Is a MD/Doc of Med. & Brd Certified in Fam Med doing Botox on the side a good choice for Botox? Or is a plastic surgeon better?

Question

First Botox apt next week for my forehead lines. Terrified of a droopy eye or brow. So many doctors to choose from. Is a MD/Doc of Med. & Brd Certified in Fam Med doing Botox on the side a good choice for Botox? Or is a plastic surgeon better? Needing some good advice how to avoid droopy brow or eye. Also, Specific Pre&post Botox instructions from doctors and patience wld help.

Arnold Almonte, DO · Answer

The real question is, "who has done more Botox injections?" Experience and repetition are what make any practitioner good. Botox injections are performed by family docs as well as plastic surgeons. The question to ask your doc is "how many have you done?". Truth is, the more the better. There are many plastics surgeons who don't do Botox. They primarily reconstructive surgery, or micro surgery, or hand surgery. So even though they are board certified plastic surgeons, they would not be the right Doctor for your Botox treatment. I suggest a facial cosmetic surgeon is best. Good luck!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

you will get a great result with a well trained board certified physician.  I suggest you see an expert.  Less is more with botox to start.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

You already now the answer to that question.  Your gut is telling you that a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon has been TRAINED to performed BOTOX by the SURGEONS at their RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM.  A Family Doc has been shown how to do the procedure by the SALES REP who is NOT TRAINED in PLASTIC SURGERY.  It is truly the blind leading the blind.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

I would always suggest a board certified physician who is a dermatologist and is experienced with cosmetic facial injections.  To avoid side effects and droopy eyelids is really best to seek an expert.  Best, Dr. Green

Edwin Ishoo, MD · Answer

Is a family medicine the right doctor if you need your hernia repaired, or gall bladder removed or brain surgery or torn knee ligaments?

Melvin Elson, MD · Answer

There are many doctors and even non-doctors doing Botox--you don't know how or even if they were trained. You should see a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. See my latest book Skin Scam

Richard Ort, MD · Answer

Botox is a safe treatment with low risk for side effects.  That being said, you are best off going to a doctor in one of the "core" cosmetic specialties such as dermatology or plastic surgery.  Also, be aware that many doctors have a nurse do Botox and filler injections in their office.  This defeats the whole purpose of going to a core doctor in the first place.  In my office, I perform all Botox and filler injections myself.

Todd C. Miller, MD · Answer

Hi Luvfit, this is a very good question. The most important factor to consider when considering different doctors to do your Botox is experience. If you know a family practice physician who has a lot of experience with Botox with good results, then you should be fine. One of the best injectors I know is a nurse practitioner who has done thousands of Botox injections. If he is just doing Botox "on the side" then I would be more inclined to see a facial plastic surgeon who has a very extensive understanding of facial anatomy.

Matthew Elias, DO, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  There are 4 core aesthetic physicians, Dermatologists, Plastic Surgeons, ENT Facial Plastic Surgeons, and Oculoplastic Surgeons.  Any of these would be a good choice for Botox injections and will have sufficiently more knowledge in the anatomy, treatment, and desired results in aesthetic procedures.  Unfortunately, due to declining reimbursements in medicine, many physicians are practicing outside of their scope of practice and taking up aesthetic procedures for which they have very little to no training.  This would be like going to Gynecologist to get yours eye checked, hey if an optometrist (not a medical doctor) can do it and I am a physician with way more training than them I should be able to do it too, it does not work like that.  That being said there are some expert injectors who are not of these core specialties but all in all you are better off sticking with the physicians who are trained in this field and practice it on a regular basis.  Regards, Dr. Matt Elias

Wesley T. Myers, MD · Answer

Thank you for your
question. You are always better off seeking treatment from a board certified plastic
surgeon when it comes to Botox injections and facial filler. I recommend that
you make an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon in your area to
discuss your treatment options.

Is a MD/Doc of Med. & Brd Certified in Fam Med doing Botox on the side a good choice for Botox? Or is a plastic surgeon better?

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