Injectables: Cost vs. Quality

Sometimes patients can present with an unclear history of what was injected & you have to dedicate some thorough investigation into what has gotten them to their current result they are not happy with. Sometimes, it can be a bit more obvious.

Regardless, it takes a talented, experienced & patient practitioner to deconstruct (sometimes) years of less-than-desirable filler outcomes, reconstruct a more natural result AND reassure the patient throughout the entire process.

Every patient is so different – however, one thing that is necessary with every patient is the education, reassurance, & expectation management. It can be scary to explore the world of dissolving fillers they have invested in! But, with the proper guidance & a finely-skilled touch, we truly can truly transform a patients result & restore their faith in aesthetic treatments!

What Went Wrong

I frequently find that patients who have undergone treatments with other injectors/clinics (prior to being treated with me) often have had very one-dimensional care. What I mean by this is, that their rejuvenation plan has been solely centered around injectables and/or fillers.

Although volume replenishment (with fillers) is a main and very important component of restoring & maintaining a youthful appearance – there are many times when it should not be the only modality used. It is when a treatment plan only includes fillers or fails to address other components of aging – like skin laxity and texture – that unnatural or undesirable results can occur.

I develop balanced treatment plans with my patients – that encompass every dimension of the aging process – which is how we achieve noticeable, yet natural results. And do not get me wrong, I love injectable fillers, however – we also offer dozens of other treatments that can be just as (or sometimes even MORE!) transformational.

The Best Price Does Not Equal The Best Result

 Patients will frequently shop around for “the best price” – when in actuality they should be searching for “the best treatment.” However, finding and identifying “the best” can be difficult for patients – especially when price is such a familiar metric & social media can make all injectors look very similar: with everyone in a white coat posting an ‘amazing’ before & after photo.

I try to educate patients regarding different treatments – sometimes, a completely different result can be achieved with the exact same product.  Essentially, it is important to understand that not every injector, procedure, or product is created equally.

Which is why it is so very important to invest the time during the consultation process to capture the critical clinical components that may not be portrayed in an Instagram post. For example, how does my patient FEEL during the appointment? How attentive is my patient’s care? Were the patient’s expectations surpassed? These components are what elevates a patient’s care beyond a snapshot on social.

Understanding the Patient’s Expectations

When patients who have had previous injectable treatments present for a consultation with me, I always begin with a thorough history and allow the patient to tell me what THEY see. I want to see my patient through their own eyes – so that I can truly understand what their concern is to ensure that we adequately address it with our treatment plan.

I know this sounds simple, but I am frequently surprised at how many patients I see who tell me nobody has ever done this with them. For me, before we ever start on our aesthetic journey together, a comprehensive understanding of what my patient wants to achieve is crucial to ensure a beautiful AND realistic outcome.