During tough economic times, discounts on consumer goods is a good way to encourage spending, however when it comes to cosmetic treatments that shouldn’t be the way to approach spending. Case and point: discounts in cosmetic injections like Restylane, Juvederm, and Botox.

“Bargain prices, deep discounts or purported sales on cosmetic injections are warning signs of potential counterfeit or illegally imported cosmetic injectables, or an injector who is inexperienced or does not specialize in the procedure,” asserts facial plastic surgeon and Coalition spokesperson Mary Lynn Moran, MD of Woodside, CA. “Consumers must adopt a buyer-beware approach to offers that seem too good to be true.”

Unlike over-the-counter prescriptions, cosmetic injections do not have any low-priced alternatives. As maintained by coalition leader Renato Saltz, MD from Salt Lake City, “FDA approved, branded cosmetic drugs or devices are sold to all physicians at defined prices. There are generic lower, priced brands, no sales for physicians who stock up on injectables and no bona-fide sources who sell genuine product at lower than market prices, and therefore there are no deep discounts physicians can pass along to consumers.” 

The coalition of plastic surgeons noted the following potential risks:
 
•    Counterfeit or illegally imported substances, resulting in potential health risk, injury or serious complications
•    Illegally compounded and unbranded substances, resulting in potential health risk or injury, and unpredictable outcomes
•    Diluted or improperly administered substance, potentially resulting in little or no outcome, a poor outcome, or a short duration for results obtained
•    Bait and switch, or pressure to elect additional or unnecessary procedures
•    Unqualified providers, lowering prices to create demand, and potentially risking poor or undesirable outcomes