the plastic surgeon may be bestequipped to follow this group of patientsassessing implant status and more.

This is such a rare entity that one mightdiscover a patient in a facility that has neverobserved such a finding. It behooves theplastic surgery to remain involved with theirpatient’s care and work with and update thePathologist and Oncologist about the latestfindings. It is recommended to report adocumented patient to MedWatch, the FDA’sSafety Information and Adverse EventReporting Program, either online or by calling1-800-332-1088. The FDA states on itswebsite that all filed reports are confidentialand appropriate measures have been taken to protect individual patient privacy. Specific details of the information you shouldprovide to the FDA can be found at:www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm240000.htm#howtoreport.

Lastly, there appears to be two paths of presentation and possibly treatment paths. Those patients presenting withoutcapsular invasion or extra-capsular disease(lymphadenopathy, or distant tumor) arerecommended to have a Total Capsulectomyand complete workup. No additionaltreatments may be necessary if confirmation ofabsence of capsular invasion or distantdisease. Once the complete workup isreviewed, the possibility of re-implantationshould be discussed. The smaller group ofpatients with extra-capsular invasion ordistant disease has a more severe course andafter a thorough evaluation may requireadditional treatments of chemotherapy and /orradiation. This group should seek broadconsultation with experienced oncologistsfamiliar with this disease.

Look for the upcoming articles in ASJ andthe RAND Corporation’s report. Be pro-activewith your patients and possibly this raredisease will be better understood.

Neal R. Reisman, MD, JD, FACS, is the Chiefof Plastic Surgery at Baylor-St. Luke’s MedicalCenter in Houston, TX. He serves on ASAPSPatient Safety Committee and as President-Electof ASERF.

Breast Implant-Related Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma (ALCL)By Neal R. Reisman, MD, JD, FACS

A pattern of presentation includes periprosthetic fluidaccumulation, capsular contracture, and capsularmass or lymphadenopathy.

January 29–31, 2015 The Bellagio HotelLas Vegas, Nevada

Chair: Richard Warren, MDCo-Chair: Glenn Jelks, MD

®

www.surgery.org/lasvegas2015

ASAPS Las Vegas 2015 Aesthetic SymposiumFOCUS ON FACIAL AESTHETICS

AMA PRA Category1CreditTM available

EDUCATION

surgeons never sleep.” The energy and passionfor plastic surgery of Drs. Aston and Baker isremarkable.

Dr. Aston allowed me to observe hissurgeries in the impressive Manhattan Eye,Ear and Throat Hospital. I was very impressedby his longstanding expertise. His techniqueof horizontal plication of the SMAS andsuspension of malar fat pad further diversifiedthe impressions of my fellowship after havingvisited so many extraordinary US surgeons.

Visiting Dr. Baker at his private surgicalcenter completed my fellowship. His surgerieswere amazingly efficient and every stepseemed to be routine and guided tremendousexperience. Dr. Baker answered everyquestion like an encyclopedia for aestheticsurgery. I am very grateful for his patience andwarm welcome.

It was a fantastic experience to meet somany famous surgeons, whom until then Ionly knew by their books and publications.Thank you for the hospitality and generosityin sharing your deep understanding andexperience so openly and freely.

I would like to thank Mrs. Susan Robinsonfrom the ASAPS Central Office who made mefeel at home throughout my travels in the US.I am also thankful to Ms. Kerry Moradkhani,Educational Programs Manager, Dr. Joe M.Gryskiewicz, Dr. Clyde Ishii and Dr. Herluf G.Lund, Jr. and the entire team from Sientra forgiving me this great opportunity.


Report from an International Fellow

standing at the podium delivering their talk.Even better, I could go watch a group of themdebate and challenge one another. What Ifound was that many of them attain the sameaesthetic goals through very different paths andyet they all yield a great result. I discoveredthat despite their many accolades or greatreputation, they’re as excited about new ideasand research as a person in-training such asmyself. In the end, they embody a key traitthat draws me to this field…scientific artistry.

Whether it is Bryan Mendelson, MDmasterfully dissecting the facial nerve, Al Aly,MD demonstrating his secrets to surgicallycreating smooth body contours, Dennis Hammond,MD making mastopexy-augmentation lookreproducibly simple or fellow residents presentingtheir projects, I found myself immersed inworld of innovation dedicated to the beauty andpreservation of the human form. It is thisoverwhelming feeling of immersion that makesthese meetings so valuable. This feelingenergizes me. It serves as a catalyst for me to goback to my home program and approach mytraining with a refreshed perspective. Fueled bya desire to become the surgeons whom Iadmire, I can continue to motivate myself andto stay inquisitive. This experience can simplynot be induced or replicated in a video orwritten text. For that reason, I am grateful toattend The Aesthetic Meeting and firmly believethis will always play a vital role in the growthand sustainment of aesthetic surgery.


Residents and Fellows

This Code does not recite lofty, unenforceableprinciples dating to an era before many of youwere born. It is based upon actual ethicscomplaints and recent judicial councilexperience. It will provide guidance to ASAPSmembers to avoid the unethical practice ofaesthetic medicine. Unacceptable behavior isset forth in concise terms, with topicsincluding sexual harassment, misuse ofintellectual property, photo piracy and the useof black hat techniques in internet advertising.This is not your grandfather’s code of ethics.

Under the chairmanship of SteveTeitelbaum, MD, your Ethics Task Force hascreated a revitalized, living document that willevolve as needed with your practice. If acolleague does something to make you frown,and you don’t see it covered in the Code, letus know. If it is covered in the Code, let usknow. We take your concerns seriously.

One of the things ASAPS prides itself on isopen and transparent communication. Yourinput is always welcome.

To read the complete Code of Ethics, pleasesee page 43.

Continued from Cover

ASAPS New Code of Ethics


Members of The AestheticSociety deserve a code asmodern as their practices.

Expert Legal Advice.Exclusively for Members of The Aesthetic Society. With rich legal experiencein the medical field, Bob Aicher, Esq., is uniquely qualified to provide freeMember consultations in the areas of practice management, insurance, malpractice, scope of practice, ethics, and defamation.

To contact Bob Aicher, Esq., please email [email protected] or call via phone at (707) 321-6945.

This service is not intended to replace legal counsel.

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■F or years, ASERF has quietly been in thebackground providing research grants toASAPS members, and actively sponsoring research that has impacted your practice.However, if you were in San Francisco for TheAesthetic Meeting 2014 you may have noticedASERF more than usual.

Perhaps you attended an ASERF-sponsoredcourse, such as Premier Global Hot Topics orthe Research and Technology luncheon. Ormaybe you stopped by the ASAPS booth totalk to Geoffrey Keyes, MD, a former ASERFPresident, to learn more about the Data Hub.Maybe you stopped by the Enaltus orMerchantAdvocate booths to help raise moneyfor aesthetic surgery research. Regardless,ASERF, the research arm of The AestheticSociety is growing, and in a very good way.

Over the next year, the ASERF board and Ihave committed to continue funding relevantresearch, and are expecting a full launch of theData Hub. Additionally, you will see a strongeremphasis on fundraising to fund new andexciting projects that are important for patientsafety, efficacy and ultimately education ofASAPS members.

The ASAPS Patient Safety subcommittee,Safety Changer Group, has requested baselinedata on six procedures with an increasedprobability of complications. The informationgathered could be a game changer as to howone or more of these procedures are carriedout, as well as how ASAPS EducationCommission would provide future educationon these procedures. At this time, the DataHub is still in the creation phase; howeverparticipation from ASAPS members will beimportant to the long term impact of the DataHub. I encourage you to participate as soon asyou are able.

William P. Adams, Jr, MD, the ImmediatePast-President of ASERF provided an updateon financial health and membership in ASERFat the business meeting. 2014 has proven tobe a successful year. With membership on par with 2013 at 99.9% retention and reservesat more than $2,000,000 ASERF continues be the preeminent foundation for aestheticsurgery research. This is made possible byyou, an ASAPS member. With membershipdues starting at $200 you can ensure thatprograms and initiatives are funded.

A special highlight from the meeting wasthe recognition of Luis O. Vasconez, MD asthe Career Achievement Award honoree. Ahandful of Luis’ former residents took thestage to recognize his achievements andcontributions to aesthetic surgery andeducation. The tribute was topped off with astanding ovation. Dr. Vasconez took the stageto say a few words, but noted that this was thegreatest achievement of his career. If youhaven’t already, I encourage you toacknowledge Luis, or your own mentor bymaking a donation to ASERF, which can easilybe done on the ASERF website.

During the ASERF board meeting in SanFrancisco, the need for supporting researchthat will lead to quantitative evaluation ofaesthetic surgery results was discussed. Sincethis would be a major paradigm shift foraesthetic surgery, I plan to form a committeededicated to this particular goal.

