When we spoke to Birmingham, AL dermatologist Corey Hartman, MD about fillers, our shoulders finally began to drop. His passion for providing care to his patients goes far beyond the price tag as he prioritizes patient happiness and takes a unique, holistic approach to dermatology. “When talking about fillers and injectables, I tell people ‘no’ more than I tell them ‘yes,’” Dr. Hartman explains. “That’s my tagline because if a patient isn’t ready for a procedure, I don’t want them to be unhappy with the result.”
Dr. Hartman’s patient-focused mindset is not only apparent when you speak to him, but also when you step foot into his office. “We offer a medical area and a cosmetic area,” says Dr. Hartman, who adds that both areas of the office have waiting rooms big enough for social distancing. His patients can now safely sit in the waiting rooms without fear, which only adds to the experience of taking a visit to Dr. Hartman’s practice.
The Lowdown
Although his credo would seem common, Dr. Hartman says it’s surprising how many doctors don’t take a patient-first approach to their procedures. “It takes a lot of time to sit down and really invest in a person,” says Dr. Hartman. “It’s so important to get the full story behind why a patient is seeking injectables or fillers in the first place because that information alone can tell you a lot about their expectations. If I can align their needs with my expertise, the patient will have a high-quality result that they appreciate.”
Dr. Hartman explains that patients often come in with a very narrow-minded idea of what they want to look like or what they want done, but they’re missing out on the overall picture. “Social media is both good and bad because it puts fillers on the brain as something relatable, which takes away a lot of the stigma behind it. But it also causes a lot of misconceptions. Patients will come in with an idea of what they need done, but they have the entirely wrong mindset.” An example he gives pertains to chin fillers: “I get patients coming in thinking they want to get rid of fat under their chin, but what they really need is filler to slim the area and sharpen the profile.”
With his mindset-balancing, personable and firm approach to fillers, Dr. Hartman shows his patients where they’re going to see the biggest impact and how he will achieve the final result they are looking for. “I want them to see the value in their fillers or injectables, not the value in other people’s procedures that won’t work on them.”
Popularity Contest
While patients come in with requests all over the board, Dr. Hartman says there are a few treatments he’s been performing almost daily. “Zoom has been tremendous for the Botox Cosmetic business because you notice so much on your face. People are definitely paying more attention to their profile and their lower face, which is perfect because all of those areas can be so easily covered with a mask post-procedure.”
Dr. Hartman is also performing a lot of fillers in the tear trough along with Botox Cosmetic for crow’s feet. “Everybody is tired right now, but nobody wants to look tired,” he says. “People often skip fixing the outer eye area, but since sleep is rare these days, people have been coming in specifically for that.”
To balance the uptick in aesthetic requests, Dr. Hartman insists on following a “less-is-more” approach with his fillers and injectables. “What patients think will look great on them might not always be the best fit. You really need a doctor that’s going to tell you to chill when you want to come in for more procedures and lead you in the right direction for the best result.”
