Midlevel Injectable Practice Patterns in Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Offices

BACKGROUNDThere is limited knowledge on the extent physicians delegate cosmetic procedures to midlevel providers.OBJECTIVETo assess dermatology and plastic surgery practice patterns for the injections of neurotoxins and dermal fillers.MATERIALS AND METHODSFour hundred ninety-two dermatology and plastic surgery practices were identified from 10 major US metropolitan areas. These practices were contacted, and staff were asked a series of questions to best characterize the practice patterns in regard to who performs the injectables in the office.RESULTSAlthough most dermatology and plastic surgery practices had physicians as the only provider who gives injectables, 18.35% of dermatology and 25.4% of plastic surgery practices had nurse practioners and physician assistants giving injectables both with and without oversight of the supervising physician onsite.CONCLUSIONIn a large majority of both plastic surgery and dermatology practices, physicians exclusively perform injections of neurotoxins and fillers. For practices that allow midlevel providers to perform injectables, the level of physician supervision is variable. In a small percentage of plastic surgery practices, surveyed midlevel providers exclusively performed injectables.