Is It Ok for Someone Other Than a Doctor to Do Injectable Fillers?

This is another great question. Dr. Oppenheim hit the nail right on the head with his thoughtful response below. Skin necrosis does happen with HA and other gel-fillers, and in my opinion, this disfiguring complication is at least somewhat technique-dependent. If signs of ischemic skin changes are noted at the time of treatment, there is a protocol involving immediate hyaluronidase and nitroglycerine paste to improve outcomes. Examples of disfiguring HA complications were presented at 7th annual multi-specialty symposium. Las Vegas, 6/24/2011 515pm.

In my view, Injectable Filler procedures are best performed by qualified physicians.

Hope this helps.

Dr. Joseph

While you may be able to get injectables by someone other than a doctor, I would highly recommend finding someone who is at least licensed and well trained on how to properly inject fillers. Definitely do some research before hand.

The most important thing about receiving any cosmetic treatments utilizing injectableagents is who is at the other end of the needle.

Botox, Dysport, Restylane and Juvederm are our FDA regulated treatments and are only available to licensed  physicians. Different states will have different regulations as to what tasks a physician may delegate to his staff.

A board certified dermatologist/ENT/Plastic Surgeon has had  extensive training in the anatomy physiology, and repair of skin. When you receive the treatment your goal should be to receive the highest quality treatment from a doctor with the most knowledge and experience.

You may be offered lower prices from a strip mall medi-spas who have no actual medical director on-site. In cases like this you really have no idea of the experience or training of the person offering the treatment.

When it comes to your face demand only the best.  When I was in medical school I remember a plaque on the wall of a shoe repair business I frequented the plaque said the bitterness of poor quality lasts much longer than the sweetness of low price.

Not only should you insist and expect that the physician perform your treatment you should ask three basic questions 1.  what is the medical name of what you're injecting into my face?  2.  how does it work? 3. what are the anatomical sites  of where you're injecting it?

If the person doing the injections can't tell you what the scientific name of what they're using is, the mechanism of action of how it works,  and 3.  where they're injecting it,, thenthey shouldn't be doing it.