I am looking forward to working with theBoard of Directors and staff this coming year.In the meantime, I would like to hear fromyou regarding your thoughts on aestheticsurgery research. Please send me an email [email protected].

Update on ASERFBy Al Aly, MD

With YOUR help, EnaltusDonates BIG to ASERF■D uring The Aesthetic Meeting, Enaltus,the makers of BioCorneum,TM challenged meeting attendees to “Step up for Research.”Enaltus donated $50 to ASERF for every person that stopped by the Enaltus booth inthe Aesthetic Marketplace.

With your help, Enaltus raised $20,000 foraesthetic surgery research. According to COO,Zubin Meshginpoosh, “This program was agreat opportunity for us to support ourcustomers and ASAPS members.”

“This program enabled us to give back tothe members in a meaningful way. It allowedus to demonstrate that ASAPS members areimportant to us. By donating to ASERF, we areable to indicate that we support not just ourcustomers, but bigger issues: research, science,patient safety, efficacy and so on,”Meshginpoosh continued.

ASERF Board of Directors

Al Aly, MD—President

Neal R. Reisman, MD, JD—President-Elect

Steven Teitelbaum, MD—Vice President

Scott W. Barttelbort, MD—Treasurer

Barry DiBernardo, MD—Secretary

Michael C. Edwards, MD—ASAPS President

James C. Grotting, MD—ASAPS President-Elect

Daniel C. Mills, II, MD—ASAPS Vice President

Geoffrey C. Gurtner, MD—Director

Spencer Brown, PhD—Lay Director

Michael T. Longaker, MD—Director

Julio Garcia, MD—Director

Luis M. Rios, Jr., MD—Director

This Fall the Data Hub will officially launch, and the firstrequest to review data has already been received.

Luis O. Vasconez, MDreceiving the Ca-reer Achieve-ment Award at The AestheticMeeting 2014

FOUNDATION NEWS



ASAPS’ Leadership Training Program: An Opportunity forProfessional Development

SOCIETY NEWS

■H aving retained the services of the NationalLeadership Institute, select Aesthetic Societymembers and industry partners met recentlyto undergo a leadership training program ledby the Institutes’ trainers, with the first sessionheld at the Dallas Fort Worth Grand HyattHotel.

The ASAPS Leadership Training Program isintended to fill a gap that exists in manyplastic surgery practices, as while a physicianmay be an expert surgeon, he or she maybenefit from learning leadership skills nottaught in residency or fellowship programs.As participant Todd A. Pollock, MD, notes,“As physicians and plastic surgeons we are allwell trained in our specialty. Unfortunately,the medical aspect of our practice onlyrepresents a portion of what we deal with dayto day. The ASAPS leadership course fills inmany of those important gaps that wetypically only learn “on the job” and through“trial and error.”

The ASAPS Leadership Training Program is designed to provide members withleadership skills applicable both personallyand professionally. Participants were taughtconflict resolution techniques, team building and consensus tactics, and meetingmanagement as well as other importantleadership skills. Chad D. Tattini, MD, shared,“I am always looking to do better bothprofessionally and personally. While there are books that focus on this subject, I think it

works better in a forum like this where youactually do ‘hands-on’ training. It’s easier tocomprehend and remember since you are anactual participant for several days reinforcingimportant aspects with other people who arealso learning for the first time and eager toimprove.”

The Leadership Training Program is also anopportunity to recognize the potential ofoutstanding individuals for inclusion into theSociety’s leadership. “The ASAPS sponsoredleadership training course was everything Ihoped it would be,” stated Farzad R. Nahai,MD. “I learned about my personality type,situational leadership and how to assess othersand guide them effectively, and about conflictmanagement and use of the ‘I’ message. Theinsights, exercises, and training I receivedduring the leadership forum weekend wereimmediately useful in my work and personallife. I eagerly look forward to the secondleadership training session and learning moreabout being an effective leader.”

Participants were very enthusiastic aboutthe training they received. Attendee Adam J.Rubinstein, MD, FACS, noted that “TheLeadership Training meeting was an educationin new and better ways to organize meetingsand function as a leader in general. It gave mea lot of insight into my own personality andthe way that I communicate with my staff, andeven friends and family. I would recommendleadership training for anyone that runs asmall business, plastic surgeon or otherwise.”

Jennifer Harrington, MD, said, “I always saymy third world mission trips are a ‘vacationfor my soul.’ I feel like this leadership coursehas been an ‘inspiration for my soul.’ I feelempowered both personally andprofessionally. It has been a pricelessexperience.”

Tracy Pfeifer, MD, relayed that “TheLeadership Training program has beeninvaluable and a truly positive experience. I returned home energized, optimistic andhappy. The tools I learned greatly reduced myfrustration level with certain aspects ofmanaging a solo private practice. As effectivestaff is key to any practice, one of the majorbenefits was in identifying which personalitytype is best suited for each staff position andhow to motivate people based on theirpersonality type.”

In 2015 ASAPS will conduct anotherleadership training program, for whichmembers are encouraged to apply. Dr. Pfeifersays, “I highly recommend the program toeveryone. I applaud ASAPS’ vision to provideleadership training to our members. For anyperson who works with others, this programprovides a tremendous benefit. I have a betterunderstanding of my staff and how to leadand motivate them. For any person who willbe leading a committee or group, this programis essential.”

Details about how to apply for the 2015ASAPS Leadership Training Program will beavailable in September or you may contactSue Dykema, Executive Director, [email protected].

Clockwise from upper left: JamilAhmad, MD, Neal R. Reisman, MD, JD,Simeon Wall, Jr., MD, Farzad Nahai,MD, Jennifer Harrington, MD, Tom Purcell, CAE (ASAPS Staff).

Marissa Tenenbaum, MD, Adam J.Rubenstein, MD, Sanjay Grover, MD,Chad D. Tattini, MD, Rich Low (Sientra),Elizabeth Lee, MD.

David Moatazedi (Allergan), Todd Pollock,MD, Tracy Pfeifer, MD, Scott W. Barrtelbort, MD, Tino Mendieta, MD.

■C ongratulations to Ulthera, whose marketing collateral used during The AestheticMeeting 2014 in San Francisco was found to be compliant with the recommendationsmade by the Light and Energy Based Therapies Committee (LEBTC) of ASAPS. This Committee has been working with allmanufacturers towards standardizing photography and terminology on promotionalmaterial provided by the companies. As an acknowledgment of their great efforts towardscompliance, Ulthera was provided “signagereflecting compliance” which was proudlydisplayed at their booth. They were also acknowledged at each of the General Sessions.Many companies were close but lacked key elements to be considered compliant.

The basis for this effort stems fromidentification of occasional overstatementsregarding efficacy, sub-optimal photographiccomparisons and misinterpretation of thesemantics of terminology used in marketingcollateral for light and energy based devices.After months of collaboration, the LEBTCdeveloped a standard of understanding forcommonly used words such as downtime,bruising, redness, swelling and pain. Companieswere asked to provide standardized before andafter photographs including patient age, lengthof time after the last treatment, disclosure ordisclaimer of any other incident treatment and listing before and after body weight, ifpertinent on their marketing pieces. Theserecommendations were published in theNovember 2011 issue of Aesthetic SurgeryJournal. Companies identified as having lightand energy based technology were forwardeda copy of this article and a request forvoluntary compliance.

Going forward, as manufacturers developnew technology and collateral, the LEBTCevaluates terminology that may be confusingfor physicians and their patients. For example,based on the consensus of the last Committeemeeting, a recommendation will be forwardedto companies that use the words “minimallyinvasive.” The LEBTC recommended that touse this terminology, companies must add tominimally invasive, compared to “what?”Thus, a body contouring device for fatreduction that requires small skin incisionsmay be “minimally invasive” compared to anabdominoplasty procedure but not tostandard tumescent liposuction. Anotherexample is the use of the term “non-ablative.”An intense pulsed light device is designed tonot ablate the skin surface and the same istrue for a radio frequency device used to treatskin rhytids. However, a device that providesa “fractionated” ablative penetration of theskin surface into the dermis, while not asdamaging as a “standard” fully ablative skinresurfacing device, is ablative and should notinclude the term “non-ablative” in marketingcollateral in order to be considered compliantwith ASAPS standards.

Ulthera Commended for Marketing ComplianceBy Michael I. Kulick, MD

(L-R): Michael C. Edwards, MD; Lori Scarafiotti, Linda Lehmann, Anjali Gupta, Christina Rennick, and Mike Floegel from Ulthera; Jack Fisher, MD.

