Are Botox and fillers really safe?

Are Botox and fillers really safe?

How innovations and experienced doctors elevate the safety of treatments at The Body Clinic.

This month, the cosmetic clinic The Body Clinic celebrates its 15th anniversary – quite a long time in an industry that only started 20 years ago. By focusing on Botox and fillers for 15 years, The Body Clinic has grown into a leading clinic in the Netherlands. The Body Clinic has been rated “Best Tested” by the Consumers' Association and ranks first on the comparison website Kliniekervaringen.nl with a 9.0 and over 2,000 reviews as the “Best Valued Cosmetic Clinic”.

The clinic’s good reputation stems not only from the results achieved by its doctors with injectables; the clinic is also known for its safety and innovation. By implementing innovative tools, The Body Clinic has succeeded in minimizing the risk of complications for its clients – more on this later.

Botox and fillers: no longer taboo

Previously, there was still a taboo on undergoing treatment with Botox or fillers. You were associated with the American ‘plastic fantastic’ look. That taboo has completely vanished, and the market has matured significantly. The goal of a cosmetic treatment is for someone to look a little fresher and healthier, without it being obvious. Thanks to this approach, cosmetic treatments are increasingly shedding their taboo image.

Filling wrinkles or other areas of the face with temporary fillers has significantly increased in popularity in recent years. Research by Erasmus MC shows that no less than 1 in 50 women in our country have had treatment with fillers or Botox, and this number is only increasing.

Safety first

We increasingly find it important to invest in natural beauty, whether to age more gracefully or to achieve a certain beauty ideal. One thing is paramount: it must be done safely.

Due to strict regulations in the Netherlands, these treatments in our country are relatively well-managed compared to abroad. Doctors in the Netherlands can specialize as Cosmetic Physician KNMG. Since 2019, “Cosmetic Physician” is a protected title, and for example, general practitioners or ‘moonlighting’ dentists are no longer allowed to call themselves cosmetic physicians. This makes it easier for clients to choose a good doctor.

“At The Body Clinic, we do everything we can to prioritize safety and to realistically discuss the expected treatment results with our clients. In my opinion, celebrities should use social media to emphasize the potential complications and associated safety aspects of injectables, rather than putting ideas into people’s heads,” says Cosmetic Physician KNMG Nicoline Nijman.

Nicoline Nijman explains: “The cosmetic market is undergoing tremendous development. People no longer have to feel ashamed or take a week off work for a filler treatment.

Young people are vulnerable

The disappearance of the taboo surrounding fillers and Botox also has a downside. Young people can become victims of this. This vulnerable group primarily draws inspiration from social media channels. On social media, photo filters make the beauty ideal unrealistic. Additionally, celebrities flaunt their beauty, for example, by showing off their unnaturally large lips. I believe it is my duty as a cosmetic doctor to protect young people. I prefer to say “no” or recommend a less invasive treatment if young people are going ‘over the top’.”

Fillers were already safe, weren't they?

Nicoline Nijman: “The popularity of injectables is enormous, and price fighters have entered the cosmetic market. There’s nothing wrong with that in itself, as long as low prices don’t compromise client safety. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The focus is often on cutting costs rather than on client safety and achieving natural results. Clinics hire inexperienced doctors whose job it is to inject as much product as possible. Little to no attention is paid to the risks of a treatment, with all the consequences. Complications are disproportionately increasing, and cosmetic treatments are unfairly getting a bad name.”

In the Netherlands, only temporary fillers are allowed for cosmetic treatments. Permanent fillers (non-dissolvable) can cause serious complications that are irreversible. The use of permanent fillers has therefore been prohibited in the Netherlands since 2015. Current temporary hyaluronic acid fillers have the wonderful property of being dissolvable.

Nicoline Nijman on the danger of fillers and blood vessels: “Temporary hyaluronic acid-based fillers have been found safe, provided they are used correctly. If not, a temporary filler can lead to lasting complications. If you inject a filler into a blood vessel, the blood vessel becomes blocked; this is called vascular occlusion. The skin cells in that area then die. To this day, we are looking for ways to perform filler treatments even more accurately and safely to minimize long-term and temporary complications. At The Body Clinic, we have implemented several tools with good results for this. A DNA test to check if a client has a predisposition to complications, and an MRI scan to map the arterial network.”

