In our changing healthcare system the question of who’s qualified to inject botox is going to be asked more and more frequently. The answer is dependent upon how you define qualified. Does qualified mean licensed, or does that mean something more?
If qualified means licensed a broad spectrum of individuals should be able to inject botox. These may include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical doctors, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, and a variety of technicians. Unfortunately, within this group many individuals including physicians may not have adequate training or in the case of non- physicians adequate supervision. This is especially true in some medical spas where non-M. D. injectors are supervised in name only.
For these reasons it’s extremely important to understand your provider’s qualifications. Licensure is only a starting point. Providers of this service need to have an understanding of facial anatomy and facial aesthetics to properly perform these maneuvers.
In most cases this requires a background in plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, occulo plastic surgery, or dermatology. Even within these groups it’s important to check experience, qualifications, and certification. It’s important to remember that not everyone who injects botox is equally qualified.