During The Aesthetic Meeting 2014, LEBTCmembers went to each booth reviewingmarketing collateral and opined that companiesapplauded this standardization concept. Theytoo are frustrated when they see collateral,which does not inform the viewer of thepertinent facts that may impact the clinicalresults depicted. While this does requireadditional effort obtaining high quality beforeand after pictures and compliant terminology,it reduces potential confusion when analyzingthe results of technology. Manufacturers, doctorsand their patients will benefit with such acollaborative effort. We hope all companieswill incorporate ASAPS’ recommendations ontheir websites and marketing collateral andlook forward to seeing more “signage ofcompliance” at The Aesthetic Meeting 2015in Montreal!

Michael I. Kulick, MD, is an aesthetic plasticsurgeon practicing in San Francisco, CA, andserves as chair of the ASAPS Light and EnergyBased Therapies Committee.

SOCIETY NEWS


We hope all companies will incorporate ASAPS’ recommendations on theirwebsites and marketing collateral and look forward toseeing more “signage of compliance” at The AestheticMeeting 2015 in Montreal!

■T he Aesthetic Society would like to welcome and congratulate those who were recently elected into membership. We areboth honored and privileged to have such agifted and diverse community of membersthat have helped make this organization whatis today!

Congratulations once again to the followingindividuals on their recent accomplishment:

ActiveJamil Ahmad, MD—Mississauga, Ontario,

Canada Jeff O. Angobaldo, MD—Plano, TXWilliam Troy Austin, MD—Evans, GAAnureet Bajaj, MD—Oklahoma City, OKNia Banks, MD—Lanham, MDR. Morgan Davoudi, MD—Duluth, GAMark S. Elliott, MD—Meridian, MSBehrooz Kalantarian, MD—Fountain Valley, CABill Kortesis, MD—Winston Salem, NCRobert D. Lewis, MD—Mahoning, OHAdam Lowenstein, MD—Santa Barbara, CAWojciech T. Majewski, MD—Jonesboro, ARJeffrey M. Nelson, MD—Tucson, AZIvona Percec, MD—Philadelphia, PARemus Repta, MD—Phoenix, AZDonald Roland, MD—New York, NYBharat Shah, MD—Springfield, MOMichelle A. Spring, MD—Marina Del Rey, CAJonathan C. Weinrach, MD—Phoenix, AZ

International ActiveJuan Carlos Barrera, MD—Bogota, ColombiaEmilio Cabrera, MD—Cordoba, SpainFernando Guerrerosantos, MD—Guadalajara,

Jalisco, MexicoAna B. Santamaria, MD—Madrid, Spain

AssociateS. Randolph Waldman, MD—Lexington, KY

Do you know an individual who wouldmake a great addition to our organization? If so, please send your recommendation viaemail to [email protected] and help yourSociety continue to grow! For additionalinformation/questions, please contact ourMembership Manager, Alicia A. Potochniak [email protected] / 562.799.2356 ext. 102OR visit www.surgery.org/professionals/membership/application. The upcomingapplication deadline is January 5th, 2015—APPLY TODAY!

Welcome to The Aesthetic Society


SOCIETY NEWS

ASAPS Active Member R. Bruce Shack, MD, professor and chair of Vanderbilt University’s department of Plastic Surgery was surprised by residents and alumni at theunveiling of the R. Bruce Shack Resident Education Center. Dr. Shack joined Vanderbiltin 1982 and was appointed chairman of the department of Plastic Surgery in 1997. His leadership responsibilities include overseeing the third-year medical student lectureseries, and resident training in the operating room and ward. He also serves as facultyadvisor for third- and fourth-year medical students interested in pursuing surgery. Our congratulations to Dr. Shack on this well-deserved recognition!

■D esigned specifically for members of TheAmerican Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery,the Certificate of Advanced Education in Cosmetic Surgery is an excellent way to letyour patients know your commitment to continuing education in cosmetic surgery.Aesthetic Society members who qualify willreceive a handsome, engraved certificate suitable for display in your office, exam roomor patient reception area.

The basic model for the ASAPS CAE is theAmerican Medical Association Physician’sRecognition Award (AMA PRA). The types ofeligible activities are essentially the same,except that activities earning credit toward theASAPS CAE must be related exclusively tocontinuing education in cosmetic surgery.

