New Orleans, LA – May 8, 2013 – Mary P. Lupo, M.D., board certified dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine, believes that all patients, no matter their medical condition, should be treated with the finest medical care by a board certified physician. Time and time again, Dr. Lupo and her peers in the medical field come across stories from patients as well stories on TV and in newspapers about “doctors” positioning themselves as fully qualified physicians, when in reality, they did not complete a residency in an aesthetic specialty and are practicing outside of their field of training.

Particularly in the field of dermatology, Dr. Lupo is concerned about the increasing number of patients coming to her office after suffering complications as a result of untrained or uncertified physicians and non-physicians performing medical procedures with injectables and lasers. Even more frightening is when those patients are treated with illegal products. Dr. Lupo believes all patients deserve to know the truth and qualifications of their treating physician and advises all patients do their homework before having any procedure done.

DR. LUPO’S TIPS FOR CHOOSING A PHYSICIAN FOR COSMETIC PROCEDURES

Choose the “Core Four”

• Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery and Oculo-Plastic Surgery. These four medical specialties have extensive formal residency training in performing cosmetic procedures, not mere weekend courses.

Check for Board Certification

• You can verify any physician’s board certification by checking with the American Board of Medical Specialties. (www.ABMS.org).

Always Select the Medical Office Setting

• Qualified physicians are trained to handle cosmetic complications.
• Non-physicians providing cosmetic procedures in their homes such as lasers and injectables are in violation of the state laws for the practice of medicine. Report any such illegal activity to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. (www.lsbme.org)
• Physicians must follow the rules of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME) when delegating cosmetic procedures and be responsible for their patients.
• Discounted products may be dilute or illegally imported materials not subject to review by the FDA for purity and safety.

Dr. Lupo is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), and she has served as a board member and medical advisor for numerous national and international dermatological organizations, including president of the Women’s Dermatologic Society and past member of the ASDS board of directors. As chief resident in 1983, Dr. Lupo founded Tulane University School of Medicine’s Resident Cosmetic Clinic and has served as a faculty member since 1984. She is also a founding director of The Cosmetic Bootcamp, an innovative continuing medical education program that teaches board certified core aesthetic physicians the latest techniques for aging skin correction. Dr. Lupo is the author of more than 60 published articles and book chapters, and she has been a speaker on various dermatological topics at nearly 250 national and international meetings and seminars.

For more information on Dr. Lupo, please visit www.drmarylupo.com or www.cosmeticbootcamp.com.

To set up an interview with Dr. Lupo, please contact Abby Lupo at 504-288-2381 or abby@drmarylupo.com.