Who is Legally Allowed to Buy Botox?

Thank you for your question. You must be a licensed physician to purchase Botox from the manufacturer or through a medical supply distributor.  There is a lot of education and training that is required to inject Botox. Please refer to a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist to do your injections.

In Canada, Botox is able to be administered by a licensed medical professional with training in performing the procedure. This can include doctors, dentists or nurses. However, the product can only be purchased by a medical doctor.

Remember, it's not just the Botox, but the injector. If a nurse does it and he or she is delivering the treatment under supervision of a physician in the office, there is better quality control. The practice is probably purchasing the Botox from Allergan under the license of one of the physicians. Counterfeit Botox could be sold to non-licensed individuals. Allergan can sell Botox to any licensed MD or DO but there is no restriction as to which specialty. Each state has its own laws as to who can inject substances, such as MDs / DOs, RNs, etc.

Dentists are also licensed to purchase and use BOTOX although many state dental boards restrict this practice.  There are not states in the United States that permit nurses to purchase and administer BOTOX.  How do spas with only nurses offering services get these products?  Often they have an illegal arrangement with a licensed physician.

Thank you for your question. You must be a licensed physician to purchase Botox from the manufacturer or through a medical supply distributor.  There is a lot of education and training that is required to inject Botox. Please refer to a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist to do your injections. Best of luck!