Is It Ok for a Medical Technician to Inject Botox or Juvederm?

In a number of states, Botox can be injected by non-physicians. These may include RN's etc. Some are very experienced and some are not. This is a medical procedure with a very safe but strong medication. Do you want to take chances with your face to save a few dollars? I would inquire on the experience of the injector and supervision, if this is in doubt I suggest you seek a qualified physician with experience in Botox treatments. The core specialties include Plastic Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, Oculoplastic Surgery and Dermatologic Surgery.

Botox and Juvederm are medical products that can only be administered by a licensed doctor or nurse, whatever their speciality may be. However, it's always best to find an injector who is experienced and has knowledge of the skin.

Every state has different rules as to who legally can perform injections. Aside from this authority once given by the state, the individual, whether physician or nurse or physician's assistant (P.A.), should have a thorough understanding of the anatomy of the areas they are treating. Botox is very safe but side effects can happen and they can last for up to a few months. Asymmetry (unequal results from side to side), drooping of the upper eyelid, or even lip, can occur with incorrect placement, volume or dose. These can be very troubling, even though temporary, to the patient. In general, physicians have the best understanding of the anatomy and may be better suited to perform those slightly different injection techniques or use different areas for insertion depending on each individual's nuances.

Different states regulate who can inject fillers like Juvederm and Restylane as well as neuromodulators like Botox. Fortunately, these products are extremely safe so even inexperienced injectors or non-physicians can inject them safely the vast majority of the time. There are some non-physicians who are even better than physicians. The bottom line is who is supervising these services should a problem arise and the reputation of the professional injecting you. Generally, usually a nurse or physician injects these products so I am not sure what the regulations are in your state.

Dear Leistad
If you really want to get to the bottom of this, I suggest you contact the Georgia Composite Medical Board. Generally, most States do not recognize this type of medispa as legal. In California for example a nurse can perform these injections but only by a good faith examination by a physician who is on the premises. This means that all those medispas with nurses but no doctors are illegal operations.
What can go wrong? Nurses are not intimately familar with the anatomy of the face. An injection placed incorrectly could lead to blindness or skin necrosis. Your "medical technician" is going to have even less knowledge of anatomy. Can you really trust someone who is breaking the law by operating such a practice. If they are will to "bend" the rules is this fashion to make a buck, what else are they are they doing.
Many of these facilities are not properly licensed medical offices so there is no oversight of how they handle the disposal of the used needles. These are hazardous medical wastes. In a medical office used sharps are carefully packaged into tamper proof containers and removed by certified medical waste haulers so these dangerous materials do not end up in a dumpster in an alley or on a beach some where. This type of waste handling is very expensive but it protects the public.
Not surprisingly, many medispas fly under the radar including the improper handling of these medical wastes. This is just a single example of how these illegal business cut corners.