Dermatologic surgical research and the Institutional Review Board.
BACKGROUND
Dermatologic surgical techniques have transformed cosmetic surgery over the last two decades. Many of the advances in cutaneous laser surgery, botulinum toxin injections, tumescent liposuction, and the latest filler agents have been evaluated on willing volunteers as part of organized trials under the auspices of an Institutional Review Board (IRB).


OBJECTIVE
To review the developmental history of today's IRB and to provide relevance to cosmetic dermatologic research.


RESULTS
Although an IRB must evaluate the "voluntariness" of a proposed research protocol, the risk-benefit ratio, particularly of elective cosmetic dermatologic surgical human studies, is of even greater importance.


CONCLUSIONS
As more dermatologic surgeons become involved in clinical research, an understanding of the function and purpose of the IRB has become increasingly important. Research relating to cosmetic dermatologic procedures raises challenging and perplexing problems for an IRB.
Goldberg
David J
DJ
Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of New York & New Jersey, Hackensack, NJ 07601, USA. drdavidgoldberg@skinandlasers.com
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000592:standards; D032962:Consent Forms; D003880:Dermatology / Q000592:standards; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000592:standards