Building a successful practice depends upon two things: achieving great clinical outcomes and providing outstanding customer service. Smart physicians know that they alone can’t do both. They need a team that is informed, motivated, engaged and highly skilled in the art of aesthetic practice. This is where THE Aesthetic Practice Association™ (TAPA) and the Certified Aesthetic Consultant™ (CAC) Program come into play. We provide the education and instill the confidence in everyone from your receptionist to your nurse practitioner. We’ll make certain your whole team has the skills to deliver on the promises you make to patients. What’s more, you’ll know that your people are prepared when they proudly display their CAC certificate.
 Latest News
Medical Aesthetic Procedure Tax Threatens Economic Recovery
Healthcare reform legislation, a cornerstone of President Obama's campaign promises, is causing quite a stir as it makes its way through Congress. The bill, which is designed to make affordable health coverage available to all Americans, will be expensive, thus additional funds will be needed to cover the costs. One proposed solution could create a major hurdle for the aesthetic industry – a 10% federal tax on aesthetic procedures.
While the tax is not included in the healthcare bill at present, many in the industry believe it could become an amendment suggested from the floor during voting. Taxing aesthetic treatments could raise $100 million or more each year, depending on which procedures are taxed. An aesthetic procedure tax also appears to re-distribute wealth from the well-off to the needy.
The idea of a tax on aesthetic procedures isn’t new, similar taxes have been proposed in half a dozen state legislatures over the past few years. Only one state has passed such a tax and according to industry insiders, it’s been a failure. In 2004, the state of New Jersey adopted a 6% tax on cosmetic treatments. However, every year since then, the lawmaker who proposed the bill that created the tax (Assemblyman Joseph Cryan) has tried to repeal it.
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Sponsor News Article
Study Reveals Significant Benefits with VASER Compared to Standard Liposuction
According to a multicenter, singleblind clinical trial, a dramatic improvement in skin retraction and a significant reduction in blood loss are two major advantages associated with the VASER Lipo System from Sound Surgical Technologies LLC (Louisville, Colo.) compared to traditional suction-assisted lipoplasty (SAL).
"I wasn't surprised by the overall results of the study, but I was a bit surprised by the magnitude of skin retraction: a 53% improvement relative to SAL. In my mind, this is fairly dramatic," said principal investigator Paul Vanek, M.D., a plastic surgeon in private practice in Mentor, Ohio. Dr. Vanek presented the study findings at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in Seattle, Wash. The other statistically significant difference was in blood loss: 26% reduction relative to SAL.
For the study, 20 female patients between the ages of 20 and 48 underwent a single session of contralateral treatment with SAL and VASER Lipo in up to five anatomical regions (arms, inner thigh, outer thigh, flanks and back). Being granted an Institutional Review Board (IRB) "to study two techniques on the same person is not typical because for the most part patients and reviewers do not want to subject patients to that risk," explained Dr. Vanek, who has an extensive background in soft-tissue research in both humans and animals. He believes that the selectivity and acoustic streaming effect of VASER ultrasound (roughly one half of the ultrasound energy of other platforms) "creates a dissolution of the soft tissues that is different from other energies or other techniques."
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 CAC Training Program Expands via Four New Sponsored Modules
In a field that consistently demands a high standard of excellence, it can be difficult for aesthetic practitioners to obtain the training required to become a leader in both their practice and their industry. Often, physicians and other aesthetic extenders are expected to learn how to run a successful practice through trial-and-error. To address this predicament, THE Aesthetic Practice AssociationTM (TAPA) crafted its Certified Aesthetic ConsultantTM (CAC) training program. This program is designed to provide aesthetic practitioners with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in the field and help their practice thrive.
Created to provide aesthetic practitioners with the skills and knowledge base needed to succeed in all aspects of the practice, the CAC program’s original educational modules include Basic Science, covering the scientific principles behind aesthetic technology and the skin’s behavior; Consultation Skills, offering tried-andtrue tactics to seamlessly transition existing and prospective patients from phone call to post-op; Marketing Principles, which share up-to-date advice from industry leaders about how to ensure healthy growth of a practice; and Business Practices to grow an aesthetic practitioner’s business acumen.
Recently four new sponsored modules offering an in-depth examination of innovative treatments were added to the CAC program. These new modules are available through educational grants from aesthetic corporations that specialize in diverse aspects of the aesthetic market and subsequently offer CAC students unrivaled insight into some of the newest trends in this field.
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 Consumer Interest Drives Body Shaping Technologies
Currently, many different technologies and devices are being used for the purpose of reducing cellulite, toning and firming skin as well as emulsifying fat. Europe, in particular, has seen the introduction of dozens of new devices incorporating many different technologies, although more established techniques such as endermologie continue to be used. While consumer demand and product availability have expanded, a weak global economy has constrained consumer spending.
In 2008, more than 8 million body shaping procedures were performed worldwide, earning physicians over $2.8 billion in fees. By 2013, this will rise to more than 13 million treatments earning $5.6 billion. Additionally, 670,000 skin tightening procedures were performed worldwide, earning physicians almost $970 million in fees. By 2013, this will expand to almost 2 million treatments earning them $2.3 billion.
Over the past 24 months, a variety of both established and emerging device manufacturers have introduced systems that offer energy-based liposuction. Using radiofrequency (RF), laser and water-jet energy, these minimally invasive devices liquefy adipocytes for easier removal.
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Benefits of Joining TAPA:
- Professional training and certification
- TAPA consumer outreach and practice referral
- Exclusive market data
- Technology and product evaluations
- Exclusive market research data
- Peer-to-peer networking
- Practice development support
- Access to expert training
- Buying discounts
- THE Aesthetic Guide® publications
Mission Statement
THE Aesthetic Practice Association (TAPA) is a community of physicians, aesthetic extenders and office staff devoted to enterprise growth and professional development. As the leading association that provides education and training of medical aesthetic practitioners worldwide, TAPA is unique in offering the industry’s only Certified Aesthetic Consultant (CAC) program.
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