Restylane injections from a general practitioner?

Is it safe for a General Practitioner to give me Restylane injections? I'm 21 years old and of Indian descent. I have hollow dark circles under my eyes and I want to try Restylane as I've heard a lot of good things about it for dark circles from patients and doctors on this site. I've also heard of a case of blindness from filler being injected into arteries that supply the eye and I'm worried. Would a GP be knowledgeable enough in eye anatomy to safely perform this procedure?

Restylane injections from a general practitioner?
5 answers to “Restylane injections from a general...”

A: You obviously have enough doubts to write about it

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Dear Shirya Please listen to your personal concerns! You will never go wrong listening to your intuition. You are clearly not comfortable with the situation. If you felt comfortable you would of had service and never bothered yourself about the situation. While a GP might be licensed to perform the treatment,... more

A: This isn't a good idea

Joel Schlessinger, MD

While anyone can 'technically' inject you (from nurse to family doctor to surgeon), it pays to see someone who truly specializes in this area, especially when it comes to the eyes.  This area is very demanding and, if done wrong, will cause a world of problems for you. 

A: Restylane injection into the tear trough is an advanced technique

Shahram Salemy, MD

 Restylane injections into the tear troughs is a nice option to help soften the depth and shadowing in this area.  However, it is a very delicate anatomic area that will reveal any imperfections quite readily.  It's important, therefore, to pick someone who understands the anatomy very well so... more

A: Trust your face only to a specialist

Steven J. Pearlman, MD

There are a numbers of non-specialists who are well trained and perform excellent filler treatments. However, you can't always tell if the person you choose is one of these. It is safer and a better bet to seek out a specialist who has intimate knowledge of the face, facial anatomy and experience in... more

A: Restylane Injections Around the Eyes by General Practioner

Michael A. Persky, MD

Hi Shirya, The eye lid hollows are a very delicate and unforgiving area to treat with Restylane. You should have only the most experienced and well trained physician injecting in this area.  Your concerns are well founded.  Any physician may have a complication, but you decrease your chances of a... more

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