A MESSAGE TO OUR PATIENTS

     We know the current economy has all of us looking for the best prices on everything, including cosmetic procedures.
     For this reason, the FDA has asked us to make all our patients aware of all the off-brand filler products that are being passed off as authentic. These products include Radiesse, Sculptra, Restalyne, Juvederm, and Botox.
     First, we want to assure all our patients that the aforementioned products used by our office are all authentic and bought directly from the manufacturer in the United States and not from an aftermarket pharmaceutical company online.
     You may think these products are the same, but they are not. Just as a counterfeit handbag may at first look authentic, when you examine it a little more closely, you can see the poor quality and stitching which are dead giveaways of its non-authenticity.
     With fillers and Botox that are injected into your skin, the consequences are much more serious than just having a cheap looking handbag.
     Botox and authentic fillers have defining marks of authenticity and serial and lot numbers that are documented by the manufacturer upon purchase. The reason for this is that if for some reason a negative reaction to the filler or Botox should occur, the company that manufacturers it will stand behind it 100%. This guarantee assures you that the ingredients are pure and FDA approved and uncompromised in any way.
     If the product is not authentic, it most likely has ingredients that may not be safe for absorption into the dermis. Countries outside of the US do not have the stringent laws that the US does concerning pharmaceuticals, and substitutions are used frequently that are not as costly as the original, but can result in catastrophic results. At the least, they will not last as long as the authentic product suggests, and at the worst, they can damage the dermis permanently, resulting in scarring, hard lumps under the skin that can only be removed surgically if at all.
     If something like that were to occur with a counterfeit product, the authentic manufacturer (Allergan, Bioform, Medicis) WILL NOT BE LIABLE for any health issues and will not stand behind the product. The office injecting the counterfeit product is technically liable, but you will have most likely signed away any legal action against them on the consent form, and even if that were possible, you still would be left with a damaged face and years of litigation.
     If you still insist on going to a practice that offers cheaper prices, there are some steps you can do to protect yourself. Insist on seeing the products box or vial BEFORE injection. Ask for the Lot # on the box or vial so that you can check online to see if it is an authentic # or counterfeit #. Or contact the manufacturer and they can confirm if it is indeed their product or not.     Be smart! Beware! If someone is selling Botox and fillers at a price far below all the other practices in the same area, be cautious.

CHEAP IS EXPENSIVE!     Is it worth $50 or $100 in savings to take the chance on ruining your face, health and well being for a lifetime?
     Look before your leap!! If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is!!!
     The well-being of our patients is and always will be our FIRST priority.