Should You Consider a Do-It-Yourself Injectable?
Posted September 02, 2021 in Fillers, Injectable Treatments
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Facial fillers are commonly used to plump lips or under-eye areas. This procedure should be done by a licensed professional; however, some people are administering plumping injectables at home. The home injection trend received a significant boost during pandemic lockdowns, and influencers on social media are also contributing to a rise in DIY injectables.
While there has been a steady increase in do-it-yourself injectables, are they safe?
Well, the simple answer is most often “no.” Absolutely not. A proper and safe injectable treatment involves more than simply injecting yourself with a needle. And when it is not performed correctly can lead to a host of problems.
How Do DIY Injectables Work?
Most injectables purchased for home use are hyaluron pens, also known as hyaluronic pens. The devices are large self-injecting pens designed to force fillers into the skin. To make matters even more complicated, there are many different kinds of hyaluron pens on the market.
Purchasing Products
Most people using DIY fillers buy products online from Amazon and other large retailers. Pens and fillers are frequently sold separately, but there are no FDA-approved products for home use. With this, consumers don’t know if the stated ingredients for available fillers are accurate.
Types of Injectors
Some hyaluron pens have needles and inject filler directly under the skin. Another type of injector pen was developed as a needle-free method for injecting insulin. These pens used focused pressure to force droplets of liquid filler through the skin.
Tutorials
Tutorials are available from many sources. Some people prefer to read step-by-step instructions with explanatory images. Video tutorials of people injecting their own fillers are easily found on various social media channels.
What Are the Potential Consequences of DIY Injectables?
Although DIY injectables may seem easy and safe, they can be very harmful. Some negative effects are permanent, so always consider potential risks carefully before trying a DIY procedure.
Negative Influence on Young People
Children and teenagers use injectors and encourage other young people to do the same through social media. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association released a warning specifically related to unsupervised children using DIY hyaluron pens.
Poor Results
Doctors have a comprehensive knowledge of anatomy. Medical professionals also use varying amounts of different fillers with specific properties for optimal results. It’s impossible to address these factors in a home setting.
DIY fillers could cause lumps and lopsided results. Injections in the wrong place can even damage muscles and nerves.
Health Risks
Unregulated filler injections can have health risks as well, especially without proper sterilization techniques. Infections may occur at injection sites, even with needle-free pens. Injections may rupture blood vessels and cause severe bruising.
Ingredients in unregulated fillers can cause rashes or allergic reactions. Severe infections can lead to sepsis, which is a generalized infection affecting blood, organs, or tissues throughout the body.
How Can I Learn More?
Contact the office of Dr. Todd Koch at (716) 631-1220 or fill out the online contact form to learn more about safe, effective plumping injectables administered by experienced professionals.