Recent communications with Jessica from Straits Times has reminded me that time is flying by. We are fast approaching 1st November, the day Singapore aesthetic medicine is set to change, supposedly for the better.
In a nutshell, there must be no further use of the terms aesthetic physician or aesthetic doctor. Some of the treatments which have been well accepted in the aesthetic community have been categorised as "List B" or having low scientific evidence of efficacy.
Two of the treatments in question are dermaroller and deep tissue massage (endermologie) for the treatment of cellulite. Rather than a blanket ban on these procedures, doctors can opt to continue offering these services under study conditions. The two options are full clinical trial or detailed observational study. The protocols have to be lodged with SMC, and the treatments must be stopped if there is no evidence of efficacy, or evidence of harm.
Thank goodness I spent my SGH days doing different types of research. Lots of cobwebs have had to be swept away, but the various components of such studies is still second nature. I have currently prepared protocols for both dermaroller therapy for acne scar reduction, and endermologie as part of a multi-modal treatment protocol.
Although the aim is to start on 1st November, my intention is to start implementing the new consent and data collection protocol before that. I believe I should be ready in the next few days. Although the consent is for "experimental" treatment, we have had vast experience with both treatments and are confident of their efficacy and safety. And as solid clinical evidence is collected, this has to be beneficial for all concerned.
In a nutshell, there must be no further use of the terms aesthetic physician or aesthetic doctor. Some of the treatments which have been well accepted in the aesthetic community have been categorised as "List B" or having low scientific evidence of efficacy.
Two of the treatments in question are dermaroller and deep tissue massage (endermologie) for the treatment of cellulite. Rather than a blanket ban on these procedures, doctors can opt to continue offering these services under study conditions. The two options are full clinical trial or detailed observational study. The protocols have to be lodged with SMC, and the treatments must be stopped if there is no evidence of efficacy, or evidence of harm.
Thank goodness I spent my SGH days doing different types of research. Lots of cobwebs have had to be swept away, but the various components of such studies is still second nature. I have currently prepared protocols for both dermaroller therapy for acne scar reduction, and endermologie as part of a multi-modal treatment protocol.
Although the aim is to start on 1st November, my intention is to start implementing the new consent and data collection protocol before that. I believe I should be ready in the next few days. Although the consent is for "experimental" treatment, we have had vast experience with both treatments and are confident of their efficacy and safety. And as solid clinical evidence is collected, this has to be beneficial for all concerned.
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