The chief mission of the Physicians Aesthetic Coalition is to advance and promote patient safety for aesthetic surgery and cosmetic medicine.
Founded in 2008, Physicians Aesthetic Coalition (PAC) is a joint venture between the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).
Previously, the four organizations, in conjunction with industry, created a campaign for injectable safety, in response to “counterfeit” injectable products.
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“This successful campaign demonstrated to these societies that we had much in common and could collectively be more effective than acting independently,” Stuart Seiff, M.D., FACS, director and CEO of The Pacific Center for Oculofacial and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Foster City, Calif., tells Cosmetic Surgery Times.
PAC meets twice a year to review common and individual issues. “This relationship has resulted in the sharing of educational projects, such as online training programs,” says Dr. Seiff, past president of ASOPRS.
PAC has also become a strong advocacy group, including opposing cosmetic surgery taxes, government interference in patient cosmetic surgery choices and concerns over training requirements for paramedical personnel.
Besides advocating on behalf of the public, PAC develops educational forums for the public, media and qualified physicians to share information that is transparent and without commercial bias.
PAC is also committed to incorporating evidence-based medicine in research, product development and evaluation, efficacy, education and patient safety.
Furthermore, the collaborative effort strives to enhance research and the reporting of research about new technology and products that promote patient safety and treatment efficacy.
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Similarly, PAC interacts with industry to improve policy, optimize research requirements and support ethical marketing.
The chair of PAC rotates among the four organizations. “ASOPRS is responsible for the leadership of PAC in 2017,” Dr. Seiff says. “We will hold our next meeting, in Dallas, this June.”
