<\/p>\n
We research restaurants before making a reservation, compare reviews before buying a new gadget and probably know more than we should about someone before agreeing to a first date. Yet when it comes to choosing a medspa, many patients still rely on social media, before-and-after photos or the lowest price to make their decision.<\/p>\n
With medspas now one of the fastest-growing segments of aesthetic medicine, experts say it\u2019s time to start vetting these practices with the same level of scrutiny we\u2019d use for any other medical decision. We asked dermatologists, plastic surgeons and patient safety experts which questions every patient should ask before booking an appointment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The treatment itself matters, but the person performing it matters even more. \u201cIt\u2019s more important who\u2019s behind the syringe than what\u2019s in the syringe,\u201d says Grand Rapids, MI plastic surgeon Bradley Bengtson, MD. An experienced injector understands anatomy, knows when a patient isn\u2019t the right candidate and can recognize and treat complications if they arise. Before scheduling, ask how often your provider performs the treatment you\u2019re considering, what training they\u2019ve received and who will be caring for you if something unexpected happens.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest red flags isn\u2019t what happens during your appointment. It\u2019s what happens afterward. Southfield, MI plastic surgeon Mariam Awada, MD says she\u2019s never experienced a serious injectable complication in her 23 years of practice, but they can occur: \u201cAdverse events include vascular occlusion, blindness, tissue necrosis, infection and permanent injury.\u201d That\u2019s why knowing who is responsible for your care matters before anything goes wrong.<\/p>\n
Newport Beach, CA dermatologist Jennifer Channual, MD advises asking whether a physician is involved in oversight and exactly who will manage your care if a complication occurs. Vienna, VA dermatologist Brenda Dintiman, MD says that access shouldn\u2019t end when you leave the treatment room. \u201cAny provider worth trusting should be able to say, \u2018I am with you through the whole process,\u2019\u201d she notes. \u201cSo many times I see patients with side effects or problems who don\u2019t feel like they can call or be seen by whoever treated them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The latest laser or energy-based device may sound impressive, but technology is only part of the equation. \u201cWhen choosing a provider, look at their years of experience and training,\u201d says Shreveport, LA dermatologist Skylar Souyoul, MD. \u201cFor in-office procedures, ask which device they\u2019re using. Devices aren\u2019t created equal, and the person behind the controls matters just as much because they\u2019re the one dialing in your settings and operating the machine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Who can perform these treatments varies by state and procedure. In California, for example, an aesthetician license does not permit laser treatments or other medical procedures. Last year, the FDA also warned of serious complications from certain uses of radio-frequency microneedling devices, including burns, scarring, disfigurement, fat loss and nerve damage, emphasizing that it is a medical procedure.<\/p>\n
Before booking, ask which device will be used, who will be operating it, what training and licensing they have, and why the treatment is appropriate for you.<\/p>\n
One way patients can better gauge a medspa\u2019s safety is through independent accreditation. \u201cThe industry has grown explosively, but oversight has not kept pace,\u201d says Thomas Terranova, CEO of QUAD A. \u201cThere has been no consistent, independent framework defining what safe, high-quality medspa operations look like.\u201d QUAD A recently expanded its health-care accreditation program to medspas. \u201cFor patients, QUAD A\u2019s accreditation fills the trust gap,\u201d adds Terranova. \u201cWhile patients may lack the access or technical knowledge to perform an assessment, our on-site surveys demonstrate that there are systems in place that protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those systems include infection prevention, staff qualifications, medication management and emergency preparedness. Terranova suggests asking whether a medspa is accredited or has undergone an independent on-site assessment. \u201cIf the medspa is not enthusiastically transparent about showing you how compliant they are, leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
A big following can make a provider look like an expert, but it doesn\u2019t make them one. \u201cMedical aesthetics is not cosmetology. It is where technology meets biology,\u201d says Vero Beach, FL plastic surgeon Alan Durkin, MD. Look at how and where a provider trained, and how long they\u2019ve been performing the treatment you\u2019re considering. \u201cExperts are created by elevated outcomes over decades\u2014not by social media followings,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the medspa industry grows, patients should prioritize safety, training and transparency over price alone,\u201d says Dr. Channual. If a price seems dramatically lower than what you\u2019re seeing elsewhere, find out why. \u201cDifferences in cost can sometimes reflect the provider\u2019s experience level, the device or product brand being used, the number of units or treatment pulses administered, or what is actually included in the package.\u201d Before comparing prices, make sure to compare the same treatment.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no substitute for doing your own research. \u201cExperience matters, so patients should do as much research on who they choose to hold the needle as they do to pick their car, their electronics or their curl cream,\u201d says New Orleans dermatologist Mary Lupo, MD.<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re a first-timer or looking for a new provider, it\u2019s worth doing some due diligence before you book. Because, unfortunately, no one does more research than the patient trying to correct, reverse or revise a treatment that didn\u2019t go as planned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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