Getting Botox or Fillers From A Salon or Spa? Here's what you should consider..

It is getting quite common for beauty salons and spas to offer injectable treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers to customers who frequent their premises. They also have special events that they organize to attract their customers to a Botox party or event to which a doctor may be invited. If you are tempted to try a discounted session of Botox or fillers at a beauty salon or spa, here are some things you must consider beforehand:

Is The Person Doing The Injection Properly Trained?

Only trained and qualified medical professionals are authorised to administer injectable treatments like Botox and fillers. In some countries, this also includes registered nurses, but in Malaysia, only licensed doctors are allowed to practice injectable medical procedures. 

You should also be wary of any doctor that chooses to practice at a beauty salon rather than at his or her own clinic. Any doctor who is interested in more than quick profits will need to set up a place of business where patients can come to be treated. Doctors who choose to treat patients at a beauty salon are quite likely to be poorly experienced and have had limited training in the field. Specialized treatments like Botox, fillers, even chemical peels and lasers, all require training that is beyond the scope of a normal medical degree or medical posting. If in doubt, don't hesitate to ask your doctor if they are properly trained and if they have any credentials. 

Are The Premises A Registered Medical Establishment?

Also, medical regulations prohibit a doctor from practicing at a place that he/she is not registered at. Their registered places of business must be listed on their Annual Practicing Certificates, which are required to be publicly displayed. Places that practice medical procedures are also required to be registered with the Ministry of Health. Chances are, when you are getting an injectable treatment at a salon or spa, even if it's only a vitamin injection, this is not legal in Malaysia.

Are The Products Real?

Medical-grade products like Botox are also required to be tracked and must only be sold to registered healthcare companies. When getting injections at salons and spas, find out what kind of product they are using. Since they are not allowed to purchase the licensed product, they could be using fake products on you.

Who Do You See If There Is A Problem?

Another factor to consider is which party is going to be responsible if a problem occurs. In rare cases, allergies or other reactions to the injected product can and do occur, and if this does occur, will the salon or the doctor undertake the liability for the condition? In most cases, the patient is left to seek his or her own medical attention from a third party. 

Why Is There Such An Attractive Discount?

Lastly, but not least, the reason a lot of people seek injectable treatments from salons or spas is because they advertise their prices to be much cheaper. As the old adage goes, cheap things are not so good, so it pays to be wary in these cases. The price of registered Botox and fillers is determined by the pharmaceutical companies, so everyone who buys from them is charged the same. In fact, only the doctors who are steady and regular users get the products at a bulk discount. If your salon is offering discounted injectables, they are probably either offering you fake products, or heavily diluted products that do not work as well. Either way, the result will never be the same as at a reputable, licensed clinic. 

For more on this topic, please also read this previous article titled 'Four Reasons Why Cheap Aesthetic Treatments Are A Bad Idea.'

-- Cosmetic Medicine, MD

Dr. Liow Tiong Sin is an aesthetic practitioner who practices in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, Malaysia. He has more than 12 years of expertise with non-surgical cosmetic treatments, and conducts training courses for other doctors from all around Asia. 
To connect with Dr. Liow, Like Cosmedmd's Facebook page, visit Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre's website at http://www.beverlywilshiremedical.com or drop him an email at cosmedmd@gmail.com