During a tough economy, finding discounts and snagging the latest bargain are a top priority on many consumers’ minds. However, experts say to forgo that strategy when it comes to BOTOX and other cosmetic enhancements because many ‘sales’ on cosmetic injections and surgery treatments are either counterfeit, illegal, or performed by an inexperienced surgeon.
The Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety has recently issued a warning about the latest ‘Bargain BOTOX‘ trends. Since many surgeons and medical spas are offering discounted packages and specials to lure patients into their offices, it can be difficult to detect which treatments are safe enough to pursue – and which ones are just a scam.
The Coalition explains that:
“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.” (Source: Medical News Today)
Since branded cosmetic injectables are FDA approved and sold at set prices, it is almost impossible for most physicians and dermatologists to offer deep discounts on these products. When medical spas and cosmetic surgery centers are offering huge sales on these items, there is a strong chance that they are not really selling the branded injectable, but a counterfeit equivalent instead.
The Coalition reports that the most common bargain injectable scams consist of:
- Counterfeit products that can lead to serious health problems and pose a high risk of adverse side effects
-Diluted products that do not deliver adequate results
- Illegal products, or spinoffs of brands that can result in injury and adverse side effects
Some of today’s most sought-after injectables include Botox Cosmetic, Cosmoderm, Evolence, Juvederm, Radiesse and Restylane. Other top contenders in this market include Reloxin, Sculptra, Elevess and Artefill.
The average price range of each of these runs between $400 – $850+ per injection, so anything lower than that may be an indication of a counterfeit or illegal product.
