Is it better to use a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon for dermal fillers?

Both specialties produce physicians who have a thorough understanding of the anatomy for soft tissue and dermal augmentation and are more than capable of administering fillers.

Not all graduating residents of either specialty necessarily gain much experience with this treatment until they go in to practice. Some physicians delegate the treatment to a nurse or a physician's assistant in their office.

The most important technical aspect of injection fillers is for the physician to place the product in the correct level likely to fill unwanted neighboring skin. There is also less bruising and pain when done in this fashion.

The best recommendation for a provider of fillers is word of mouth. If you are lucky to have friends or acquaintances divulge who they have inject their fillers, and if they are happy with their results, you should feel very comfortable seeing that physician.

When selecting a physician for dermal filler injections patients should look for maximum training, experience, and verifiable results. Physicians of several specialties receive training in facial aesthetics and cosmetic procedures. Look for board certification and filler experience in the fields of plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery, oculoplastic surgery or dermatology as these are the core specialties that deal with facial appearance.

Among these specialists there may be vast differences in personal filler experience, or skill level. Each patient should ask the physician what their experience level is, and seek references from recent patients. Busy practitioners should have no trouble answering these questions.

Make sure that the physicians you visit are utilizing genuine FDA approved products in a safe and clean medical environment. There are many "pirated" products of unknown origin on the medical market with untested safety records. Beware "filler parties", and other promotions in non-medical environments. far too often unqualified practitioners have dispensed fake and /or dangerous materials under false pretenses.

If your physician, whether a board-certified surgeon or dermatologist, can meet all the above criteria then you most likely will have a satisfactory outcome.

I agree with Dr. Sinclair's very thorough and informative feedback. Although the question was referencing dermatologists vs. plastic surgeons - I would suggest that consumers focus on the skill and training of the injector or practitioner.

As we can see by the many professional contributors on this website, practitioners come with a variety of titles and credentials. With that said, it's worth mentioning that Registered Nurses have much to offer in the area of fillers and Botox injections.

In my experience, RNs enjoy involving their patients in the educational process and treatment plan in meeting their patient's goals. An eye for the artistry of shaping the face and not just filling lines/wrinkles is a must when choosing a practitioner.

Newer techniques and "pearls" are often shared at training workshops and round tables. An injector that doesn't see value in staying current with their skills may not be the best person to choose. All of the suggestions that Dr. Sinclair provided in finding the right practitioner are excellent places to start.

I wish it were easy to pick the best person for doing your dermal fillers. Unfortunately, the training the doctor got in his residency has little to do with his skill when it comes to injecting dermal fillers. There are many plastics surgeons and dermatologists who do very little work with dermal fillers. When you go to their office, you may not even have your injections peformed by the doctor... they may delegate this "menial task" to a nurse or physician's assistant who works in the office. Sometimes they will hire an injector who comes in once a month to do the injections because the doctor does not do them at all! Some plastic surgeons are much better at tummy tucks or hand reconstruction than dermal fillers. Some dermatologists are great at removing skin cancers but have little interest in cosmetic work.

If you want to pick a good injector, you are going to need to do some personal research. Meet the doctor in person. Ask them about their experience with dermal fillers. Ask who will actually be doing the injections and who will help you if there is a problem. Ask to see their own before and after pictures... not the pictures that are supplied by the dermal filler companies for marketing. Try to determine if the doctor is more interested in finding out what you want or more interested in getting you to agree to proceed with the injections. No matter how good the doctor is at injecting, if they don't take the time to really understand what you want you will not get a good result. Are dermal fillers this doctor's passion or are they just something they do for a little extra cash?

There are no easy shortcuts to finding a great injector. Take your time get a few opinions and a few referrals. When you narrow it down, then try to establish a rapport with your injector before you agree to proceed. The time you spend looking for the right injector for you will pay off big time in good results with low risks.