The death earlier this year of a New York woman who had silicone injections into her thighs and buttocks speaks to an uncommon but dangerous practice. That of illegal injections that is creating a disturbing pattern across the United States. The allure of cheap injection treatments can make the most uneducated consumer make a poor, and potentially harmful, choice.
Millions of legal cosmetic injections are administered every year by licensed and properly trained and board-certified specialists in the fields of plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery, oculoplastic surgery and dermatology. Any woman or man can now improve their appearance safely with cosmetic injections by having them done in a medical setting but properly trained and certified specialists. But steep discounts and miracle promises using unregistered or overseas materials are bound to occur in the wake of such consumer interest. An untrained individual performing injections of an unknown or non-FDA approved material for the purpose of improving appearance (‘beauty injections’) is a criminal act that runs the risk of complications of infection, nerve paralysis, disfigurement, or even death. It is clear that the consequences of using an illegal or non-FDA approved beauty drug for injection is more serious than that of a fake handbag or watch. Many of the complications that are caused by these materials are irreversible and often not correctable. There is simply no reason to take such chances with your face or body.
The way to avoid being such a victim is to stay clear of injections in a non-medical setting such as someone’s home, salon, beauty party or by a self-proclaimed provider. Seek out qualified doctors whose experience can be traced by their certification, office location, and reputation. Ask this doctor specifically the brand name of the injectable and its FDA approval status. There is no such thing as generic injectables. The bottle or syringe will have the brand name clearly identified and be very visible on it.The three criteria for acceptable cosmetic injectable therapies are, Doctor, Brand, and Setting. (DBS) All three must be up to acceptable standards to have a satisfying and minimal risk injectable experience.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana