Dr. Steve Bandy Admits To Illegally Dispensing LipoDissolve

            ABINDGON, VIRGINIA -- Bristol, Va., doctor Steven Martin Bandy, age 40, who did business as Rejuvenage Medspa, pleaded guilty this afternoon in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon to one count of misdemeanor misbranding.

            According to evidence presented at today’s hearing, Bandy, through his practice at Rejuvenage Medspa, illegally injected patients with a substance called LipoDissolve in 2007.  LipoDissolve is not approved by the FDA and there have been no FDA-approved studies to substantiate the claim that LipoDissolve reduces pockets of fat.  Between August 2006 and August 2007, Bandy caused LipoDissolve to be injected into patients who had no valid prescription for the drug.

            “When Mr. Bandy repeatedly dispensed medication without an individualized prescription, he endangered the health and safety of patients,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today.  “This office will continue to aggressively enforce the rules which govern prescription drugs and do our best to protect those who place their trust in physicians.”

            Bandy, who purchased LipoDissolve from out-of-state vendors, injected LipoDissolve into approximately 72 patients, consisting of a total of 285 treatments, with customer payments totaling over $70,000.

            United States District Judge James P. Jones sentenced Bandy to probation for a term of one year.  In addition, Bandy was ordered to forfeit $70,871.61 and pay a fine of $5,000.00.

            The investigation of the case was conducted by the Pikeville, Ky., Office of the Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer prosecuted the case for the United States.           

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