Are Cosmetic Injections Safe?

The world of cosmetic injections is huge. Injectables, especially Botox and fillers, are extremely popular for their ability to enhance features and reduce wrinkles quickly and effectively, with minimal downtime.

Whether you’re just thinking about it or you’re ready to try them out, it makes sense to wonder about the safety of cosmetic injections. There have been some scary stories in the news recently, and the truth is that anything that goes into your body merits extra attention and scrutiny.

For this post, we spoke with SEV Aesthetic Field Manager Karina Coy to help us cover everything you need to know to keep yourself safe as you enter this fascinating world.

How Safe Are Cosmetic Injections?

Cosmetic injections are quite safe when handled correctly by a trained injector in a responsible clinic that follows necessary precautions. That includes performing medical clearance, using FDA-approved products, and strictly adhering to hygiene and safety practices.

Unfortunately, there are providers out there that don’t follow due diligence, putting patients at risk of life-long medical issues or disfigurement.. AFM Karina Coy highlights a recent story from New York, where the alleged use of counterfeit Botox by a non-credentialed esthetician had caused several clients to fall ill.

If you’re interested in getting cosmetic injections, learn to recognize the green flags that set responsible clinics and med spas apart, so you can keep yourself safe.

Choosing a Reputable Provider

There is a massive safety gulf between getting FDA-approved injections from a medical professional in a reputable med spa setting and shady ones from someone whose credentials you’re not sure of. Here are some green flags that signal a responsible provider:

• Works in a hygienic, professional setting
• Always conducts a good faith examination
• Offers an aesthetic consultation
• Excellent reputation or reviews
• Transparent credentials
• Only uses FDA-approved injectables

Clinical Setting

The provider you visit should be working out of a real clinic or med spa dedicated to aesthetic services. The environment, from the front desk to the treatment room, should be pristine.

Once you’re in the treatment room, the space should feel like a doctor’s office. Check for markers of safety and hygiene, like a dedicated sharps container, organized metal tray and counters, and disposable gloves and bed covers.

Reputation and Reviews

Look for clinics or med spas with an excellent reputation and good reviews. Nowadays, when so many providers advertise online, make sure to find some non-sponsored testimonials. You can rely on word-of-mouth or online reviews from Google or Yelp.

Good Faith Exam

A good faith exam is a consultation with a medical provider, such as a doctor or nurse practitioner. This is a non-negotiable part of your safety, because it confirms that you can be treated safely with the cosmetic injections you’re interested in. Be honest and truthful with your provider, even if it means you may not be able to get treated as soon as you hoped.

This can be separate from your aesthetic consultation, which is more focused on understanding your goals and developing your injection plan, and the medical professional who performs your good faith exam may not be your actual provider.

Check Credentials

The credentials of your injector should be easy to find by asking the clinic or looking online. While the necessary background for administering injections varies by state, your injector should typically be a licensed medical provider.

Get an Aesthetic Consultation

According to AFM Karina, the consultation is one of the most important times to determine if you can trust your provider. Clinics and studios should always offer a consultation before an appointment, and it’s a huge green flag if it’s free.

A consultation ensures not just a safe experience, but one that delivers the aesthetic results you want. This is the opportunity for your injector to analyze your features and show their expertise. You might be interested in a specific type of injection, but consider it a green flag if your provider recommends an alternative approach that’ll deliver the same results more effectively.

A consultation also gives you an opportunity to ask about credentials, see the products, and gauge the professionalism and cleanliness of the studio.

During the consult, your injector should explain the process, confirm your medical history (even if you’ve already had a good faith exam), and make a treatment plan tailored to your goals.

Confirm Use of FDA-Approved Products

Make sure your provider uses real, FDA-approved injectables. They should name the products they use with confidence and be willing to show you the packaging and expiration date.

In the United States, most cosmetic injections are regulated by the FDA as either drugs (e.g., Botox and Kybella) or medical devices (e.g., dermal fillers).

To receive FDA clearance, manufacturers must prove that these products are both safe and effective through robust clinical testing. The process also includes identifying all potential risks. side effects, and contraindications, so that consumers know what they’re signing up for.

There are only a handful of companies that produce most FDA-approved cosmetic injection products, such as Allergan and Galderma.

It’s easy to find out if an injectable is FDA-approved with a quick Google search. Some new injectables that are starting to draw attention, like exosomes and PDRN, do not have FDA approval at this time, so it’s a red flag to see them offered.

Your Responsibilities as a Patient

Selecting your cosmetic injection provider is the most important aspect of ensuring your safety, but once you do, it’s also important that you take the time to review their safety instructions.

Review Contraindications

You don’t want to wait until your appointment to find out you can’t get treated. Even worse, you don’t want to get injections if you’re at greater risk of adverse events.

Before your injection appointment, your clinic should schedule a good faith exam and send you a consent form that covers all potential risks and contraindications.

Once you receive those forms, review them carefully. Certain allergies, health conditions, and medications can all contribute to a greater risk of side effects that can preclude you from being able to get treated safely.

Follow Pre and Post-Care

The final thing you need to do to ensure a safe cosmetic injection experience is to follow all pre and post-care instructions closely. If you don’t receive any directions from your provider, that’s a big red flag.

The specific instructions may vary depending on the type of injectable, but generally, you’ll be directed to:

• Take a break from any medications or supplements that increase your risk of bruising, bleeding, or other complications.
• Take a break from skin-sensitizing skincare products
• Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol and caffeine before and after your appointment.
• Avoid movements or contact with the injection site that can cause localized irritation or product migration.

What Are the Side Effects and Risks of Cosmetic Injections?

When injected by a trained and credentialed provider using FDA-approved materials, cosmetic injections are quite safe, although they’re not completely without risks. Here’s what you can expect:

Common Side Effects

Common side effects include bruising, swelling, redness, and tenderness at the injection site. Swelling is usually more intense with dermal fillers or Kybella (an injectable that breaks down fat under the chin), but it’s still no cause for concern. After fillers, temporary lumps are also not uncommon.

How long these side effects last may vary from treatment to treatment, but they will generally resolve within a few days at most.

Uncommon Side Effects

Less common side effects after cosmetic injections can include headaches and fatigue, temporary asymmetry or drooping (especially after Botox), and mild allergic reactions that present as itching or hives. Injections can also activate dormant HSV, leading to cold sore resurgence.

Complications to Watch Out For

In rare cases, cosmetic injections can lead to adverse events that require further treatment and medical care. They include:

• Abnormally long-lasting bruising, redness, or swelling
• Persistent nodules or pigment changes
• Infection at the injection site
• Vascular complications such as occlusion. They may lead to tissue damage or necrosis, so they require immediate medical care.

These complications are far more likely to occur when injectors fail to follow proper protocols. However, even if they do everything right, some risk still exists.

Safe Cosmetic Injections at SEV

You’re in safe hands at SEV. Our nurse injectors are credentialed, but more importantly, they undergo continuous standardized training to ensure they follow best practices at all times.

Their deep understanding of facial anatomy, products, and potential complications is key to ensuring safe treatments with exceptional results.

Still have questions about safety or which treatment will be right for you? The best way to understand is by speaking to a nurse injector. Go ahead and book a free consultation.