A series of articles published in USA Today last week (9/13/11) highlighted the extreme risks of undergoing cosmetic procedures by physicians trained in other specialties. The stories ranged from patients dying after receiving liposuction from a non-board certified general surgeon to patients being disfigured after botched Botox injections.

Interesting (and alarming!) highlights from the article:

Botox: Freezing muscles

Everyone has heard the comments about Botox-filled Hollywood actresses who can hardly move their faces. While that’s unlikely to happen to the average patient, Botox does work by freezing the muscles that scrunch up your face.

The main risk is that it might get injected in the wrong place.

“If it’s placed too low to your eyebrow, it can cause your eyebrow to fall down,” says Anne Chapas, a New York City dermatologist who offers Botox treatments. “You can even have an eyelid close.”

And don’t expect long-lasting results. Botox leaves you wrinkle-free for only three to four months before the procedure must be repeated.

Fillers: Puffing up wrinkles

There are all sorts of injectable fillers available to puff out wrinkles, each used for a different kind. Like Botox, they also must be regularly retouched.

If it’s injected into a blood vessel, a patient could wind up with skin that dies and turns black, says Varano, adding that this is very rare.

As with any laser or injectable, the key is finding a medical professional you can trust. Varano suggests asking how long and how often they’ve been doing the procedures.

“These procedures have to be in the hands of experts,” agrees Chapas.

In the right hands, procedures such as BOTOX, Dysport, Juvederm, and Restylane offer safe, fast and effective means of achieving a younger, more invigorated appearance. Extensive training, appropriate certifications, and experience are all crucial to receiving the best possible results. Dr. White and Dr. Woodall are both board-certified dermatologists are also Fellows of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery. Please check out our credentials of our physicians and our AAAHC-certified facility.

Trust the doctors the doctors trust! Come in for a free consultation for any of our cosmetic procedures.