To qualify, Aesthetic Society members musthave a total of 150 CME credits hours in

Member Exclusive: The Aesthetic Society’s Certificate of Advanced Education in Cosmetic Surgery

cosmetic surgery over a three-year period. Toapply for The Aesthetic Society’s Certificate ofAdvanced Education in Cosmetic Surgery,please see the information page atwww.surgery.org/cae and click on theapplication link.

ASAPS Member R. Bruce Shack, MD, Honored


Media Notes & Quotes

■J ames C. Grotting, MD presented datafrom 250 facelift patients regarding satisfaction,along with a study of nearly 50 of his patientswho utilized the Face-Q survey. At one yearafter surgery, the patients were satisfied andtheir quality of life had improved.

“From using Dr. Pusic’s tool, I have learnedthings about my own procedures that I wouldnot necessarily have noticed otherwise. I havelearned things about my patients, includingtheir social function and how they feel inrelationships with friends and family—all ofwhich are tied into their surgical outcomes,”Grotting says in a news release.Face-Q Helps Plastic Surgeons Measure PatientSatisfactionPlasticSurgeryPractice.comMay 1, 2014

■“N ot everybody is willing to be [in recovery] for several weeks after a major procedure,” said Dr. Jack Fisher, president ofASAPS. “They’re looking for a less dramaticchange with shorter recovery.” Botox injections, which cost a few hundred dollars a pop, are the most popular noninvasive procedure by far, with 3.7 million proceduresperformed last year—15% more than in 2012.Cosmetic surgeries see biggest gains since theGreat RecessionYahooFinance.comMarch 21, 2014

■U.S. plastic surgeons reported this monththat growing numbers of women in their 50sand 60s are opting for surgeries to augmentthese body parts for aesthetic reasons. Doctorssay this is a big change because these procedures were largely the province of theyoung until recently. “There has been a cultural shift in the population that is sayingthis is something I want to do,” says JackFisher, [past-]president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and aboomer who can empathise with his patients.Breasts, buttocks and boomers reduxFinancial TimesMarch 27, 2014

■“I t almost goes without saying that beauty,being in the eye of the beholder, has alwaysbeen a matter of preference and opinion,”states Al Aly, MD. “But as a group of surgeonswho strive to achieve optimal results and continually search to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction, we had to ask ourselves why we couldn’t come up withsome means of measuring the results of facialrejuvenation procedures objectively.”Doctors Present Objective Measures and Methodsto Determine Patient Outcomes and Satisfactionat the Annual Aesthetic MeetingHealthCanal.comApril 27, 2014

■G loria Gasaaturais an “ASAPS newbie,”having worked atASAPS for only tenmonths as the PublicRelations Assistant.Her responsibilitiesinclude handling social media on

behalf of the Aesthetic Society; submitting PRAward entries, supporting the PR Director inthe development and implementation of public relations tactics such as pitching themedia, coordinating media interviews with

ASAPS members and promoting media coverage of ASAPS statistics. She also supportsthe Smart Beauty Guide blog project.

What Gloria likes most about working at ASAPS is the people, “They are thefoundation of the warm and welcomingculture,” she notes. “I love coming to work inthis environment. Outside of work, I enjoyexploring the music, arts and culture in andaround New York. There’s always somethingnew to see, learn and appreciate in a city asdiverse as this.”

Membership FAQs

Do I have to be a member of ASPS to be a member of The Aesthetic Society?

No. Membership in ASPS is NOT requiredto be an Aesthetic Society member.

How do I begin the membership process?You must contact an Active or Life Member

of The Aesthetic Society and request that theysubmit a recommendation on your behalf viaemail to [email protected], initiating themembership process for you, the applicant.

Who may sponsor me for membership?Any Active or Life Member of The Aesthetic

Society, who is not a family member, anassociate and/or partner in the same practicemay sponsor you for Active membership.

What are the deadlines for submitting a membership application?

The two deadlines are January 5 and July 1.

When will my application be voted on?Applicants who submit materials for the

July 1 deadline are eligible for election at theend of the year. Applications submitted by theJanuary 5 deadline are eligible for election atThe Aesthetic Meeting in the Spring.

Do I need to be a member of a professional organization in order to obtain CME?

No. Earning CME credits is not associatedwith any Society membership.

What will fulfill the meeting attendance requirement?

The following meetings are exclusivelyorganized by The Aesthetic Society, and areaccepted:• The Aesthetic Meeting (ASAPS Annual

Meeting)• The ASAPS Las Vegas Symposium• The Biennial Aesthetic Cruise

For additional information/questions,please contact our Membership Manager,Alicia A. Potochniak via [email protected] or at 562.799.2356

SOCIETY NEWS

Meet the Staff!


