How Does One Find the Right Doctor to Inject Filler?

Based on your comments, it sounds like you aren't comfortable with anyone other than a doctor doing your injections? If you were open to researching injectors, I would go on various websites in your area, (Real Self, Yelp, City Search, etc.) to read reviews on injectors and verify their credentials. Often you will find highly trained injectors/providers having more experience than some MD's and are experts!

Dear Jane,


Realself is a great website to find local physicians

From there, you should read reviews, and find reviews about Restylane injections, specifically

You can interview a couple of doctors and find the best fit for you


Best regards,

Nima Shemirani

Great question about WHO you really trust with injecting something into your face!      In today's competitive medical/surgical world we find not only specialty physicians but also spas/salons/non-core physicians who advertise their "expertise" in injecting.....buyer beware!   Injecting fillers such as Restylane, Radiesse & Sculptra, for example, is a medical procedure not a spa service. It is not a casual 'hobby' to make a quick buck when things are slow.  It requires careful technique, attention to detail, and an artist's skill. It also requires a physician who not only knows how to best avoid complications, but knows how to manage the unfortunate complication when it does occur.  Find out as much as possible about the person doing the injecting. Is it the physician or a nurse or other?  How long have they been doing it & how much of it do  they currently do?  What are the risks & possible complications?  What happens if there is a problem?  Do they have a patient you can speak with prior ?  What do the on-line reviews say about this particular practice?     So...be careful, ask questions & trust both your brain & gut!   

        $550 per syringe of Restylane is not a huge amount to pay, but there are reasonable plastic surgeons with perfectionistic tendencies who will do a more than adequate job for that amount.

 

Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

When choosing a physician to perform your treatment with filler, it is best to seek the advice of a board certified plastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon, or dermatologist. They are all great choices. Look for credentials and board certification, and before and after photos that showcase the physician's results. Experience is essential, as it will help ensure you obtain the best possible result. I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck.

The best way is to ask for personal recommendations from friends or co-workers. If that is not possible, you can do an online search in your area. I would recommend you seek a consultation with a plastic surgeon or dermatologist who does ALOT of fillers. One the day of your consult, you will want to review your injector's before and after photos or patients with concerns similar to yours. You will also want to discuss your concerns and how your physician injector plans to achieve your goals with you. I hope this information is helpful.

Stephen Weber MD, FACS

Weber Facial Plastic Surgery

The top injectors charge much more than the price you list.  You goal then is how to find a low cost injector who does a great job.  Here is the problem: you are paying for aesthetic judgement and sculpting skill.  These services are time consuming, fussy, and meticulous. That translates into contact time with a skilled surgeon.  Perhaps you will find someone amazing in your community that does it all at the price you are willing to pay.  However, the economics are against you.  Please be careful out there.

Dear Jane,

To find the right doctor to perform your injectable filler injections takes a little research online and an in-person consultation.  Once you meet your doctor and share your aesthetic goals with him or her, you can decide if they are the right person to perform your injections.  The doctor should show you representative work in the form of before and after photos of patients who generally have the same concerns you have and how their treatments turned out.  Finally, my own personal bias is to find a doctor who uses a micro-cannula when performing injections.  A microcannula is a way to perform injectable fillers without bruising, with far less pain, and more "artistry" involved with the placement of fillers using a sculpting method.  The biggest benefit of using the microcannula is the added safety involved when injecting in tenuous areas such as around the eyes, where there are a lot of little blood vessels that can be injured when using a sharp-needle (traditional) technique.  

When seeking a physician to inject your fillers (e.g. juvederm, restylane, perlane, radiesse) or botulinum toxin (e.g. Botox, Dysport, Xeomin), make sure that the physician has specialist qualifications like a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. This will ensure optimal results and safety. As always, best to meet the physician to make sure you have a good rapport and are on the same page as far as what you're looking for. Asking friends or family who have seen the doctor and have been pleased with their results is always good too. ~ Dr. Benjamin Barankin, Toronto Dermatology Centre.

Finding the right dermatologist to do you fillers is not as simple as some might think. Yes, injecting filler   is technically simple. However, getting the results that you want is an art that requires talent and not just technical skill. A happy patient also has to be able to communicate well with their doctor. I would ask friends and then go and talk to a few doctors. I disagree with those that say that the most skilled charge the most. In fact, those that do a huge volume pay much less for their supplies and can sometimes offer an equal or better price while actually doing quite well financially. Maybe start with a small procedure and try someone out. If you gain their trust you can do more.