It’s easy to find specials and discounts on medical spa treatments here in San Diego, but what you save financially may end up having a much higher cost. Discount doctors, fake products, and illegal imports pose very real dangers when it comes to bargain shopping for cosmetic treatments—and trust us, it comes at a price no one should have to pay.
Read on to learn more about why bargain hunting for medical spa treatments is a dangerous game. We’ll also share our tips on how to save without sacrificing your safety.
Discounted products may be imported and unregulated.
It’s true: cosmetic products, especially dermal fillers such as JUVÉDERM®, can be cheaper if brought in illegally from other countries. Here in San Diego, it’s not uncommon for products to come over the border and find their way to at-home “plump parties”—more on those below. It may seem like you’re getting a great deal, but the truth is those products aren’t regulated or accounted for by the FDA. This means you really have no idea what’s actually in them. As a result, they put you at a much higher risk of complications.
Most fillers are made up of hyaluronic acid (HA). Should you have a rare complication such as vascular occlusion, we can easily dissolve the filler with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that unregulated products actually contain HA. In fact, they could contain just about anything. That means not only could they harm you, but you may also be unable to remove them should something go wrong.
Your products may be diluted.
Some practices offer injectables such as BOTOX® Cosmetic at lower prices because they’re actually diluting the product or splitting vials between patients, Charlotte’s Book reports. Not only does dilution increase your risk of infection, but it also weakens the product. This makes it much harder for your provider to precisely control the dosage. That’s not something you want to mess with when you’re compromising the muscles in your face.
Dilution is also a huge issue when it comes to buying medical-grade skincare products online, which you can read more about in this blog post.
Your provider may not be trained or qualified.
Providers who offer services way below the going rates may not have enough experience to safely create great results. When it comes to injections, that’s not a corner you want to risk cutting.
On that note, be wary of drive-thru at or at-home visits. This includes those “plump parties” you’ve been hearing about, with services offered in a provider’s home or any form of appointment that takes place in a compromised setting. With COVID-19, this is more important than ever. Your injection needs to take place in a safe, sterile medical environment, period.
What are some safe ways to save money on medical spa treatments?
Rule No. 1: Shop for safety first. Ultimately, the risk of dealing with a “bargain” provider’s negative consequences isn’t worth whatever money you might be saving. Cosmetic medicine is still medicine, and safety should always be your priority.
To save money without the risk, try these tips:
- Watch for specials. Most practices offer temporary specials, often as seasonal deals or as part of an event. Start by choosing a practice you trust based on research (reviews, credentials, before-and-after photos). Then keep an eye out for their offers.
- Join a loyalty program. Our LJC GLAMfam VIP loyalty program earns you discounts as a reward for your loyalty to LJC. It’s our way of helping you save without having to sacrifice on safety or results.
To see the difference expertise makes when it comes to services such as lip injections, please visit our before-and-after photo gallery.
If you’re ready to safely bring out the best in you at one of San Diego’s top medical spas, click to book a free virtual consultation or contact us at (858) 788-7989 with additional questions about the procedure. We can’t wait to hear from you!