Administering Botulinum Toxin Injections - Who is Qualified?

General rule

Botulinum toxin is a drug and as such should be treated as one when being prescribed and administered. Physicians possessing an MD or DO, and who are trained to administer botulinum toxin injection are clearly allowed to do so. 

Special training is offered to people who can both prescribe and administer the injections, such as Physicians Assistants (PAs) or Nurse Practitioners (NPs), as a good knowledge of anatomy is required and simply knowing where to inject and injecting the toxin is not sufficient. 

Qualified registered nurses who have been through the training can also offer injection treatments, under the supervision of a supervising physician.

In the United States, a number of different trained professionals can administer the injections. These include board-certified plastic surgeons and dermatologists who are trained in this area. 

Whatever the training they have received may be, it is still essential to look at their experience they possess i.e. the number of years they have been performing the procedure for. 

Eye plastic surgeons can also inject botulinum toxin, especially around the eyes. While most states require a doctor to prescribe and inject botulinum toxin, states like Texas and Florida allow for other health care professionals to inject as well, such as NPs and PAs.