Choosing an injectable provider is one of the most important decisions a patient makes before any cosmetic treatment. Tommaso Addona, MD, FACS, board-certified plastic surgeon and President of New York Plastic Surgical Group, recently spoke with CBS News New York Investigates. He shared what every patient should know before saying yes to an injection.
Why Does Provider Licensing Matter So Much?
Injectable treatments are medical procedures. They require a trained medical professional, not just someone comfortable holding a syringe.
Dr. Addona has seen the consequences of unlicensed injecting firsthand. Early in his training, he treated patients who suffered complications. They had received injections from unlicensed providers working out of unregulated spaces.
That experience shaped how he talks to patients today. A license is not paperwork. It is the difference between a provider trained to recognize and manage complications and one who is not.
What Three Licenses Should Patients Ask About?
Dr. Addona breaks provider vetting down into three specific checks.
The person. The individual performing the injection needs a valid medical license. This is not optional, and patients have every right to ask about it directly.
The facility. The space where treatment happens needs its own facility licensure. A provider can be qualified and still be practicing somewhere that is not.
The product. The injectable itself needs to come from a manufacturer that is authorized and approved to produce it. Products sourced outside of that chain carry real risk, regardless of who is administering them.
Asking about all three, not just one, gives patients a much clearer picture of what they are walking into.
How Can Patients Do Their Homework?
Dr. Addona applies the same standard to his own family that he recommends to every patient. He researches the provider before booking.
That means looking up credentials, confirming board certification, and reading reviews with a critical eye. It also means asking direct questions about licensing before a treatment, not after.
As Dr. Addona told CBS News, “patients can control it, because they can do their homework.”
What This Means for Patients Considering Injectables
The three-license framework gives patients a simple checklist to use before any injectable appointment, no matter where they go. A qualified provider will welcome these questions. A provider who avoids them is a signal to look elsewhere.
Our qualified medical professionals perform every injectable treatment using FDA-approved products sourced through authorized manufacturers. Our surgical suites are accredited by QUAD A. Patients across Long Island and NYC are welcome to request a consultation with our team about any treatment they are considering.
