Considering injections?
Before you research how much facial fillers cost, the first thing you should do is find the right injector with sufficient training in injectables. Since cosmetic injections are usually elective, I understand that cost will be a part of your decision making process. However, you’ve probably heard the expression, “you get what you pay for,” and that is SO true when it comes to facial fillers and cosmetic injections.
Why shopping by price might not work in your favor
If you are shopping around to find out how much facial fillers cost and you see that one place is significantly cheaper than another place, stop and ask yourself why, I promise there is always a reason! Whether it be diluted/fake product or simply just the fact that the injector is new and doesn’t have high quality skills. What that means is that when they give you less than optimal results or accidentally drop your eyebrow with Botox, when you come back to them to complain, they can say “well you didn’t even pay that much for the service,” and they typically won’t work with you to make things right.
Results
I have had a large portion of patients tell me horror stories of injections done by the lowest cost place. The story usually goes something like this: “I went to XYZ because I thought I was getting a good deal. When I left, I looked worse than when I went in” or, “I was so upset when I left. I didn’t look how I wanted to at all.” I have even had patients tell me dangerous horror stories where they got fake/diluted product and suffered from dizziness and blurred vision for a year.
These same patients later end up in my studio unhappy and asking to be “fixed.”
Not only are they unhappy with how they look, but they’re also out a few hundred or even thousands of dollars and now paying me to fix them.
Customer Service
Lower cost injectors generally don’t provide the type of white-glove service that a high end injector does. It’s not uncommon for me to get calls from people who are having an issue with another injector, in fact, it’s been happening on a weekly basis lately! I regularly get calls and hear from patients that their first/initial injector has become completely unresponsive or they are blowing off their request to be “fixed”.
Safety
As you’re researching, be sure to find out WHO exactly will be doing your injections. I have also had patients tell me how they’ve gone somewhere else for fillers before finding Align and that they were injected by a RN or an esthetician (which is scary, estheticians cannot legally perform these procedures). In most cases, a RN can perform injections, but legally they can NOT touch a patient until that patient has been seen and assessed by either a mid-level (nurse practitioner or physicians assistant) or a physician. Botox and fillers are prescriptive drugs. Botox is even considered a controlled substance. A RN has no prescriptive authority, they also are not able to diagnose–which means when problems arise (which they always do eventually), they can not diagnose your problem, nor will they be able to prescribe the medications you may need when you have an allergic reaction etc. Furthermore a RN can not legally inject a patient without a mid-level or physician on-site to supervise them–this goes for every state. These restrictions are in place for a reason, so be sure to find out the injector’s medical credentials before trusting your face to them! Florida doesn’t even allow RNs to inject at all, only a midlevel and physician can.
Besides a bad result, going to someone who is not up to par on their injectable skills is DANGEROUS! Events such as skin tissue death (necrosis), blindness, and even STROKE have occurred in people around the world who decided to “price shop” rather than “injector shop.”
Lastly, make sure you know WHAT you’re being injected with. It may sound crazy but if the price is significantly lower you may not be getting FDA-approved filler (which means danger). I’ve had situations where patients have had injections elsewhere that have only lasted them a month. I don’t know of a single FDA approved filler that only lasts a month. Believe it or not, there are injectors using off brand filler products so be sure you know what’s being put in to your body!
The Bottom Line
Injectables are not cheap, you have to pay for the product from the manufacturer and you have to pay for the service. Before you shop price, shop injectors! When it comes time to research price, keep in mind there are a lot of things that contribute to how much facial fillers cost at any given studio. Consider factors such as the amount of continuing education post-graduation that an injector is participating in (some don’t participate in any ongoing training…and it shows) as well as the cost of high quality, FDA-approved products.
If the price is too good to be true, that’s because it is! Legitimate products from the manufacturer are EXPENSIVE (even for providers to purchase), so if you are getting something super cheap, you may not be getting injected with an FDA-approved (legal) product, and/or the skills of the injector lack. Always stop yourself and ask why a place’s prices are so cheap and do your research! Go research their before and after photos, reviews, and ESPECIALLY research their credentials, and always make sure there is a midlevel or physician on site, incase something goes wrong during the injection. You don’t want to end up blind for the rest of your life from a Groupon “deal.” It is not worth it. Nor do you want to pay the cheap price to get a treatment done and then have to pay again at a legitimate place to get your face fixed. Always remember, you get what you pay for, this is especially true when it comes to cosmetic injections.
If you’re ready to come in for a consultation, find out how much fillers cost and how Align can help you get the look you want, schedule an appointment!