ARtery3D - Technology to map the arterial network

Modern technology is evolving with the possibilities to enhance the safety of filler treatments. The Body Clinic has partnered with the Belgian startup Augmented Reality. Earlier this year, they launched ARtery3D, a technology that can visualize the complex arterial network on a client's face by undergoing an MRI before the filler treatment. “Every client is unique, as is their anatomy. This product enables us as doctors at The Body Clinic to inject fillers even more accurately and to minimize the risks of arterial complications. A nice side effect is that temporary complications such as bruising and pain can also be reduced by using ARtery3D,” says Nicoline Nijman.

DNA test helps prevent complications

Generally, most people enjoy the benefits of their fillers. If something does go wrong, the fingers are often pointed at the doctor who placed the fillers, but it can also happen that the body itself has an immune reaction to the fillers, which the practitioner can, in principle, do nothing about.

Nicoline Nijman: “This concerns people whose immune system reacts abnormally to the filler and rejects it. This can result in long-term pain, distress, and sometimes permanent facial damage. At The Body Clinic, we are one of the first clinics in the Netherlands to use a high-quality DNA test from Bsure to test whether a client runs this risk.”

Bsure’s team has conducted over 6 years of scientific research into the link between fillers and complications. This research showed that a combination of two specific genes can lead to a greater chance of complications after a filler treatment. “For the Bsure DNA test, you only need a little buccal swab; the test will then show if you have this specific gene combination. If the result is positive, it is strongly advised against proceeding with a filler treatment. This would spare you the trouble! So, complications aren’t only caused by incompetent doctors. You can have the best doctor with much experience who uses the best products, but you don’t know beforehand how your body will react to injectables,” says Nicoline Nijman.

Close collaboration with the leading complications doctor in the Netherlands

“At The Body Clinic, we do everything we can to minimize complications from injectables. Unfortunately, completely avoiding complications is not yet possible. If something does go wrong, a doctor from The Body Clinic always consults directly with the leading complications doctor in the Netherlands, Dr. Tom Decates, says Nicoline Nijman.

Dr. Decates has a doctorate in the field of injectable complications and is thus a pioneer in scientific research within cosmetic medicine. If necessary, a client with a complication is referred to the complications consultation hour at Erasmus MC. The Netherlands is the only country in the world blessed with a complications consultation hour specifically for injectables.

In short, there are many developments in the field of injectable safety. To make this manageable for the average consumer, The Body Clinic has drawn up a checklist for selecting a safe clinic and doctor. This is based on the principle that both the doctor and clinic must be good, the product must be safe, and your body must be suitable for the treatment.

Your checklist for a safe Botox and filler treatment

1. Check if your doctor and clinic are affiliated with the NVCG, the professional association for the cosmetic industry. There are several other smaller associations, but NVCG is the strictest and most authoritative in its safety protocols. Doctors can also become accredited KNMG doctors if they have acquired sufficient skills and undergone further training. Ask the clinic about it or look it up on the NVCG website nvcg.nl.

2. Check the reviews of the doctor and the clinic. The leading site for this is Kliniekervaringen.nl, an independent website to which most doctors are affiliated. There, you can see the experiences of other clients per treatment.

3. Check if the same doctor provides the intake, treatment, and any free aftercare. This is not standard at all clinics, but it is safer. Do not settle for physician assistants or no free check-up at all. The doctor must be BIG registered; this is usually stated on the website.

4. Check which products are used. Choose A-brand products that have been used in millions of treatments and whose safety has been proven. There can be a difference in the safety and complication risk of the product. Often, the more expensive brands are the safest.

5. If you have never used fillers before and have a predisposition to allergic reactions, there is a chance that your immune system will react strongly the first time fillers are applied. This is one of the most common and troublesome complications, which was previously difficult to prevent. The Bsure DNA test can indicate whether you have this genetic predisposition.

6. It is also advisable to use a relatively small volume of fillers during the first filler treatment, so that any foreign body reaction can still be treated effectively. The Body Clinic has strict protocols to minimize this complication. Ask your doctor about it.

7. Map your vascular network with the latest 3D technology and prevent your doctor from hitting an important vessel during the treatment.

Do you want more information about a safe injectables treatment? Schedule a free consultation now with Cosmetic Physician KNMG Nicoline Nijman from The Body Clinic.