SOCIETY NEWS

ASAPS Members: ShareYour Accomplishments!■D id you know that there is an easy way toshare your career accomplishments with yourfellow ASAPS members?

Simply send your news and photos on majorpractice events, philanthropic efforts, and othermilestones to Membership Manager AliciaPotochiniak at [email protected] for considerationin our quarterly Aesthetic Society News!

■T he Aesthetic Society salutes PresidentMichael C. Edwards on his election as President of the Clark County Medical Society,located in Las Vegas, NV. The Clark CountyMedical Society strives to serve the needs ofphysicians, their patients and the ClarkCounty community with responsibility andintegrity. Dr. Edwards has been elected toserve a one-year term. He was installed at the Society’s 60th Annual Dinner in June2014, held at the Red Rock Resort & Spa in Las Vegas.

ASAPS President Michael C. EdwardsElected President of ClarkCounty Medical Society

■O n Wednesday May 14 in Washington, D.C.,ASAPS Executive Director Sue M. Dykema,CAE, was honored at the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)as their 2013 Meeting Professional of the Year.Nominated for the award by ASAPS strategicconsultants, Max Suzenaar and Katie Callahan-Giobbi of Minding Your Business,the PCMA had rigid qualification standardsfor award consideration, including not onlymembership in the PCMA, but continuingmeeting industry involvement, professional/career achievements, National/Chapter Board and Committee work, volunteerism/community service, mentoring and speaker/author experience.

ASAPS Executive Director, Sue Dykema, Honored asMeeting Professional of the Year

In addition to her involvement andleadership within The Aesthetic Society, shehas been very active in PCMA as well at theChapter level in the Southwest and PacificChapter, joining committees, serving on theboard and ultimately for two years as ChapterPresident. She has also served on the nationalBoard of Directors as well as many task forcesand national committees, including theAnnual Meeting Program Committee. In2003, Sue was the recipient of PCMA’sOutstanding Service to a Chapter Award.

Many ASAPS members and staff were onhand to celebrate the occasion, and the entireSociety congratulates Sue M. Dykema on thisprestigious award.

Leo McCafferty, MD, Felmont Eaves, MD, Sue Dykema, Michael Edwards, MD, Dan Mills, MD

Erika Ortiz-Ramos, John O’Leary, Jian Sun, Kevin Charles, Sue Dykema, Tom Purcell, Debi Toombs

Shaping the Future:Innovationin AestheticSurgery

May 14–19, 2015

THEAESTHETICMEETING2015

www.surgery.org/meet ing2015

The Annual Meeting of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc. and Aesthetic Surgery

Education and Research Foundation

Palais des Congrès de Montréal

Montréal, Quebec, Canada


FOR YOUR PRACTICE

■E very year, we meet many plastic surgeonswho practice within a structure that offersvery little, if any, protection for the assets ofthe practice (and sometimes even their personal assets). Even worse, these vulnerablepractice structures are also typically the worstfrom a tax reduction perspective as well.

In this article, part I of a two-part piece, we will discuss common medical practicestructural deficiencies and attempt to educateyou on avoiding those that may “do harm.” Inpart II, we will describe more optimal practicestructures that can better protect assets andhelp you reduce taxes as well.

The Worst Way to Structure a GroupPractice: A General Partnership

Fortunately, it is not common for plasticsurgeons to structure new medical practices as general partnerships today. Though newpractices are rarely configured as generalpartnerships, we still come across mature (and profitable) practices that continue to be operated as general partnerships.

The significant downsides of generalpartnerships are that (1) the tax-savingopportunities that “S” and “C” corporationsafford do not exist; and (2) each partner ispersonally liable for the liabilities of the entirepartnership. Thus, a plaintiff who successfullysues the partnership can collect the fulljudgment from any one partner.

Even more disturbing is that courts havefound that doctors who share space andoverhead may sometimes be consideredpartners under the law.

Case Study: Roger Had Partners andDidn’t Know it

Roger was one of four surgeons whoused a common office arrangement. Theyeach had their own patients, which theydid not share. They did, however, share acommon waiting area, some support staff,and used the same in-house bookkeeper/accountant to help the

aesthetic society news - surgery...aesthetic society news • summer 2014 3 september 11 – 14,...

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