choosing a provider
How do I choose an injector?
Short answer
Judge the consultation, not the price. A good injector asks what bothers you before naming a treatment, shows after photos of faces making expressions, explains what they would not do, and is reachable if something concerns you afterward. Willingness to recommend less is the strongest signal there is.
Sally's take
I am obviously not neutral here, so take this as what I would tell a friend looking somewhere I do not work.
The thing I would weigh most heavily is whether the person is willing to tell you no. An injector who agrees with every request is not assessing you, they are taking an order. The value of this work is largely in the judgment about what not to do.
The second thing is whether you can reach them. Complications are uncommon, but they are time-sensitive, and the difference between a good outcome and a bad one is often how quickly someone competent answers the phone.
What actually matters
- Credentials and licensure, and who supervises the practice
- How much of their work is injectables specifically, rather than one service among many
- Whether the consultation happens before any product is discussed
- After photos showing faces in motion, not only at rest
- A clear plan for complications, and a real way to contact them
- Whether they have ever talked a patient out of something
What matters less than people think
- Price per unit. It tells you nothing without knowing how many units and how well placed.
- Brand of product. The injector matters far more than which vial they opened.
- Follower count. Marketing skill and clinical judgment are unrelated.
- Before and after photos taken in different lighting or at different angles, which are not comparable.
Reasonable red flags
- Pressure to decide at the appointment, or a discount that expires today
- No consultation, or a consultation that is really a sales conversation
- Reluctance to discuss risks in specific terms
- No clear answer about who to call if something goes wrong
- A recommendation to treat many areas at a first visit
Questions worth asking
- How often do you perform this specific treatment?
- What would you advise against for me, and why?
- What is your plan if I have a complication, and how do I reach you?
- Can I see results on someone with a similar face to mine, making an expression?
Related questions
This page is educational and is not medical advice. It does not create a provider relationship. Results vary between people, and treatment decisions are made at your consultation.