Unsafe injection practices – don’t share Botox or Filler syringes!
Posted in: Botox, Filler, Juvederm, Plastic Surgery Safety | August 8, 2012 | Comments Off
I’ve had several patients come into the office asking me if they can share a syringe of Juvederm with a friend. 
Apparently this un-safe practice of sharing syringes has been occurring in several offices to save money. However, I want to emphasize to anyone getting injections of any kind that it is unsafe to share syringes even if the needle is changed.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has been investigating potential exposure risks of patients to Hepatitis B and C and HIV due to unsafe injection practices. Since 1999, more than 125,000 patients in the United States have been notified of potential exposure to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV because of syringe sharing. It is a misconception that changing the needle is sufficient to prevent disease transmission. Botox and other cosmetic injectables are listed by the CDC as medications commonly misused with syringe sharing.
Please don’t share your syringes or if your doctor appears to be using a pre-filled syringe to inject you, please speak up to make sure it wasn’t already used by someone else. This will protect you from contracting any potentially harmful diseases.
Dr. Catherine Begovic
There is help for those under-eye hollows! Refresh your look with filler.
Posted in: Eye rejuvenation | February 25, 2011 | Comments Off
I spoke with a friend of mine today about facial fillers. She has some hollowing under her eyes creating a dark shadow and wondered what could be done about it. Aging is a combination of gravity pulling structures downward and a loss of facial fat. Fillers can re-fill the areas where there is loss of volume resulting in a more restored, more youthful look. Some fullness over the cheekbones also gives an aesthetically appealing highlight.
This procedure is performed in the office, usually with just topical anesthetic cream and some ice. However, this area is very vascular, so bruising is not uncommon. I advise patients to make sure they are off all aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications for at least a week and not to have any upcoming events or photo-shoots. It’s one of the quick fixes that helps people look much more refreshed. My patients who are on film or on TV tell me that the intense set lighting really makes the hollows more noticeable. After placing filler in these areas, they’ve noticed a significant change.
Dr. Catherine Begovic M.D.