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By Anita Mandal, M.D.
Question: I’ve seen two plastic surgeons for botox and fillers. Their fees were much higher than some doctors who are not cosmetic surgeons and most medical spas. Is there any real benefit to paying more for a plastic surgeon?
Answer: Botox and fillers may seem quick and easy, but serious complications can and do occur. With so many medical personnel taking two day training courses to start an injectable practice and enticing patients by offering lower prices, it is important to be an educated patient. One may end up paying more to correct a problem than to have it done right the first time.
Tips on finding a skilled injector:
1. Having a medical degree and being board certified are important but only basic prerequisites.
2. Be cautious and question fees that are well below average. Injectables can be purchased through the “black market” at much cheaper prices.
3. Find out how many syringes or vials your doctor uses per week. Your plastic surgeon may do a high volume of breast implants, but this does not translate into a busy injectable practice. A facial plastic surgeon specializing exclusively in the face often does a high volume of facial cosmetic surgery and injectables.
4. However impressive it sounds, a doctor recognized for training, clinical research, lecturing or scientific publications is not necessarily skiIled at injectable treatments. Do not assume that a reputation for teaching means good clinical skills.
5. View before and after photos to be sure your surgeon’s cosmetic results are consistent with your expectations. For example, if the “after” photos show overfilled faces and you don’t want that look, keep searching for a plastic surgeon who can give you the results you want.
6. Ask what specific injection techniques your surgeon uses to avoid overfilled lips, bumps or a surprised look. Find out what corrective techniques are available in the event that a problem does occur. Today, fillers are commonly injected, using advanced techniques, on bone and into deep fat pockets to restore facial volume and give more natural looking contours.
7. Your injector should know the limits of injectable therapy and be thoroughly familiar with all surgical alternatives. Be sure you are not advised to have injectables because your doctor does not perform other treatments such as surgery that may be of greater benefit to you.
8. Your surgeon should review realistic expectations with you. Injectables are not a substitute for surgery. On the other hand, injectables can effectively address certain signs of aging that surgery may not.
9. Your doctor should make you aware that since aging is an ongoing process, injectable therapy is part of an ongoing maintenance plan and rarely a one time procedure.
Shopping for the best price won’t necessarily get you the results you desire. Change your focus from price point to quality of results. After all, your face is how others first identify you. It is important to look youthful, natural and, above all, like your true self.
