There are a few important reasons to see a physician for injections such as Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, or Radiesse. Almost anyone with good hands can be taught to inject. The difference comes in the technique and the technique comes from knowing and understanding the anatomy. How muscles and nerves work as well as understanding the layers and anatomy of the skin is important. To have seen the inside of a body and attachments of skin, muscle and bone when injecting is like a sports star picturing where the ball will go when hit or thrown. It’s called visualization and It becomes innate after having been through school and seeing these things first hand.

Secondly, a great injector will know how to fix and deal with problems. For example, it is not uncommon to have a patient get light headed during injections. While not serious, it needs to be attended to with quick thinking and actions. If it is not recognized and treated there is an increased risk of syncope (passing out) or worse. Understanding the upside AND the risks helps to avoid an unpleasant experience. So, you may not be able to avoid side effects, but the injector must recognize them and know what to do in each case.