Editorial approach & sources
A clear explanation should make its sources and its limits easy to see.
Sources in context
We link to original research and professional guidance so you can look beyond a treatment name. A finding about one product or device does not automatically apply to an entire category.
Clear explanations, with limits
We describe what an approach aims to do, what may remain uncertain and what to ask in a consultation. Patient experiences are presented separately from clinical information.
One scope across the language editions
Translations preserve the study population, numbers, uncertainty and source links. A language edition does not change where a medicine or device is authorised. Local status and individual suitability need separate discussion with a qualified practitioner.
This guide explains treatment categories rather than recommending a clinic, device or brand. It draws on medical associations, health services, regulators and published research. External sources may be in another language. Manufacturer descriptions are identified where they explain named products or protocols.
Regulation: start with the treatment country
Language does not determine which rules apply. The European references below concern the EU, including Portugal, Spain, Italy, France and Germany. For treatment elsewhere, check the relevant local authority. FDA guidance concerns the United States; NHS guidance concerns the UK.
Devices & aesthetic products
The EU Medical Device Regulation (2017/745) also covers certain products without a medical purpose under Annex XVI. CE marking indicates conformity with applicable requirements for the intended use; it is not FDA approval or a promise of results.
European Commission: aesthetic products and Annex XVI (EU framework)Medicines & skincare
Medicines such as botulinum toxin have product-specific authorizations and indications. Cosmetics follow separate rules and cannot be injected. A topical product’s status does not establish suitability for use with microneedling.
EU medicines framework: Directive 2001/83/ECEU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009
United States · FDA references
These FDA resources explain uses, risks and safety notices in the United States. Check the exact product and intended use: a reference to a treatment category is not FDA approval of every product or protocol. For treatment elsewhere, consult the local regulator.
National references
Check the exact product and the practitioner’s qualifications where treatment takes place. Professional practice and clinic requirements also depend on national or regional rules.
How we use patient reviews
Scores reproduce RealSelf’s published “Worth It” percentages and its “recent ratings” counts. “Recent” is the source’s wording for the ratings included when the snapshot was saved; the figures do not update automatically. “Not Sure” votes are excluded. Some snapshots cover one product or device only. Colours group the percentages: green 70–100%, ochre 40–69% and dark red 0–39%. They are not clinical thresholds.
We select accessible accounts from RealSelf and public discussions on Reddit, including positive and negative experiences. This is a qualitative reading, not a representative survey or systematic review. We cannot verify identities, diagnoses, incentives or the causes of reported problems. Links preserve the context, including the specific product or technique discussed.
RealSelf: “Worth It”Clinical education & research
Clinical explanations can draw on international research and medical associations. These sources do not establish whether a product or procedure is legally available in your country.
General education, not a diagnosis or a personal treatment plan. The editorial image does not show a patient or treatment result.
Help us correct an explanation
Send the public page address, the passage concerned and a source we can check. Please do not include personal medical details. Corrections that change the meaning of an explanation are recorded with the affected content.
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