Bargain Hunting for BOTOX® BUYER BEWARE!
Know who’s behind the needle when it comes to your cosmetic injectables.
As the stigma of smoothing out wrinkles with Botox® has steadily declined over the past ten years, the sales of Botox® have significantly increased. According to data collected from Sterne Agee & Leach Inc., roughly 5 million Botox® treatments were performed in the U.S. alone in 2018. With 2019 profits expected to exceed the $3 billion mark, it’s no wonder more people want a piece of the profits. Unfortunately, this has led to an influx of unqualified, unlicensed, and unregulated providers entering the market who may jeopardize the health and safety of the patients they treat. With complications that can potentially be lethal, it’s crucial to seek out a provider who is both experienced and properly qualified to administer Botox® and cosmetic injectables.
Who can inject Botox® and Dermal Fillers in the state of Minnesota?
If Botox® is purchased by a physician and the person injecting it is “properly supervised” by a physician, anyone can inject your Botox® in the state of Minnesota. Sound scary? It should! The definition of “properly supervised” is very vague and could be a physician who stops into the clinic once a month or not at all. At this time, the state of Minnesota does not require that you have a nursing license or an MD behind your name to be able to inject Botox® or dermal fillers, like Juvéderm. So, how DO you know you’re in good hands?
STEP ONE – Seek treatment by a licensed medical professional
When you weigh out the potential risks and side effects of Botox®, it’s clear that only a doctor, nurse (RN), nurse practitioner (NP), or physician assistant (PA) should be administering this treatment.
Ask your injector if their medical director is on-site. If not, inquire about their safety protocols regarding how they will respond in case of emergency or complication. Is their medical director easy to reach? Is he/she located in the same zip code? Does their medical director have surgical privileges at an area hospital in the event of an occlusion or emergency?
STEP TWO – Don’t “Groupon” your face
Online coupon subscriptions for the area you live in are fantastic for trying out at a new restaurant or hair salon, but not a safe option for deciding who to entrust with the care of your skin and the appearance of your face. More often than not, if the price being advertised is extremely low, your Botox® is NOT being administered by an experienced provider. Worse yet, the Botox® they are offering may be diluted or not even REAL Botox®.
STEP THREE – The Proof isn’t in the pudding, it’s in the pictures
If your Botox® provider cannot share REAL before and after pictures of the results they have achieved, this may be a sign that your injector has little to no experience. A provider that is proud of their work and has a track record of happy clients will be very forthcoming when it comes to sharing pictures of their results.
STEP FOUR – Don’t be shy. Check the label.
Sadly, counterfeit injectable products exist in the marketplace. If you see Botox® pricing that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Ask to see the boxes and vials that your Botox® and dermal filler come packaged in. Botox® vials will have a very distinct hologram pattern on the vial. If you see a brand you don’t recognize or a foreign language you don’t understand on the labeling of the packaging, confront your provider about the origins of the product. You have a right to ask questions about the products and substances that are being injected into your skin!
STEP FIVE – Take a look around at WHERE you are being injected
Botox® and dermal fillers should only be administered in a clean, medical environment using a septic technique. “Botox® Parties” that happen at someone’s house, a hair salon, or a hotel are NOT safe environments. Having Botox® or dermal fillers injected is a medical procedure, not a blowout or haircut.
Curious about the credentials of our Skin Artisan’s injection specialists? Our team is comprised entirely of licensed medical professionals including RN’s, NP’s, & PA’s. Visit our website to learn more!