Everyone will experience the telltale signs of aging eventually—wrinkles, sun spots, and sagging skin. If you have begun to notice any of these signs, you might be thinking about the cosmetic skincare treatments that can turn back the clock on your skin. These include chemical peels, injectable therapies like Botox and dermal fillers, and laser skin resurfacing. Though none of these procedures are invasive surgical procedures, they do still require experience and expertise in to be performed safely. Before booking services anywhere, consider the following to ensure your safety and beautiful, natural treatment results.
Skincare professional qualifications can vary dramatically.
Treatments like Botox are something that you can find in many different practices, some of which are not medical care providers. You might see that day spas offer laser skincare, Botox or dermal fillers, but these centers may not have trained medical professionals on staff to oversee safe treatment. Always seek care through a medical practice such as a plastic surgery practice where there is a Medical Doctor in the office directly overseeing the quality of care and safety. Too often, especially in Tucson, AZ, there are medi-spas and day-spas where the medical director is not in the office and in some cases not even in the same state. Laser technicians in Arizona require certification by the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency (ARRA). Check your providers credentials and be sure they are certified.
Not all skincare specialists are trained in injectable treatments.
Skincare is a broad area of expertise. Ask the qualifications of your dermal filler and Botox injector. Many offices have unlicensed injectors or medical assistants injecting. Be sure your injector is a Registered Nurse, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, Medical Doctor or Osteopathic Doctor with experience. Before getting Botox or dermal fillers, you should ask your care provider about his or her experience with the injectable you’ve selected, so you know that you’re in the hands of a qualified practitioner. An experienced injector will know the pros and cons to each of the dermal fillers based on your individual needs and goals.
You should never select services based on price alone.
It’s a growing trend that people will travel across the border or seek out deals and coupons for Botox injections and other treatments. While it can be tempting to save money in these ways, there is a high potential for botched treatments that you’ll need to have corrected by a more qualified, experienced provider. Never select your med-spa based on prices alone and avoid purchasing a coupon or deal for a specific treatment without having a consult first. You may end up purchasing a treatment that isn’t right for you, leading to less than stellar results. There are practices that illegally import Botox and dermal filler products and sell them as the FDA approved US product. This is extremely dangerous and highly illegal. You have no way of knowing how the product was shipped, stored or even what the product really is made of when it is illegally brought in from outside of the USA. Unfortunately there is no way to stop these providers because often they are not licensed so there is no licensing board to report to and for the police to take action a patient must be injured and press charges. Also non-licensed injectors, aestheticians and medical assistants can charge less for injections that qualified, experienced registered nurses and physician assistants. Buyer beware and if the price seems “too good to be true” it probably is.
Maloney Plastic Surgery emphasizes patient care and safety with all of our laser, dermal filler, Botox and skincare procedures. All of our providers are in good standing with their respective licensing boards, and they have the experience and expertise to help you choose the treatments that are best suited to your needs and goals. Christopher Maloney MD is the medical director and is in the office overseeing patient care. Come in for a consultation with one of our skincare experts to see what makes Maloney Plastic Surgery different by calling or texting (520) 298-2330, or visit our website www.maloneyplasticsurgery.com.
