Who Should I See for Injectable Fillers?

You truly need to see a plastic surgeon, but this is the reason. One, we are the experts in this field. Two, if you see a dermatologist, you will get the injection because that is all he or she could do. What I mean is that if you see a plastic surgeon you will be analyzed and given an honest opinion what fillers would do for you vs. surgery. The plastic surgeon may also tell you that what you are looking for is not achievable with fillers and that you may need surgery instead. You will not hear this from physician who dont offer surgery. Just my 0.02

For injectable fillers like Juvederm or Restylane, particularly for delicate areas such as under the eyes, it's important to consult a provider with extensive experience and knowledge in facial anatomy. Both board-certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons are qualified to administer these treatments, as they have the necessary training to achieve optimal results and manage any potential side effects. Your choice might depend on the specific expertise and experience of the practitioner with facial fillers, as well as your personal comfort level with them. It’s advisable to consult with both types of specialists to discuss their approach and see before-and-after photos of their work to make an informed decision.

Hi Joonbug37, this is a great question. Choosing a practitioner, especially one qualified to inject in such a delicate area, can be a daunting task. It’s important to be treated by a board certified facial plastic or plastic surgeon when dealing with the under eye area. I’ve seen many patients go to an injector who is either a nurse or a non-core physician and end up worse than when they started. There are times when dermal fillers can help mask the puffiness under the eye, but there are some cases where filler will not help and surgery is the better option.   

Best of luck!

Thomas E. Kaniff, MD

You can see either a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist for both of these fillers. Just be sure you are comfortable with who you see and ask to look at before and after pictures. Price is important, but don't settle! Board certification is an important quality to consider as well. Shop around and see what fits you! Good luck!

Hello,
The real answer is to go to the doctor that will provide you the best result. If you set the "cost" as your determining factor, you may win or you may loose. Take a look at the listings about unhappy patients. Why do patients have "bad" results at least in their minds. A lot of possibilities.
For your treatment - Plastic surgeon... dermatologist... facial plastic surgeon...... ophthalmologist... gynecologist.... family doctor... clinic with a nurse providing the treatment... All can be very good or very bad as it relates to injecting a filler.
These products can be sold to many. You have to make the decision. In many ways,there is no wrong or guaranteed positive result with anything.
If your considering surgery vs an injectable filler to correct this problem, that limits the above options. The real answer to this question is not going through a web site but by spending time with the possible doctors that will be recommending the treatment options for you.
Spend the time / cost up front so that you feel confident about your decision.

This area is the one that, as you may read in numerous postings, has problems after it is done. Unfortunately, there are many people in our profession who have started to do this and have a steep learning curve (as it is called).
What this means is that problems can occur and these problems may be long term. Injection with long term or permanent substances such as silikon is not only a bad idea, but potentially harmful. I use Restylane in this area for the most part, but I am also very careful to choose my patients wisely as bad results can last a long time and it is best to avoid a procedure in someone who doesn't need it or is a poor candidate.
Other options are available and sometimes the way that the anatomy of the area is actually prevents this procedure from being done correctly. This is something that a reputable dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon should tell you!
Good luck!

Fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane can be very effective for lower eyelids. However, you need to be careful about you is injecting you. The lower eyelid skin is much thinner and less forgiving than other areas of the face such as the nasolabial folds or lips. Make sure you are seeing a plastic surgeon or dermatologist with extensive experience in filler injections. Also, fillers may not be the right answer for you. It is important that the doctor give you a complete evaluation and discuss other options as well. Good luck.

You should find a board-certified dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon experienced with correcting lower eyelid bags. Try to see favorable photos before proceeding, since the lower lid is delicate, and may be over-corrected.
I've attached a photo demonstrating Injectable Fillers (Silikon-1000 in this case) to rejuvenate lower eyelids permanently.
Good luck, and best regards.

You might be surprised to hear that Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons do not receive training for injectable fillers as part of medical school. Any physician who truly wants to learn how to inject and do it well will need to seek out their own education. Luckily, there are some ways that patients can identify which doctors have sought out the training necessary to perform these procedures safely, and which doctors have the experience to give patients natural-looking results.

Injecting the undereye hollows can give you a beautiful result, and it’s one of my favorite treatments because of the dramatic improvement and high level of patient satisfaction. That having been said, the undereye is a more advanced injection. Here are my tips on how to find a skilled injector for that specific treatment area:

They carry and are well-versed in injecting Restylane Refyne – this brand new dermal filler has very different properties than other fillers. It’s a cohesive gel, meaning it can stretch and move without breaking, and like memory foam, will return to its original shape again and again. Only the top injectors in the country are currently carrying this product (as of March 2017) so that alone would be a very good signal.
Ask if the doctor injects from 1 point or many around the eye. Good injectors are going to use 2, possibly 3 entry points, but never 1, to fill the entire undereye from one side to the other.
The most experienced injectors will have awards from the manufacturers of dermal fillers highlighting how much they inject each year. I recommend Restylane products nearly exclusively for the undereye, so look for a Galderma award. Their top distinctions are labeled “Presidential” with “Presidential Champion” being the very top honor. You can also Google any injector to see if they’re teaching others how to inject – that’s a true measure of their skill.

Dear Joonbug37:This is a very important question that many people ask and I would like to help you and others who will read the answer to this question for a long time to come.  The best doctor for you will meet the following criteria.She or he will: 1) be board-certified in dermatology or plastic surgery  2) have years of experience in dermal fillers and other aesthetic procedures 3) have been trained at a medical school and hospitals with excellent reputations 4) perhaps even have had some experience post-residency training working at an academic institution, or doing research, which is not essential but even better 5) spend a considerable portion of their day or week performing aesthetic procedures 6) have available a variety of fillers as there are ideal indications for at least 5 of the many available fillers 7) have a solid understanding of facial anatomy, which you can determine in part by asking about where the filler is to be placed for you and why, and what specific structures are to be avoided, and what facial proportions (such as the golden ratio, phi, and other measurable proportions) should be attained or maintained by dermal fillers and other procedures. In the case of undereye injections, they should be able to explain how they are going to prevent the Tyndall effect (that blue hue that can but should not occur in this area)   8) have an understanding of what happens to bone, fat and fat pads, muscle and skin as we age 9) understand the rheologic characteristics of the various fillers they inject (ask!), very important factors in determining what should be injected where10) ask you about medications and supplements that make bruising more likely, give instructions in how to prevent or treat a bruise with postprocedural icing and supplements such as arnica, bromelain and vitamin K and prescriptions such as Biafine, and offer free laser treatment of a bruise in the following days, and instructions regarding how to cover up a bruise with certain colors of camouflage creams11) know how to use cannulas in certain areas to prevent bruising and other side effects12) cleanse your skin thoroughly with something that will remove all bacteria from the skin and maintain clean technique during the injections 13) know how to minimize but be prepared to deal with the rare and unlikely side effects of infection or intravascular injection or lumps14) take their time, inject small volumes and slowly, without rushing you through the procedure15) have a manner and approach that makes you feel comfortable and that you find trustworthyOnce you limit the list to those that meet criteria 1 and 2, in my experience the prices are very much in the same ballpark in the same area of the country, so this is one of those purchases where it does not benefit you to price-shop. The answers to the first 4 should be available on a doctor's website and to the others from your interactions with the doctor and his or her staff. Perhaps it's time for your annual complete skin exam or you have some other skin issue, and then you can begin to ask some of these questions at that appointment, or you can make an appointment for a cosmetic consultation.I do hope this is useful to you and others who want to know the answer to this excellent question.All the best, Dr. Clark