We hear it from experts every day: Cosmetic injections are not akin to haircuts and shouldn’t be approached with the same it’ll-grow-back attitude, since having prescription drugs and medical devices — as neurotoxins and fillers, respectively, are classified by the Food and Drug Administration — shot into one’s face can carry consequences far more serious than a botched bangs trim. But doctors’ crusades against being too cavalier about fillers is constantly receiving pushback. In Los Angeles, for instance, the hair analogy is being spun as a win by an injectables outpost dubbed the “Drybar of Botox,” which offers hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers (like Restylane and Juvéderm), neurotoxins (Botox and Dysport), and fat-melting Kybella, with a breezy-as-a-blowout, nothing-to-fear vibe.
Injectables are big business: Over two million people received botulinum toxin or filler injections in 2017, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The popularity of temporary HA fillers, specifically, has soared 85 percent since 2012. And practitioners of all kinds — with varying degrees of training and experience — are capitalizing on the demand.