Beware of BOTOX Parties

By Posted on behalf of John J.W. Lee, MD, FACS

According to a report by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, BOTOX Cosmetic and other non-surgical cosmetic treatments made up 83% of all cosmetic procedures in 2010 – and BOTOX was by far the most popular of these minimally-invasive treatments. As BOTOX continues to grow in popularity, the risk of finding a provider who fails to administer it properly also increases.

“BOTOX parties” have become an alarming trend. These underground gatherings are meant to offer a cheaper way of obtaining injections – an alternative to visiting a board-certified plastic surgeon and paying full-price to improve your appearance. Unfortunately, the risks of BOTOX being administered by an unqualified physician far outweigh the financial benefits.

A representative of the Independent Healthcare Advisory Service has outlined a five-point checklist to use when seeking a BOTOX practitioner:

1. Qualifications – Make sure you are obtaining your injections from a regulated doctor, dentist, or registered nurse who is appropriately qualified to administer cosmetic injectables. If complications occur, you’ll want your practitioner to know how to deal with them.
2. Title – Unrecognizable titles like “Advanced Aesthetic Practitioner” can be misleading. Make sure the individual holding the needle actually has the title of doctor, dentist, or registered nurse.
3. Training – Only a well-trained physician will know how to address any adverse reactions to BOTOX. Ask your provider where they trained for cosmetic injections, and what their training involved.
4. Location – BOTOX should only be applied in a sanitary, safe, clinical environment in order to avoid infection.
5. Substance – BOTOX is a prescription-only medicine. Make sure you are not buying something off the internet that claims to be BOTOX.

If you have further questions about BOTOX, please contact Dr. John J.W. Lee today to schedule an initial consultation. We serve patients in Philadelphia and Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Northern Maryland.