3 Reasons Why You Aren’t Safer at Home – The Scary Online Trend of DIY Fillers

Dr. Charles VainderBy Dr. Charles Vainder

young woman with cosmetic syringe

Whether it is the idea of a spring refresh or improving your Zoom appearance, cosmetic procedures are heating up. Although that is exciting, I have been alarmed by the trend of “DIY filler.”

Dermal fillers are a family of products that are placed underneath the skin to enhance the appearance of wrinkles and address natural volume loss from aging. Some of the commonly treated sites are the temples, cheeks, nasolabial folds (laugh lines), lips, and marionette lines.

Board-certified dermatologists and qualified providers spend years perfecting how to precisely deliver fillers to the appropriate location for optimal cosmetic outcome and safety. Although the in-office procedure is quick and often cause little pain, serious adverse events can occur. These procedures should never be done at home and without extensive training.

Shockingly, a simple online and social media search yields many sources to purchase fillers. One terrifying new trend is the use of “hyaluron pens,” which are devices that use pressure to deliver filler into the skin. While social media is a valuable outlet of information, there are many dangerous instructional videos teaching how to use the hyaluron pens. They promise easy use and immediate results. Here are three reasons why this needs to be stopped.

woman with bruised injured lips1. Poor cosmetic outcomes
The goal of cosmetic procedures is to improve your appearance. Dermatologists and other licensed practitioners take an individualized approach to every patient. Dermal fillers do not follow cookie-cutter rules that are suited for every person. Following simple DIY recipes for at-home filler is likely to yield a poor result.

2. Don’t be lured by the low costs
Although the upfront cost for at-home fillers appears cheap, don’t let the price fool you. If the filler is delivered superficially, it is likely only going to provide immediate changes in appearance from swelling. More likely, you will end up in a dermatology office after wasting money on failed treatments.

3. Safety first!
Number three is really number one! Even if you have experience with needles or even medicine like insulin, fillers are much different. Part of dermatologic training is to ensure optimal safety. Safety means preventing infection and adverse effects. We are trained to avoid improper filler placement, which can cause vascular occlusion and even blindness.

Visit one of the Skin & Beauty Center Board-Certified providers for treatment or for a consultation to find out if fillers are right for you.

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