No filler treatment with mesogun by beautician
The TV program Radar on Avro Tros paid attention to the fact that more and more beauticians offer filler treatments. They do this using a mesogun; a device into which a needle is inserted to inject filler into the skin. A beautician is not officially licensed to perform treatments with injections. Therefore, these treatments frequently lead to complications. In this article, we discuss the risks of such treatment and why it is wise to choose a skilled cosmetic doctor.
Popularity of filler treatments on the rise
As injectable treatments become increasingly popular, the demand for low-cost treatments is increasing. Unfortunately, this is creating a larger pool of providers who are not always qualified to perform injectable treatments. For example, filler treatments are increasingly being offered by beauticians who are not trained to do so. They use a mesogun, a device that is fully or partially automated. Various treatments are performed with the mesogun, such as placing lip fillers and giving skin boosters.
Injecting fillers without prior knowledge, is this allowed?
Not only are cheap filler treatments offered, you can also take courses to learn how to put fillers yourself. Anyone can take this type of course without any prior knowledge, where in some cases you go home with a certificate after just one day. According to laws and regulations, not everyone is allowed to inject fillers, but by using a mesogun, these unqualified practitioners seek the gray area.
Why is filler treatment with a mesogun a grey area?
Only BIG-registered physicians and nurse practitioners are authorized to inject a person with fillers. Beauticians are not allowed to inject filler by hand. When using a mesogun, the needle is inserted into a device. The mesogun determines how much and how deep to inject, making the operation automated, so to speak, rather than injecting by hand. In this way, beauticians avoid the legislation regarding the manual injection of fillers. In addition, a beautician is also not authorized to anesthetize a client, which is desired for some filler treatments. A BIG-registered cosmetic doctor is allowed to do this.
Do you get the same results with a mesogun as with a filler treatment by hand?
When you have a filler treatment performed by a cosmetic doctor, he or she looks at the anatomy of your face, the amount of filler that suits you and what type of filler is best to use. By manually injecting the filler, the cosmetic doctor has complete control over the amount of filler and the depth to which the filler is injected into the skin. In this way, the cosmetic doctor can achieve the most beautiful aesthetic result.
In addition, it can happen, for example, that due to asymmetry on one side of the face you need more filler than on the other side, or that you already achieve a beautiful and natural result with a lesser amount of filler than previously thought. A lip filler treatment can also adjust the shape of the lips. The aesthetic results of treatment with a mesogun are difficult to predict, because the device is not precise. This can make the filler more likely to end up where you don’t want it, which makes for a less attractive result.
Does a filler treatment with mesogun also cause complications faster?
In the episode of Radar it is explained that with the mesogun filler is injected into the skin, and that the device hereby determines at what needle depth this happens and what amount of filler is injected. During a filler treatment with a mesogun, the filler is “shot” into the face, so to speak. This would prevent you from injecting deeper than intended with a mesogun, making it a safe device.
What is not mentioned is that there is an enormous force behind the mesogun. So the filler is injected into the skin with tremendous pressure, which does allow the filler to go deeper into the skin. The older and thinner the skin, the more likely the filler will get deeper. This can be dangerous because important blood vessels run just under the skin. These blood vessels can become damaged during a filler treatment. The resulting complications can be very serious.
Complications must be properly recognized and treated
When a complication occurs during a filler treatment, it must be able to be recognized and treated immediately. An aesthetician is not trained to recognize a complication, much less treat it correctly. A beautician may not know the difference between a bruise and necrosis. With necrosis, the skin begins to die and a client should be referred to a doctor as soon as possible to resolve this complication. Necrosis can look like a bruise, which is why a cosmetologist may overlook the first signs.
A cosmetic doctor has the anatomical knowledge necessary to safely perform filler treatment. He or she is also trained to recognize complications and be able to act immediately, making filler treatment as safe as possible. A cosmetologist often does not have the proper resources to intervene in the event of a complication.
Choose a cosmetic doctor KNMG
Many complaints that come in to the hotline of the Dutch Association for Cosmetic Medicine (NVCG) are about treatments performed by an aesthetician or person who is not a physician. The NVCG aims to improve the quality and education of medical cosmetic treatments. For safe treatment, always choose a qualified cosmetic doctor when you decide to undergo filler treatment or other cosmetic procedures. Because a successful procedure starts with an appropriate doctor!
As of July 1, 2019, “cosmetic medicine” is recognized as a medical profile and a trained and competent cosmetic doctor will be given the title Cosmetic Physician KNMG. These doctors have undergone thorough training through the SOCG and are certified and competent in performing cosmetic procedures. This title allows clients to verify that a cosmetic doctor is trained to perform filler and botox treatments. In this way, clients are protected from incompetent practitioners.
The Van Rosmalen Kliniek is proud of the fact that all our cosmetic doctors carry the title ‘Cosmetic Doctor KNMG’. Doctor Annemarie van Rosmalen is also head of the training institute of cosmetic medicine (SOCG). On the website of the Dutch Society of Cosmetic Medicine, you can check whether a practitioner holds the title ‘Cosmetic Physician KNMG’.
