A story that walked through our doors
The other day, a woman came into our clinic to see one of our doctors. She was visibly upset, and when we asked what was wrong, she told us about a recent filler appointment. She had gotten her lips and cheeks done at a place that promised the same results for half the price. Instead of a doctor, the injections were done by someone introduced as a nurse.
At first, the discount felt like a win. But within days, she noticed hard bumps in her cheeks that did not move. Her skin became red and painful. She ended up in the emergency room, terrified that her face was ruined forever. The worst part? She later discovered the injector was not a nurse at all. She had no credentials. None.
Why credentials count
There is a reason fillers and Botox are classified as medical treatments. They are not just beauty quick-fixes. They involve needles, anatomy, and real risks. Knowing exactly where to inject and how deep matters. Knowing how to handle complications is even more critical.
Doctors who practice aesthetics are trained not only in the artistic side of creating balance and symmetry but also in the medical realities. They know what to do if something goes wrong. A discount injector without training does not.
What we did to help
When she came to us, her cheeks were swollen, lumpy, and infected. The only safe way forward was to slowly dissolve the filler. We used hyaluronidase, an enzyme that melts away hyaluronic acid filler, but this process had to be done carefully over time to avoid damaging her tissue.
She was incredibly fortunate. If the harmful injections had been Botox instead of filler, there would have been no antidote. Botox cannot be reversed once injected.
The hidden cost of a bargain
Saving 50 percent feels great until it costs you 500 percent more in correction, treatment, and stress. Infections, lumps, and vascular occlusion (when filler accidentally blocks a blood vessel) are real risks. When you are in safe hands, the chances of something happening are minimal, and if something does happen, your doctor knows exactly how to manage it.
How to protect yourself
If you are considering filler or Botox, here are a few quick things to check before letting anyone near your face:
- Ask about credentials. Do not just accept “nurse” or “specialist.” Make sure they are licensed and certified.
- Look for a medical setting. A real clinic, not a basement or hotel room.
- Ask about safety protocols. What do they do if there is a complication? If they cannot answer confidently, walk away.
The bottom line
Aesthetic medicine can do wonders for confidence when it is done properly. But your face is not the place to cut corners. That woman’s experience is unfortunately common, and it is precisely why we believe treatments should only be performed by qualified medical professionals.
Cheap filler is never cheap once you add the cost of fixing it.
