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Fillers and Botox are a billion-dollar business. But that doesn’t mean just anyone should wield the needle.

Lots of things in life are done by a professional: remodeling your bathroom, rotating your tires and getting your teeth cleaned, just to name a few. One thing that doesn’t always make the list, however, is the ever-growing business of injectables — nonsurgical cosmetic procedures that plump, smooth, firm or tighten various areas of face. When done correctly — in a medical setting, such as {practice_name} with FDA-approved products, and by a trained doctor — injectables can make you look years younger. But not everyone administering these mini-miracles are adequately trained, leaving you potentially at risk for some very unwanted and undesirable results. “While it may seem necessary to need a board certification or medical license to administer injectables, unfortunately it’s not required,” says {practice_name} doctor {physician_first_name} {physician_last_name} . While you do need a medical license to buy Botox, Restylane or Juvéderm, you don’t need one to inject them. As a result, Botox parties are the new norm and everyone from hair salons to tattoo parlors are adding these services to their menus. And just because you see a picture of the managing or supervising doctor on the wall, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re there. They could be a few miles or a few states away, depending on local laws. Proposed legislation in the House of Representatives — the Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act — would regulate the way injectors can market themselves. But for now, there’s no consistent oversight. “When a doctor isn’t present, that should be an immediate red flag,” says  {physician_last_name}. “If the person giving you an injection can’t legally purchase the injectable itself, how are they getting it in the first place?”

The most likely answer: the black market. LA dermatologist Jessica Wu tells Allure magazine: “A woman came in with her upper lip three times as large as her lower lip. She’d been injected by a friend who’d just finished nursing school. They both thought what they bought was Juvéderm, but the patient handed me the box and it was in Greek. It’s cheaper to buy injectables made in other countries, so people do.”

Another reason to only go to a board-certified physician: You may — although rarely — have side effects, and you may need immediate intervention or a prescription to remedy. “If the person doing your injectable isn’t willing to discuss possible side effects, that’s not someone you should trust to do your injectable,” says {physician_last_name}.

Dermatologists and plastic surgeons are also better trained in the anatomy of the face — meaning they have the knowledge of your precise anatomy to potentially prevent any side effects or injury from happening. Dr. Melda Isaac, founder of Washington DC’s MI Skin Dermatology Center, tells The Washingtonian: “Millimeters make a difference, as does age. An expert injector needs to look at the shape of a patient’s eye and eyebrow, for example, and match dosage and dilution for the desired effect. For example, I inject a 55-year-old woman’s forehead differently than a woman in her early thirties.” A good injector will keep your unit numbers on file for a future visit, so you can discuss whether you felt the amount was too much or not enough. And if your results wear off much sooner than what is typical, this should raise concern. “People who offer injectables at a drastically reduced price may be diluting the product,” says {physician_last_name}.  “You shouldn’t be shopping for deals when it comes to injectables.” {physician_last_name} adds: “Ask questions. In the hands of a trained doctor, you’ll receive beautiful, lasting results.”

Sincerely, the team at {practice_name}.