Bad Botox

A Plastic Surgeon Group out of Albany, together with a number of of their staff members, have been charged after guilty pleas that they have been making use of non FDA accepted Botox products on their clientele.

The Plastic Surgery Group, LLP (TPSG), of Albany have been sentenced and ordered to take care of restitution in the amount of $106,686, and then a fine of $200,000, in connection with TPSG’s plea of guilty to a single count of misbranding medications.

The company was convicted in Federal Court in Albany, together with Doctors William F. DeLuca Jr., Douglas M. Hargrave, Jeffrey L. Rockmore, Steven M. Lynch, and John D. Noonan, who have been all sentenced to probation along with community service and ordered to pay out restitution inside the amount of $106,686 and a fine of $5,000.

The Plastic Surgery Group's clinic manager, Peter Slattery, and supervisory Susan Knott were likewise sentenced.

Restitution in the amount of $106,686, as well as fines in the amount of $1,000 and $500, respectively.

Almost all the people had been sentenced in connection with their guilty pleas to one misdemeanor count of misbranding drugs.

In accordance with plea agreements, commencing in about February 2004 and continuing to December 2004, defendant TPSG stopped utilizing the FDA-approved Botox and Botox Cosmetic and started solely making use of a non-FDA approved TRI-toxin on its patients searching for procedures with Botulinum Toxin Type A for facial wrinkles.

5 physicians, whose professional corporations were partners of The Plastic Surgery Group's (the “treating physicians”), with the assistance of The Plastic Surgery Group's nurses, injected about A hundred and fifty clients with the unapproved products.

Botox is an increasingly popular treatment because it can be targeted to treat the specific muscles that are overused. Botox is injected into the muscles, not the nerves, and it works by impairing the muscle’s ability to flex. The patient is able to work with the doctor, specifically identifying the areas that they believe are the origin of the migraines. The Botox may be slightly diluted and is then injected into the muscle. The physician will often massage the injection site to ensure proper dispersion of the Botox. It only takes about 20 minutes for a treatment and it usually takes effect in a few days.