At the Annual Meeting in October of 1998, the ASPRS Board of Directors convened the Task Force on Deep Vein Thrombosis. This task force was called to address, in detail, concerns that had been identified through the research of the Lipoplasty Task Force. The enclosed statement from the task force represents an extensive review of the literature and a critical analysis of clinical experience. The task force members were the following: Noel B. McDevitt, M.D., Chair; Louis C. Argenta, M.D.; Uldis Bite, M.D.; Ricky Clay, M.D.; Douglas Gervais, M.D., Lipoplasty Society; Susan Mackinnon, M.D.; Foad Nahai, M.D., American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery; Linda G. Phillips, M.D.; Rod Rohrich, M.D.; and the University of North Carolina Coagulation Group. I would like to thank each member of the task force for the insights that they brought to this process. The final document represents their significant contributions to these efforts. Paul L. Schnur, M.D., President, American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons