What does the aesthetics industry get wrong?

Too-good-to-be-true promises, too much product, and treatments that skip the approval process.

Answered by

Dr. Simon Ourian, M.D.

Published

January 4, 2027

Reviewed

January 4, 2027

Three things, in Dr. Ourian's view. Promises that are too good to be true, such as a cream or filler doing the job of a facelift. Injectors who know the product but not the anatomy, which puts too much volume in the wrong place. And imported treatments not approved in the United States. Natural-looking work is the hardest to do well.

Too good to be true

“So, when is something is when it's too good to be true, it's it's not true. It's too good to be true.”

Product without anatomy

The product is a tool. The result depends on knowing where it goes, how much, and when to stop.

“the difference between a person who has learned how to do a few injections and a person who actually does this all day long is like a difference between a chef and a cook.” “That takes a lot of restraint, a deep understanding of anatomy, balance, facial movement, and really a”

Volume everywhere

The older approach to contouring added volume across the face, and the result was heaviness.

“In the past, what used to be was that the large achievement was focused on just adding more volume everywhere. And sometimes that can create heaviness and puffiness when”

Treatments he will not do

Injectables that are used abroad but not approved in the United States.

“There's salmon DNA injection, there's all types of PDRN, things that are done in other countries but in the US it's still not FDA approved and I don't recommend it and I don't do it until it receives FDA approval.”

Part of his job, he says, is separating what works from what is a passing trend.

“and to kind of separate the things that actually work and are new and things that are just maybe a hype and they're going to go away and that's my job to be able to look at those things”

Overpromised treatments

Treatment	What he says
Threads	He did them for a few patients and did not get great results
IPL for sagging skin	Clears spots and redness, does nothing for laxity
Volume everywhere	Creates heaviness and puffiness

“'cause intense pulse light doesn't do anything for the drapiness of the skin. It just basically gets rid of the spots and the redness.”

Celebrity treatments are not a different category

Patients often assume public figures get something unavailable to everyone else. He treats both the same way.

“And I don't make a distinction between a person who makes a living from their appearance to a person who is just trying to look a little bit better than before.”

What every patient should understand

“What people don't realize is that natural-looking work is actually the hardest type of aesthetic medicine to do and to do well.” “the technology and the training of the doctor are only 20 to 30% of the actual result.”

Back to Ask Dr. Ourian for more answers from Dr. Simon Ourian.

The figures in this answer reflect Dr. Ourian's observations in his own practice
and are not drawn from published research. This content is for information only
and is not a treatment recommendation. Book a consultation to discuss your own case.

Dr. Simon Ourian is founder and medical director of Epione Beverly Hills, with close to 30 years of practice.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if an aesthetic promise is too good to be true?

If a cream, a laser, or filler is promised to do the job of a facelift, Dr. Ourian says it is not true.

Why does injector experience matter?

Because the product is only a tool. Dr. Ourian compares someone who has learned a few injections to someone who does this all day as a cook compared with a chef.

Does Dr. Ourian offer salmon DNA or PDRN injections?

No. He does not offer them until they receive FDA approval in the United States.

Do celebrities get different treatments?

No. Dr. Ourian says he does not distinguish between someone whose living depends on their appearance and someone who wants to look a little better.

Do threads work?

Dr. Ourian says he did threads for a few patients and did not get great results.

Can IPL tighten sagging skin?

No. Dr. Ourian says IPL clears spots and redness but does nothing for laxity.