The issues of primary importance when you are contemplating who or where to have your treatment are the experience of the injector and where the product is obtained. Reputable physicians and surgeons will obtain the product directly from the manufacturer, not a discounted offshoot. There is little the consumer can do to ensure this other than to ask if the product has been obtained from the manufacturer and not a third party. This guarantees the product is pure and sterilely packaged.
The other issue is to have your treatments performed by someone who is comfortable not only with the methods and materials, but who has experience dealing with complications. Botox used for cosmetic purposes has risks of local bleeding or bruising, and diffusion into surrounding structures. This can lead to eye drooping or changes in mouth position if injected in these areas. In most cases, for cosmetic uses, the risk of breathing difficulty or swallowing problems does not reasonably occur.
Fillers can carry other risks. As with Botox, some of the common risks are bleeding and bruising. These are temporary and most often do not interfere with the final result. However, fillers should be considered an injectable implant. Sterile technique should always be used — cleaning the face with alcohol to remove all makeup, avoiding touching of the face after preparation, and keeping needles and products packaged sterilely until use. Local infections can occur and can result in delayed results or other complications if sterile technique is not used.
Finally, injections of foreign materials into blood vessels can be dangerous and can cause changes in the surrounding tissues in a dramatic way. This can, in many cases, be avoided with proper attention to the anatomy of the face and knowledge of safe areas to inject fillers. Notably, in the U.S., silicone is not FDA-approved for soft tissue injection. Make sure to ask your injector if the product that is being recommended is FDA-approved for facial injection and whether there are specific risks associated with these injections. You can also ask if they can be reversed if a poor outcome or complication occurs. You should always be asked to sign a consent form prior to injection of a new product. Please take the time to read the consent forms. Many patients feel that since these products can be obtained at a spa or without “surgery,” the risks are minimal and not worth reading about in detail. Injectables are still elective procedures and carry risks associated with them. Make sure you understand what the risks are before embarking on this journey.
The overwhelming majority of patients obtaining Botox or dermal fillers are exceedingly pleased with their results. The risks of some of the more worrisome complications is quite low — 0.0001% in some of the available literature. Once you are aware of the possibilities, you are an informed consumer. Be sure to ask questions of your injector and preferably consult a surgeon familiar with the anatomy and soft tissues of the face that utilize injections in their practice on a daily basis. Injectable treatments can be powerful tools for nonsurgical facial rejuvenation with tremendous success.
Emory Aesthetic Center
Let the board-certified physicians of the Emory Aesthetic Center provide you with a complimentary consultation to assess your needs and help you think through the options. We will help choose an approach personalized to you and your needs.
