Botox Q&A
64%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers
that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not.
See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings
or Add Your Review
View Before and Afters
Average Botox Cost: $425
Learn about Botox
3,018 people and 923 doctors are talking about Botox
Get Free Email Updates
How Long Can You Keep Botox Past the Expiry Date Printed on the Box? Mine Says Oct.2012
asked 4 months ago by Jos59
Latest answer by Julio Garcia, MD
Question viewed 146 times
Tags: effectiveness, expiration date, storage
I forgot my Vial of Botox at home in the refrigerator when I had my bladder injections done at the hospital. I had to buy a new bottle there. My box at home has an expiry date of Oct.2012. Will this still be stable next January when I have the procedure done again ? Also would it be best to store it in the refrigerator or freezer for that length of time ? Thanks for any feedback.
7 answers to How Long Can You Keep Botox Past the Expiry Date Printed on the Box? Mine Says Oct.2012
+1
Botox storage
Your treating physician should be the best person to answer the question. Having patients be responsible for storage and transporting of their Botox product is not ideal in any situation or location of residency.
+1
Expired Botox
In the US it is illegal for the patient to have bottles of Botox. It will be guaranteed sterile until the expiration date, as long as it has not already been reconstituted. Once diluted it needs to be used within 4 hours. If you use it past the date of expiration it will likely still work, but it might not last as long. I would keep it frozen.
Julio Garcia, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+1
Expiration date is there for a reason.
If I were you, I would return it to the place you had to buy it from. If it expires Oct 2012 and you arent scheduled to use it until January 2013 then no, dont use it. We always keep unused product in the refrigerator. When Allergan ships it to us it is in a container to keep it refrigerated.
Once it is reconstituted (mixed with sterile water prior to use) then it is only good for a short time after that....So for the best results you should have the fresh (unexpired) product...
more
+1
Do not use expired Botox
It is not a good idea to transport botox back and forth. It is shipped to doctors on dry ice, mixed when needed. Do not use expired botox. .
+1
Botox expiration dates
It would be best to contact your treating physician, who I will assume does not live in the U.S. Physicians in the U.S. don't send our patients home with vials for fear of something happening to them - i.e.,a problem with temperature control, selling them to someone else, etc. In the U.S. we need to keep the vials ourselves and have strict guidelines to follow. I won't inject anything that's expired or any drug a patient brings in with them. That has to do with malpractice in the...
more
+1
How long for Botox expiration
Regardless of common knowledge, unless you get a written statement from the manufacturer it is unlikely that any US doctor will knowingly inject an expired drug. Good Luck
Michael L. Schwartz, MD
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1
Quite honestly, stored under ideal conditions, this product is probably good for years beyond that date.
You did not tell us where you live. In the United States because of concerns over medical malpractice, physicians will be reluctant to use an expired product. Hospital are even more cautious. Outside of the United States this is probably a bit less of an issue although this may very by location. You might want to contact your treating physician now and find out at this time if this will be an issue.
Doctors Nearby
Harold J. Kaplan, MD
4 recommendations
and
1,653 answers
View Website
RealSelf Sponsors
ADVERTISEMENT