“What does it mean for a cosmetic treatment or service to be FDA-approved?” This is a question we receive pretty often from patients. To put it simply, to receive the stamp of approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a food, drug, or cosmetic treatment must be proven to safely provide the specific benefits that it promises to in its marketing. These regulations are in place to prevent manufacturers from making false or unsubstantiated claims about a treatment or service to boost sales or trick people who were hoping to achieve a specific aesthetic result.

FDA-approval is not a prerequisite for a cosmetic service or treatment to be safe or helpful in treating several aesthetic imperfections. Also, a treatment that only has certain FDA-approved uses can still assist patients in other ways. Sometimes, widespread uses of a cosmetic treatment can even lead to FDA-approval in the future after years of clinical trials and studies. Keep reading for info on some of the FDA-approved cosmetic treatments and services available at AYA^™ Medical Spa.

Botox^® Cosmetic Injections

Botox^® is the first injectable treatment of its kind that is FDA-approved to treat three different areas of the face (forehead lines, crow’s feet, and glabellar lines). This kind of versatility is a large part of what has made Botox^® the most popular cosmetic injectable on the market today. In addition to treating the face, Botox^® Cosmetic Injections are also FDA-approved and proven to help patients with excessive armpit sweating (known as hyperhidrosis).

Kybella^® Fat Reduction

Kybella^® Fat Reduction earned approval from the FDA for reducing the submental fat below the chin that creates the appearance of a double chin. This non-surgical injectable treatment, administered directly into the fat under the chin, destroys localized fat cells so they can no longer accumulate fat. The results from Kybella^® treatments are similar to liposuction, only without the downtime for recovery or post-operative care associated with surgery.

CoolSculpting^® Non-Surgical Fat Reduction

CoolSculpting^® Non-Surgical Fat Reduction is FDA-approved to reduce fat from the flanks, abdomen, back, and the area around the underarm known as the bra bulge. It can also be highly successful for men and women who wish to reduce stubborn, diet-resistant fat from the thighs, waist, arms, and more. Like Kybella^®, CoolSculpting^® Non-Surgical Fat Reduction treatments with the CoolMini^™ applicator are also approved by the FDA to reduce the double chin.

If a certain cosmetic treatment you are considering is not currently FDA-approved, that is not an indication that it is unsafe or won’t be able to help you achieve your aesthetic goal. FDA-approval is simply a way to communicate that this specific treatment can help you with a certain aesthetic concern. If you are looking for more guidance on finding the cosmetic treatments or skincare products that are right for you, we recommend coming into any of our three locations (Avalon, Phipps Plaza, Northside) for a complimentary skincare analysis. To schedule your analysis today, please contact AYA^™ Medical Spa today and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ for more skincare tips, photos, news, and more.