Is It Recommended or Safe for Nurses to Administer Botox?

asked 2 years ago by gidge123 in Silicon Valley
Latest answer by Nissan Pilest, MD
Question viewed 1,018 times
Tags: injector

I've noticed that many offices have nurses administer Botox. Is it recommended/safe for nurses to administer Botox or should a physician complete the procedure?

7 answers to Is It Recommended or Safe for Nurses to Administer Botox?

Nurses tend to do better at Botox injections than plastic surgeons as a general rule

Dermatologists tend to be the very best when it comes to injecting things into the skin such as botox and fillers or cortisone injections for scars. Plastic surgeons don't do so well so they tend to have their nurses do the shots for them but some can do a decent job . Experience is very important when you want good results.

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

Nurse Administration of Botox - is it safe or recommended?

There's safe and safer. I'm sure there are many nurses who are quite adept at placement of Botox for the effects you want and some are excellent walking medical encyclopedia that many doctors would envy. The important issue is - in the rare event that some kind of adverse response occurs, will a nurse have the know-how to handle it correctly? I've always performed all Botox and dermal filler injections in my practice because I know what steps would need to be taken in the event of any... more

Nissan Pilest, MD
Irvine Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox, Nurse or Physician Injector?

Hi Gidge, I must echo Dr. Waldman's comments. I inject all of my patients. Of the thousands of injections I have performed, there was one that required a rapid response that prevented a severe complication. I (and my patient) am most thankful that I was there to treat my patient and avoid any long term problems. Although it seems that "anyone" can perform injections, for the "one in a million (or thousands in my case)" occasion, I would want a very experienced physician... more

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Provided that certain conditions are met, it is legal in California

Dear Gidge Nurses in California can perform BOTOX injections. It has to be under the supervision of a physician. In California this mean that the doctor needs to perform a good faith examination prior to treatment. They need to make an order for the treatment, and they need to physically be in the office when the treatment is performed. This means that if you go to your hairdresser and you are offered treatment by a nurse and there is no doctor present, this is not legal. Even if the... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

I want a Doctor working on Me!

Considering the money that is typically charged for injectable treatments I personally would want a physician working on me! Most doctors I know will do the treatments themselves. But I do find it fascinating that some that scream the loudest about making sure that you go to a Board Certified Specialist are the same ones that will then turn you over to an RN with two years of education following high school. This nurse is certainly not a Board Certified Specialist! This is simply one of... more

S. Randolph Waldman, MD
Lexington Facial Plastic Surgeon

Nurses can be expert injectors

Your question hits a touchy subject for some folks. Since Botox (and Dysport) are only legally dispensed to a physician, nurse injectors must work under the supervision and authority of an MD, who is ultimately responsible. The laws vary by state but most allow nurses to do it if these criteria are met. The reason it is sensitive is that one school of thought holds that only physicians are truly qualified; however, the reality is that in some clinics nurses do far more injecting than the... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Experience is important for your Botox injector

The real key is the experience of your injector. The laws vary by state. In some states registered nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can inject Botox under the supervision and protocols provided by a licensed physician. A physicians license is necessary to purchase Botox(legally). I would ask about your injectors experience. How long has he/she been doing it? How many patients are injected on a weekly basis? Who is the supervising physician and are they available if... more

John E. Gross, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

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