When treatments go bad - at medi spa

In the medi-spa

Problem spot: Injections

In 2006, a woman in Salinas, California, died after receiving injections of Botox false (it was cooking oil) from a barbershop, which was not authorized to make the treatment, the stylist was later accused of causing death.

Although serious side effects of cosmetic injections are extremely rare, counterfeit products have caused the most serious problems. "It's a big problem, because there are only a cosmetic Botox is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but there are many false and cheaper foreign products", said in July Few, MD, spokesman for the American Society for Plastic Surgery Aesthetics and director of the Institute of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Few in Chicago. "When considering a cosmetic filler, it is extremely important to make sure you are getting something that is approved by the FDA."

There can be problems even with Botox: If diluted before being administered properly, their effectiveness may be reduced. "Botox comes as a powder and mixed with a saline solution, so it may be overdiluted for someone trying to stretch the benefits," said Bruce Cunningham, MD, director of the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Minnesota . "I've heard patients say, 'The Botox at the spa have lasted only three months instead of the usual six." This may be because it is diluted. "

Cosmetic injections are considered extremely safe, but can cause side effects such as pain, redness, lumps and bumps. Most are temporary, but some, such as droopy eyelids and a frozen expression, which can occur with Botox, can be disturbing. "A sub --
dynamics of facial anatomy, which make the muscles when to talk and express their emotions, can make the difference between a natural looking result and something that is just bizarre, "said Richard D'Amico, MD, president of the Society American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "The more you get from a plastic surgeon or dermatologist in the office, the more likely you are to have fewer people with no knowledge or experience of doing the procedure."

Protect yourself

Make sure your initial appointment with a doctor. A nondoctor can not know the pros and cons compared to that of Botox fillers that work better, said Alan Gold, MD, president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Check the credentials, training and experience of the person performing the injection. (In one state, a physician assistant with a day of training may be licensed.) Someone with experience in cosmetic know that hyaluronic acid in Restylane and Juvederm, for example, can be dissolved by injecting a substance called hyaluronidase if something goes wrong, they'll also know that some people are allergic to hyaluronidase.

Care prices that sound too good to be true. According to a recent analysis in the Wall Street Journal, the average price is $ 363 Botox, injectable fillers range from about $ 390 for collagen to $ 557 for Restylane, a hyaluronic acid. The prices can be much higher in urban areas, however.

Watch the product, "says Dr. Gold: Make sure the package is unopened and brand name and manufacturer are the same as what was promised. Allergan, for example, has created a hologram on its packaging to thwart counterfeit Botox.

Discover the spa for emergency procedures. "You should know what can go wrong and how fast you can get a doctor," says Hannelore Leavy, executive director of the International Medical Spa Association and the Association of Day Spa.

Ask about the training. With new products such as Botox-expected to reach the market in the next year, the situation will soon become more complicated. "All new products disperse in different tissues, so that each one will have to inject a little different," says Dr. D'Amico. "The people carrying out these procedures will need to understand the differences."