Finding a Botox Injector - What Sort of Credentials Should I Look For?

So who is better qualified to do your botox injections? Let’s keep this practical as possible; it is about the individual…the injectionist. I would recommend a board certified plastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon, or dermatologist. Do your homework and thoroughly check into his/her background. Specifically: Find out where he/she went to medical school, residency training, and fellowship training. Confirm that she/he is board certified and by what organization.... more

Check the doctor for board certification in one of a few fields. They should at least be a plastic surgeon, a facial plastic, and oculoplastic or a dermatologist. Period, end of story.

Botox treatment is an art and a science. The provider should be very knowledgeable about the anatomy, the chemistry and side effects. The artistry comes from both experience and an innate sense of observational skills and an interest in the physician or provider to learn constantly and improve on the outcome. There are nurses and physician assistants who perform these treatments but they should be under the supervision of a licensed physician. Dermatologists have been performing Botox for... more

Liz, First of all, many types of doctors are now doing botox injections (including family practice, OB GYN, anesthesia, etc.) that are not formally trained to do the injections (they may have learned it in a weekend course). Also, many health spas and medi-spas may have individuals (often not doctors) that are also doing Botox injections in a casual environment of a spa rather than in a medical office. Finally, some doctors utilize "nurse injectors" that actually do the... more

Hi Lizamarie, In choosing a physician to administer Botox, you want someone who is preferably trained, experienced, and board certified in a cosmetically oriented specialty such as facial plastic surgery, plastic surgery, ENT, opthalomoplastic surgery, or dermatology. This past summer I treated UK correspondent Kate Spicer on her BBC documentary "Super Botox Me" when she visited Los Angeles. "SuperBotoxMe" aired on your Channel 4 in August. You can see that clip at... more

Liz: You really want to find out how long the practitioner has been injecting Botox. Remember that there are many varieties of "plastic surgeons" and not all are equally experienced. There are Facial Plastic Surgeons, General Plastic Surgeons, and Ophthalmic Plastic or Oculoplastic Surgeons. Many of these plastic surgeons, and dermatologists have a lot of experience injecting Botox, but individuals within each subspecialty may not. The question is whether they have been... more

Liz, A personal reference is probably the best answer. Beyond ensuring that the injector is a plastic surgeon or dermatologist, there is no real "certification" that can help you determine who is the best injector in your area. On my website - linked below - I list several questions to ask your injector prior to undergoing the procedure. Good luck. David Shafer, MD New York City