In the past few years, cosmetic injectables have been all the rage. And they should be. These procedures can non-invasively correct wrinkles, crow’s feet, and fill out sagging areas all without surgery. But the relative ease of the treatment is deceptively simple, and many patients tragically assume that working with facial injections is foolproof.
Cosmetic procedures such as Botox® and Restylane® should still be performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. With that in mind, any doctor offering Botox injections for less than the price of a meal at Applebees should raise immediate red flags. There is plenty that can go wrong with a facial injection, and cost-cutting shortcuts can lead to disastrous results.
The story of Priscilla Presley and a group of her celebrity friends stands as testament. Presley hired a Brazilian doctor for injection parties without checking his credentials. After they suffered complications such as swelling, pain and hard, bumpy nodules, they discovered that the doctor had used a cheap grade of silicone commonly used in automobiles rather than an FDA-approved cosmetic filler. The silicone was virtually impossible to remove. In another case, a Florida plastic surgeon swapped out a raw botulism toxin instead of name brand Botox, which completely paralyzed one patient, who was kept alive on ventilators for months and never quite fully recovered. Other doctors my target injections in the wrong areas, causing drooping eyelids and lips or other unnatural results.
The most egregious of cases described here were performed by doctors without valid licenses or qualifications. The patients could’ve saved themselves a great deal of money and anguish by checking their credentials – something that should have been an immediate first step when offered treatments at such a low price. Given the high level of standards that qualified doctors must adhere to in terms of accredited facilities and ongoing medical training, the costs of cosmetic procedures shouldn’t feasibly dip below a certain level unless some facet of safety is compromised along the way.
To avoid being burned by fly-by-night cosmetic surgeons and rip-off artists, take time to verify the qualifications of your doctor. For example, Dr. Stuart B. Kincaid, a San Diego Botox specialist, is a board certified plastic surgeon who works in a fully accredited and certified facility. You can verify this information online or during a free consultation – steps that can help you save face (literally) or even your life.