Bargain Hunting and Injections Don’t Mix (Updated 2023)

If you’re tempted to go online and search for coupons offering steep discounts for BOTOX® Cosmetic or dermal fillers in the Louisville, KY, area, we recommend thinking twice. Deals that are too good to be true usually come with downsides—and cut-rate cosmetic injections can pose risks to your health.

It’s never a good idea to bargain hunt when it comes to medical procedures such as cosmetic injections. With the increasing popularity of BOTOX and fillers such as JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® for lip augmentation, more and more clinicians enter the field to provide these services. That makes it more important than ever to take a careful look at who is providing the services, before committing to a procedure.

Risks of Cheap Injectables

Cheap neuromodulators (BOTOX, Dysport, XEOMIN, Jeauveau) or fillers often come with significant risks:

• Low-Quality Products: Cheap procedures often utilize low-quality or counterfeit substances that may not meet safety standards. These substances might cause poor results, adverse reactions, infections, or complications.
• Health Risks: Low-cost procedures may be performed by inexperienced or unlicensed practitioners. Administering injectables like BOTOX or fillers requires skill and knowledge of facial anatomy. Inexperienced hands can lead to incorrect placement or asymmetry. Injectables, if not administered correctly or with proper hygiene, can lead to severe health risks such as infections, allergic reactions, tissue death, nerve damage, or even paralysis in extreme cases.
• Short-Lived Results: Cheap products might lack the potency and longevity of legitimate, high-quality substances. This results in shorter-lasting effects, leading to more frequent injections and potentially higher risks due to repeated procedures.
• Unexpected Side Effects: Using cheaper materials can cause unexpected side effects due to impurities or the body’s reaction to the substances. This can include swelling, bruising, lumps, or even disfigurement.
• No Aftercare or Follow-Up: Lower-cost procedures may not include adequate aftercare or follow-up appointments, leaving patients without proper guidance or support in case of complications.

Avoiding Bogus BOTOX & Fraudulent Fillers

So, how can you be sure the filler or BOTOX being used by the injector is the real deal? Here are a few ways you can be proactive to protect yourself:

• Be wary of significantly reduced prices on injections: The unusually low cost may be a sign the clinic is cutting corners. Some places may dilute fillers to make the product go further and increase their profit margin. Even worse, the clinic may be using counterfeit fillers or BOTOX.
• Make sure your products come from an individually sealed package: The truly worst-case scenario is when a provider does not observe sanitary precautions, which can lead to botched results. Only medical doctors can buy cosmetic injectables, and dermal fillers come prepackaged and sealed in prepared syringes. If you see an injector draw filler from a vial, get up and leave.
• Ask where the injectable product came from: Fillers imported from other countries that don’t have FDA approval don’t have to meet the same strict regulations as those produced in the US.
• Check the injector’s credentials: Choosing a med spa or clinic supervised by a board-certified plastic surgeon is a good place to start. But you also want to know about the person who is actually performing the injections. Some surgeons, such as Dr. Calobrace, have earned the title of ExpertInjector™, based on their training and experience using injectables. Registered nurses (RNs) and physician assistants (PAs) can also administer injections. Choosing medical professionals with those titles is a good way to ensure the quality of the product and the procedure.

Even though it remains fairly rare, we can’t emphasize enough that some clinics and injectors use diluted or counterfeit products. You wouldn’t pinch pennies on other medical procedures, so don’t assume that making decisions based on cost is okay because these are cosmetic procedures. Instead of searching for deals, search for a provider with the right experience and real reviews.

Trust CaloSpa® for all Your Cosmetic Injectables

When you come to CaloSpa® Rejuvenation Center, you know you’re in good hands. Just take a look at some of the results we’ve achieved for our fillers patients.

Dermal Filler Before and After Photos

At CaloSpa® Rejuvenation Center, we offer a range of fillers and BOTOX to give our patients nonsurgical options for refreshing their looks. If you’ve been considering cosmetic injectables, contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call one of our med spas at (859) 269-2256 for Lexington or (502) 814-3000 for Louisville to schedule an appointment.