Ready for Botox? 5 Ways to Make Sure the Procedure Is Done Right

By Dr. Jerome Potozkin, MD

More and more Americans are turning to non-invasive cosmetic procedures to maintain a youthful look. As a result, thousands of med spas across the U.S. offer Botox, filler injections, and other procedures.

In fact, it’s such a lucrative business that physicians with training outside of dermatology, like anesthesiologists, radiologists, and even psychiatrists, are getting in the business.

Too many people think Botox is something that can be done by anybody. But the skill of the person who applies it is what will determine if the procedure is a success or failure.

These days physicians in many unrelated fields take weekend courses in the procedures and then open up shop. But that comes at a cost – to the patient. For example, I treated a patient who went to a med spa for injectable fillers, and left with a nasty scab on her face.

There’s a lot more to it than what you might see on the surface. If you don’t know the underlying anatomy, you don’t know the structures you need to avoid. And you can’t get that knowledge by taking a weekend course.

As an example, a urologist deals with kidney, bladder, and prostate. That has nothing to do with facial and body cosmetics. It’s best to find a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

I offer these recommendations for patients looking for someone to administer Botox:

• Have your cosmetic procedure done in a physician’s office. If you do want to have it done in a med spa, choose one that is part of a physician’s office that has on-site supervision.

• The physician should be board-certified in one of the four core aesthetic medical specialties: dermatology, plastic surgery, ENT (ear, nose and throat), or oculoplastic surgery.
• You get what you pay for. If you are being offered a deal that looks too good to be true, it probably is.
• Before you make a decision, do a little bit of research on your own and make sure what you’re being told is legitimate. Find out as much as you can about the facility and the person who will administer your Botox.
• Follow your instincts. If you don’t get a good feeling about the surroundings or the person about to do the procedure, follow your gut and leave.

By opting for someone less qualified, you may not get the results you want. But worse, you may need to have corrective measures. That will cost you a lot more money than you had hoped to save by not going to a board-certified physician.

Dr. Jerome Potozkin, author of the new book Botox and Beyond: Your Guide to Safe, Nonsurgical, Cosmetic Procedures (https://www.mybeautymd.com), is a leading dermatologist who practices in Danville, CA. He is a board-certified dermatologist and he is specially trained in the art and science of dermatological surgery. He completed his residency in dermatology at NYU Skin & Cancer Unit and is a member of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery. A clinical instructor at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, Dr. Potozkin is also a preceptor for Lumenis Medical, training physicians from all over the world in advanced laser techniques.