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Beware of BOTOX and the Beautician

Don’t get your Botox where you get your blow-outs

When you want to take a Pilates class, you hit the gym. And when you want to get your highlights touched up, you head to the beauty salon. And let’s say you need a black cocktail dress and a pair of strappy sandals for a dinner party - off to the mall you go.

Makes sense, right? Unfortunately, in the world of cosmetic medical treatments this line is becoming blurred as fitness clubs, beauty salons and shopping malls are adding injectables such as Botox, Juvederm, and Restylane, laser treatments, chemical peels and other non-surgical cosmetic procedures to their roster of services.

To today’s multitasking consumer, this may seem like a huge timesaver. But beauty buyers beware, experts warn – you may save time and perhaps even a little cash, but you might pay for it in other far more dire ways.

No matter how convenient it may seem, Botox, fillers, laser therapies, chemical peels and skin resurfacing procedures should not be performed in shopping malls, beauty salons, gyms or in homes. These are not medical environments, they may be unsanitary and the physicians who freelance at these locations are normally not the same caliber of physician who owns a medical office specializing in cosmetic medicine. Non-surgical or non-invasive does not mean non-medical, and importantly, it does not mean risk-free.

It’s Amateur Hour
Non-medical settings usually attract amateur injectors and practitioners with little experience or knowledge about the field of cosmetic medicine or the products they are administering. They may even use unlicensed or expired products in inappropriate dosages. The result? Poor cosmetic results and terrible complications. These unskilled practitioners may not take a full medical history to make sure you are an appropriate candidate for a given procedure, which also greatly increases your risk of an unsatisfactory result or complication.

Out of the Zone
Facilities that perform medical treatments such as Botox, fillers and laser treatments are required to be zoned as a medical office. This is due in part to state and local government mandates on how needles are disposed of and how blood borne contaminants are handled in a medical office. By ignoring these regulations, many retail locations offering cosmetic services are breaking the law. And the law makes sense, as needles or blood soaked gauze are not something you would want mixing with food court deliveries at the mall or the juice bar at your gym.

One Size Does NOT Fit All
These bargain-basement facilities may also offer just one product or service as opposed to the entire palate of injectables, peels and laser therapies that are readily available at a medical spa or in a physician’s office. Each of these products and procedures has their own set of risks, benefits, and indications. Only a skilled, experienced physician will be able to guide your decision, make sure you are satisfied with the results, and protect your safety. If you go to a place that offers a single product, that’s what you’ll get, regardless of what you might actually need.

Save at the Mall, Not the MedSpa
In today’s economic environment, being smart with every dollar is important. However, never choose a doctor or facility solely on the basis of lower cost. If the cost is cut, the practitioner or establishment may also be cutting corners elsewhere. For example, there’s a good chance you’ll be injected with a diluted version of the standard Botox treatment or dermal filler, putting you at risk for lackluster results and dozens of complications. A skilled aesthetic physician will have a successful cosmetic practice fueled by satisfied clients who keep coming back. He or she is in demand and can charge a little bit more for aesthetic services. Pay the difference – quality and safety is worth every penny.

Remember, It’s Your Choice
When in doubt, walk out. If you do suspect the facility is not accredited or sanitary, report it to your local Better Business Bureau immediately. For the best results and maximum safety, cosmetic procedures should be performed in licensed medical spas and physicians offices. These facilities maintain medical-grade cleanliness and are staffed by professionals who have dedicated themselves to the art of aesthetic medicine. You deserve as much.

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