The number of cosmetic injection treatments, like Botox, performed in the United States has grown more than 800 percent since 2000, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. That makes it the fastest-growing, minimally-invasive procedure.
To meet that surging demand (and, of course, benefit from it), there’s been a massive influx of barely-qualified providers. In many cases, their only qualification is a weekend course that taught them how and where to inject Botox.
They’re not going to advertise that fact, of course, which can muddy the waters when you’re deciding where to seek treatment. There is, however, a very simple way to see past many of those pretenders—and spare yourself from a disappointing result: Seek out a plastic surgeon. Here are a few reasons why.
Years vs. days
In contrast to the weekend training, a plastic surgeon completes a residency specifically for plastic and reconstructive surgery and is required to be board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery before beginning to practice.
Why should that matter for a relatively low-risk procedure like a Botox treatment? Because the plastic surgeon spends years studying and working with the anatomy of the human face, becoming, in the process, an expert in aging and appearance. Through that expertise, the plastic surgeon can help you tailor goals to your particular facial anatomy and then formulate a treatment plan to achieve them. The result is a more natural look.
Someone with less knowledge of the aging process and the anatomy is more likely to administer a one-size-fits-all treatment that will yield more artificial-looking results.
A plastic surgeon is also going to take a more holistic approach to your treatment by evaluating your full medical history beforehand. In asking about any medications or supplements you may be taking, allergies you may have, existing medical conditions, and your cosmetic surgery history, the plastic surgeon’s going to be able to determine if you’re a candidate for Botox and what other treatments may be viable options.
It’s another step toward ensuring the desired outcome while minimizing the risk as much as possible.
Long-term planning
At a medical spa and even a dermatologist’s office, often, Botox is part of a very limited menu of cosmetic injection treatments. A plastic surgeon, on the other hand, offers the full breadth of surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures, which makes them the only ones capable of making an objective recommendation for a treatment, Botox or otherwise.
The other side of that is, there will eventually come a time for everyone when Botox injections are no longer enough. Continuing to rely on them beyond that point creates an artificial look that may be easy to spot when you see it, but it can be much more difficult to recognize on your own face.
A plastic surgeon’s treatment plan will take that inevitability into account and begin laying the foundation for the next stages of enhancing your natural beauty.
The match
Focusing on plastic surgeons leaves you with a much more qualified pool of options, but you still need to find the doctor who’s right for you. The next step is to be meticulous in your search.
Not every plastic surgeon does Botox treatments regularly, so limit the parameters of your search a little further to those who consistently perform them. And then schedule a consultation with a few of the most promising prospects to see who you have a rapport with. Remember, this may be a low-risk, short-term treatment, but, ideally, you want it performed by a plastic surgeon who has your long-term goals in mind.