How to tell if your harmonization product is genuine
Quick facts
- What to check
- Sealed packaging, label with lot number and expiry date, health registration and origin.
- Patient's right
- To ask to see the packaging and to note the lot, expiry date and product used.
- Professional's duty
- To record the product and lot in the patient record and inform the patient.
- Red flags
- A product without a clear label, tampered packaging, a price far below the norm or a doubtful source.
The question "is the product genuine?" often comes loaded with suspicion, and rightly so. The aesthetic injectables market has registered products and products that are unregistered, irregularly imported or counterfeit. For the patient, it is hard to tell them apart. For the professional, answering transparently is an obligation and also a way to build trust.
What does genuine and regulated mean?
Genuine, in the sense that matters to the patient, is a product made by the registration holder, transported and stored correctly, within its expiry date, with intact packaging and a traceable lot. Injectable products for aesthetic use are regulated by the health authority (in Brazil, Anvisa), and having a registration is a basic requirement. To understand better how to check, see how to check an injectable's registration with Anvisa.
What can the patient check?
| Item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Packaging | Sealed and intact, opened in front of the patient |
| Label | Product name, lot number, expiry date and manufacturer legible |
| Health registration | Number present and checkable in an official source |
| Expiry date | Within date on the day of the procedure |
| Syringe or vial | No tampering, nothing odd about its appearance, not previously used |
| Entry in the patient record | Product and lot written in the patient's file |
Asking to see the packaging is not an insult. It is a right, and a confident professional usually welcomes it. The patient can also photograph the label, which helps if a problem needs to be investigated.
Warning signs of a doubtful product
Some signs deserve attention, although none of them alone proves the product is fake:
- A price far below what is generally charged for that type of procedure.
- Packaging without a lot number, without an expiry date or with a faded label.
- A professional who refuses to show the packaging or to note the lot.
- A product that arrives in a bag, without a cold chain or in odd conditions.
- A vague source, such as imported by a friend or bought through an app.
- A procedure done in a place without minimum facilities.
How the professional should respond
Traceability is what makes it possible to act if something goes wrong: warn other patients, notify the authority and investigate the lot. Without it, the professional is left defenseless and the patient without answers.
What if the patient already had treatment and has doubts?
If the injection was done by another professional and the patient wants to know what was used, the path is to ask for the records. The professional who did the treatment should provide the product, lot and date from the patient record. If there is no record, that fact alone is relevant, and the new professional should be cautious about any further injection in the same area.
In case of a reaction or possible complication related to the product, reporting the adverse event to the official channels contributes to everyone's safety. See reporting an adverse event on Notivisa (Anvisa's reporting system).
Myth or fact
And Harmy?
Harmy does not record the product or lot: it handles planning and projection. Use the clinic's patient record for that data. At most, the app can help you remember what was planned for each area, and it does not replace the record of what was actually injected.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if the product used in my harmonization is genuine?
Ask to see the sealed packaging, check the label for lot number and expiry date, and verify the product's health registration. The professional should record the lot in your patient record and be able to explain where it came from.
Can the patient ask to see the product before it is injected?
Yes, and it is a healthy practice. The professional should open the packaging in front of the patient and show the label, lot number and expiry date.
Where can I check whether the product is registered?
Registrations of health products are available for public consultation on the website of Anvisa (Brazil's health regulatory agency). The professional can guide you on how to check and note the registration number.
What should I do if I suspect a counterfeit product?
Stop using it, keep the packaging and lot number, record what you observed and report it to the health surveillance channels. In case of a reaction, seek care and inform the person who did the treatment.
Harmy images are illustrative simulations generated by AI from the patient's photo to support the conversation between practitioner and patient. They are not a promise of results. Indication, technique, product and volume are solely the decision of the licensed practitioner. This content is for information only and does not replace a clinical assessment.