I’ll be the very first to admit that the bevy of cosmetic and beauty coupon’s lining my email box in the morning gets my adrenaline pumping enough to forgo that second cup of coffee. Groupon, Living Social, KGB Deals, Lifebooker - online deal-of-the-day email sites are popping up like weeds trying to lure you into their 50% + offers for everything from spinning classes to hair stylists, Brazilian blowouts to Botox – and in that frenzy of opportunity, it’s hard to say no. But don’t let a deep discount deter you from following Mom’s sage advice: Safety first.

The American Society for Aesthetics in Plastic Surgery play ‘voice of reason’ to our over-active-online-shopping-addiction by reminding us that even procedures like microdermabraison, Botox injections and chemical peels (yes… even laser hair removal. I hang my head in shame.) are still medical procedures.

“Patients must do their homework when choosing where and with whom to have any medical procedure.” Sound advice from Felmont F. Eaves, MD, and Past President of ASAPS, who explains, “Cost is always a factor, but it should never be the deciding factor in cosmetic surgery. Safety and quality are always the key issues.”

Thank you, Dr. Eaves for bringing a gal and her readers back down to reality… but the coupons will still be there tomorrow, beckoning and tempting like the sirens that they are. What’s a gal to do?

The good patient advocates at ASAPS have kindly put together a list of questions to ask yourself (and your coupon provider) before your charge card types it’s number into the BUY box of any such online deal. Safety first.

First order of coupon business: The Facility.

It’s important to ask where the procedure is going to take place (medi-spa, salon, the back of some guys van). The best-case scenario is that your procedure will be performed in a physician’s office. While problems rarely occur, you want to make sure that medical personnel is available to help if something should go wrong.

If your procedure isn’t being performed in a physician’s office, but is instead being held in a salon or mall or some unsavory back-alley, be sure to ask the name of the physician responsible for over-seeing the procedure. Oh… and if the location is the aforementioned “back of some guys van” or “unsavory back-alley” – just steer clear. K?

Second order of coupon business: Medical Supervision and Personnel Training:

Another vital question to ask is whether or not the facility has a physician supervising who can, not only answer any questions you might have about any injectable, deep peel or laser treatment, but who can also help you determine your goals and direct your care. And don’t just take some receptionist’s monotone – “Oh sure. Yeah. He’s here.” – as an answer. Ask for credentials and ask to see them. (This is your face, people.)

In a recent ASAPS press release, the reasons were clear:

Injectables, skin treatments (such as laser, intense pulsed light and radio frequency) and deep peels should be performed only under the supervision of a board-certified plastic surgeon. Doctors in other specialties, designating themselves as “cosmetic medicine physicians” may lack the comprehensive training that is needed for administering drugs and treatments to the deeper levels of the skin and lack the experience necessary to achieve optimal aesthetic results or to manage potential complications. Just as you wouldn’t see an allergist if you were having a baby, it’s in your best interest to see a physician who specializes in plastic surgery and dermatologic care when seeking cosmetic medical procedures.

Also ask about the training of who is performing the procedure. In certain states, injects and deep peels may be performed by a nurse, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner. A NON-MEDICAL, UNLICENSED PERSON IS NEVER ALLOWED TO PERFORM ANY MEDICAL PROCEDURE. (Am I making myself clear with my fancy all-cap writing?) The risks are real, regardless of the fact that these procedures are generally safe – it’s up to you to protect yourself.

Third order of coupon business: The Actual Procedure and Your Expectations.

This is where all the other research that you would typically do before you do anything to your glorious face would occur. Just because you’re purchasing a coupon for a discount doesn’t mean that you should expect anything less in the way of medical care and attention.

If a physician is using a product, they should be well-aware of the effects and limitations of the product: How long will injections last? What are the benefits and possible side effects? 100% success and “you’ll never-ever-ever need a facelift in the future if you do this” are not reasonable answers.

Also ask to see before-and-after pictures. Ask what happens if you’re unhappy with the results? And ask who holds financial responsibility for any revisions or complications that might occur. Forewarned is forearmed.



And the fourth, and possibly most important order of business: You.

Look yourself if the eye (a mirror is helpful here) and ask yourself the following:

What results do I expect from this? – And are they realistic?
Am I taking this procedure seriously? – If you are, you’ve done the research. Just sayin’.
Am I basing my decision on the best treatment option and not on price? – Damn you, coupon!