How to Pick a Provider | Botox Provider Near Me

As seen in the January 2024 issue of Cincinnati Magazine.

With the start of a new year, you may also be thinking about new ways you wish to care for yourself. If cosmetic treatments are on your list, choosing the right laser, filler, or Botox provider will be a critical first step. The board-certified team at Mona Dermatology shares their top tips for what to look for when choosing a provider, whether you are looking for a dermatologist in Cincinnati or elsewhere.

The #1 thing to remember is that cosmetic treatments are still medical procedures. Oftentimes, we perceive popular treatments as easy to perform and risk-free. Serious side effects, including infections, compromised veins or arteries, tissue damage, scars, burns, pigmentation disorders, and more can occur. These side effects are always a possibility with any cosmetic treatment, but are much more likely when consumers visit untrained, unqualified practitioners. Just as you would for any other medical procedure, we recommend choosing an experienced and qualified provider to perform your cosmetic treatments.

What To Look For in a Botox Provider, Filler Provider, or Cosmetic Provider:

Credentials

Start by looking for a credentialed provider with extensive experience and training in the cosmetic field. The office you are visiting should be led by a board-certified physician that is trained in facial anatomy, such as a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. This directing physician will ensure that proper safety protocols are being followed within the office, and even if they are not the one performing your treatment, they are on-site in the rare case that something may go wrong. At Mona Dermatology, all providers hold advanced medical degrees: Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Nurse Practitioner (NP), or Physician Assistant (PA). Not only do they receive months of extensive cosmetic training prior to treating patients, they also receive ongoing education in the medical aesthetics field.

Experience

Look for a provider with experience in the treatment you are seeking. How many treatments of this kind have they given? What kind of training have they received? At Mona Dermatology, our providers see over 7,000 skin exams, 4,000 botox appointments, 1,000 filler appointments and 2,000 laser/light appointments combined in any given year.

Results

As the saying goes, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder,’ and the same is true for cosmetic treatments. It can be helpful to select a provider who specializes in giving the type of results that you seek to achieve. Some ways to research this would include asking to see before and after photos, following the office or provider on social media, or even seeing what the staff and providers’ results look like. At Mona Dermatology, we specialize in creating natural-looking results. 

Price

If the cost of a treatment seems too good to be true, it probably is! Oftentimes, heavily discounted procedures are being performed by non-medical personnel or less experienced providers. Cosmetic treatments require extensive training and experience to achieve safe and optimal results. Saving money on a treatment in the short-term could end up costing you more if a complication occurs.

Questions to Ask

Before having a procedure, it’s important to get to know your provider and ask them questions to learn more. Consider asking why you are a good candidate for this treatment, what you should expect during the treatment, what results may be, what the risks are, who will perform your treatment, and what will happen if complications arise. On the other hand, your provider should also be asking what you are hoping to achieve to make sure you are both on the same page. Don’t forget that they should also be asking you for your medical history, medications you are on, and allergies you may have.

Adapted from the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS)