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Is it normal practice using fillers that are not FDA approved on patients?

Doctor Answers 3

Off label use of fillers

September 29th, 2016
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Once the FDA approves of a filler (or any drug for that matter), a physician may use it for a patient in any way he or she feels is appropriate.  If it is used in an area or in a way that was not specifically FDA approved, it is being used "Off Label".  40% of all prescriptions are Off Label.  Off Label use of a filler is not illegal, unethical, or immoral.

Use of a filler that is not FDA approved is illegal, unethical, and just plain wrong.  While in the United States, do not allow anyone to use a product that is not FDA approved on you.  There is no need to do this except for the fact that the non FDA filler may be cheaper.  Once the complications begin, the pain, the deformity, and the medical bills will make that acceptance of initial lower cost seem foolish.

Donato A. Viggiano, MD


Port Saint Lucie Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 3 reviews

September 29th, 2016

Off label use of fillers

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Once the FDA approves of a filler (or any drug for that matter), a physician may use it for a patient in any way he or she feels is appropriate.  If it is used in an area or in a way that was not specifically FDA approved, it is being used "Off Label".  40% of all prescriptions are Off Label.  Off Label use of a filler is not illegal, unethical, or immoral.

Use of a filler that is not FDA approved is illegal, unethical, and just plain wrong.  While in the United States, do not allow anyone to use a product that is not FDA approved on you.  There is no need to do this except for the fact that the non FDA filler may be cheaper.  Once the complications begin, the pain, the deformity, and the medical bills will make that acceptance of initial lower cost seem foolish.

Donato A. Viggiano, MD


Port Saint Lucie Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 3 reviews

Non FDA approved fillers

September 29th, 2016
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I would recommend that you don't have any non FDA approved fillers injected into your face. Off label use of FDA approved fillers is done regularly though.

Kristin J. Tarbet MD, FACS
September 29th, 2016

Non FDA approved fillers

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I would recommend that you don't have any non FDA approved fillers injected into your face. Off label use of FDA approved fillers is done regularly though.

Kristin J. Tarbet MD, FACS

FDA approved fillers

September 29th, 2016
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while doctors often Inject fillers that are FDA approved "off label", meaning injecting them in places other than their original approved "on-label" site, (such as cheecks instead of around the mouth), there should never be an non FDA approved filler injected In the United states.Stay away from questionable places or deeply discounted injectables that could potentially be harmful! Best of luck!


Neda Vanden Bosch, MD
September 29th, 2016

FDA approved fillers

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

while doctors often Inject fillers that are FDA approved "off label", meaning injecting them in places other than their original approved "on-label" site, (such as cheecks instead of around the mouth), there should never be an non FDA approved filler injected In the United states.Stay away from questionable places or deeply discounted injectables that could potentially be harmful! Best of luck!


Neda Vanden Bosch, MD

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.