Best Doctor for Dermal Fillers?

Is it better to go to a Dermatologist or a Plastic Surgeon for things like Restylane and other fillers?

I am particularly interested in Nasolabial folds without a nerve block, because I recently had a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon hit a nerve during a dental block with severe complications.

Would a dermatologist have more understanding of facial nerves? Just curious as to how to find the best doctor. Thank you!

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by KGB

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It's not the specialty as much as the skill of the physician

There are many specialties that cross the spectrum of what we call 'Cosmetic surgery' and some are better at some things than others. Anatomy should cut across all specialties, but keep in mind that knowing anatomy doesn't translate into doing a good job in injecting or numbing. In fact, you can know a whole lot and do a lousy job of getting a patient numbed. Having said that, I would hope that the more educated a physician, the better job overall they would do. In our office, we don't... more

Dermatologist versus plastic surgeon for filler injections

First, it most important to seek a Board certified specialist in one of the "core" cosmetic fields, Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, Oculoplastic or ENT, Secondly, be certain that it is the physician who will perform the injection. Lastly, it is best if you have referral from patients or another physician so that you have some knowledge of the specialists experience and expertise.

Best to see physician who does a lot of dermal fillers.

An experienced physician who does a lot of dermal fillers is the best person for you to have this done. A dermatologist or a plastic surgeon is well qualified to perform these types of injections.

Filler by Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon

The specialty does not matter as much as the training and experience of the individual doctor. You should ask around and find out from friends etc someone who is known to be good. Also, you can use numbing cream before you go for injections and that would avoid any need for nerve blocks. Click below on a link for information and then 'Botox and Filler Instructions' on how to prepare for filller injections. Regards

For fillers it is best to see somebody with experience

There are many specialties who are trained to do different aspects of cosmetic and there are world renowned specialists who come from many fields. The majority of physicians who specialize in injectables like facial fillers come form (in alphabetic order) Dermatology Facial Plastic Surgery (a sub-specialty of ENT) Oculoplastic Surgery (a sub-specialty of Ophthalmology) Plastic Surgery You should know that there are also truly outstanding cosmetic surgeons who have different backgrounds... more

Surgeon specialities are less important then experience

The most important things is going to a well trained and experienced physician. There are physicians in all specialities of Cosmetic Surgery that Inject fillers and training and experience are key. Make sure that the actual physician you see will be doing the treatments and not a nurse or associate. Look through the physicians before and after photographs and even speak with some of their patients so they may share their experience with you. Injectables as with many things in Plastic... more

Michael Elam, MD

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Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

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Who should do dermal filler injections?

Your question is a politically loaded one, and so you will get a variety of answers. First, I am sorry to hear that you had difficulty after the nerve blocks, but it is unlikely to be related to the specialty-specific training that your doctor had; in order to "hit" the nerve, he had to know where it was and of course that is where the block needs to be placed. Complications from nerve blocks are extremely rare. Secondly, there are a variety of clinicians who are skilled at... more