Provide names of other journalists involved.
Writer: Gretchen Becker Other journalists involved: Kristy Broering, Sue Wiltz, John Nalley and Matthew Brady
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
1-Jun-12
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Americans received more than 5 million Botox injections and 7 million non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal, soft-tissue fillers, microdermabrasion and chemical peels in 2011. The explosive growth — 123 percent in 10 years, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons — means consumers must be more cautious than ever about who they use for a procedure. If improperly handled, many of the treatments can cause blisters, scabs and infections. In Indiana, plastic surgeons, dermatologists, physician’s assistants, nurses and estheticians can perform the procedures in doctors’ offices, medical spas and day spas. Providers administering treatments only have to be under a physician’s direction, but the doctor doesn’t need to be on-site. Directors from the Indiana Medical Licensing Board and the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology admitted to us that while they can revoke a license of a provider, they don’t have the authority to shut down a spa. “It’s pretty much a free-for-all here,” says plastic surgeon Dr. Barry Eppley of Ology spa facilities in Carmel and Avon, Ind.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
We reviewed Angie’s List member reports on day and medical spas, plastic surgeons and dermatologists who performed cosmetic procedures. From those reports, we got names and locations of companies that had received complaints and then checked other online review sites to see what additional complaints consumers had made. Although we used many public documents, none required a formal request. We got online court records from the Madison County, Indiana Small Claims Court to show that an Angie’s List member had successfully sued Lookworthy Face & Body Retreat and owner Lyla Graddy. We went to the Indiana Medical Licensing Board online records to check the license and any disciplinary actions of the health care providers we interviewed. We searched the United States Bankruptcy Court online filings to find records of laser clinics that had closed in the area and hadn’t returned money to its clients who had paid upfront. And we searched the online Secretary of State database in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri to find locations, owners and people involved in different laser clinics that had shut down and had consumer complaints. We used these results to connect one surgeon to several med spa practices, as well as another manager to multiple laser clinics that had shut down. We also used online data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Explain types of human sources used.
We spoke with Angie’s List members in the Indianapolis area who had filed complaints on our site regarding med spas and laser clinics. To get the other side of the story, we also contacted the owners of those med spas and laser clinics, along with their medical directors. We interviewed Angie’s List members who had a positive experience at med spas, and we discussed the laws in Indiana with dermatologists and plastic surgeons who are highly rated on Angie’s List. To get more clarification on the state laws, we talked to Kristen Kelley, director of the Indiana Medical Licensing Board; Tracy Hicks, director of the State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners; and Erin Reece, a spokeswoman for the Indiana Attorney General. To get background information on the medical spa industry and what services are typically offered, we picked the brain of the president at Day Spa & International Medical Spa Associations, a spokesperson for the National Coalition of Estheticians, and the president-elect of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons didn’t return our calls.
Results:
After our story published, we received a letter from Dr. Daniel M. Siegel, president of the American Academy of Dermatology Association. He wrote: “On behalf of the 17,000 members of the AADA, thank you for the June cover story, ‘Saving Face,’ which provided important information for consumers to consider before undergoing a non-surgical cosmetic procedure.”
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
We have not run any corrections or clarifications, and no one has challenged the story’s accuracy.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
State laws on who can perform minimally invasive cosmetic skin procedures and whether a doctor needs to be present vary widely. Check your state, talk to the medical licensing board and board of cosmetology to get clear definitions. If you don’t understand the laws, which are often very vague, ask to get clarification. It’s also important to find consumers who’ve had both good and bad experiences, and always give the owner and medical director of the spa or laser clinic the chance to give their side of the story.