How to Tell if Your BOTOX® Practitioner Is Properly Trained

Summary of Content

Click on the links below to jump to each section:

• Who can prescribe BOTOX®?
• Who can administer BOTOX® injections?
• Do you have to be a nurse to do BOTOX®?
• Medical practitioners specialising in aesthetics offer the best results
• Checking the qualifications of your practitioner
• What degree do you need to give BOTOX® injections?
• Insurance
• Checklist

There is a wide range of practitioners out there offering anti-wrinkle treatments, but how do you ensure that the one you choose is safe, and how do you identify which ones have adequate training or experience?

Below is a guide that will answer some commonly asked questions and deliver facts to make your decision as concern-free as possible.

Who can prescribe BOTOX®?

BOTOX® is a prescription-only medicine; therefore, it is licensed and regulated under current UK drug legislation.

Botulinum Toxin should only be prescribed following a consultation with one of the professionals below. During this process, it is important that your medical history is reviewed in order to assess suitability for treatment.

• Doctors
• Nurse prescribers
• Pharmacist prescribers
• Dentists

Who can administer BOTOX®?

Botox injections in the UK can legally be given by anyone. BOTOX® can only be prescribed by a medical professional such as a Nurse Prescriber but there are no regulations around this treatment which means the actual treatment can be performed by anyone no matter what their level of training is, if any! It is also the prescriber’s responsibility to make sure the anti-wrinkle treatment is delivered safely.

To help you navigate around some of the terminology used in this sector, we have included a list of professional titles alongside a brief explanation of their roles:

What degree do you need to give BOTOX® injections?

There are no legal restrictions currently to set out minimum training levels for those performing Botox (and Dermal Filler) injections which means anyone can legally perform the treatment no matter what their training is.

You do not need a degree to give Botox injections, however, Botox is a prescription only drug in the UK and therefore can only be prescribed by someone who is qualified to write a prescription which includes a doctor or a nurse who has completed a NMC Independent Nurse Prescribing Course which may also be referred to as a V300 course.

Although there are no legal restrictions, there are best practice guidelines that have been put together by the Health Education England (HEE) as part of their Qualification Requirements for Delivery of Cosmetic Procedures. This details that individuals should complete a level 6 or 7 qualification which are equivalent to degree and postgraduate qualifications.

When it comes to employing nurses and doctors to work at our clinics, we like to ensure that they are appropriately qualified to carry out Botox injections to a standard that we are happy with. We only employ doctors and nurses who have been trained and specialise in medical aesthetic procedures and are registered with a medical body.

Checking the qualifications of a practitioner

It is important to check the qualifications of any healthcare professional you are considering using. Trained practitioners bring experience and expertise to the procedure, and operate within professional codes of conduct under a statutory organisation. Such professionals are also more likely to keep up with the latest developments in the sector, be it new products or training, and will be able to guarantee that their products are from reputable and trusted suppliers.

There are a number of professional registers available to the public that can be used to check the qualifications of medical practitioners:

Insurance

One benefit of ensuring that your consultant is part of a registered health body — beyond the guarantee of competency — relates to insurance. Health bodies such as the General Medical Council (GMC) require that all members have up-to-date medical insurance or indemnity.

For example, new GMC regulations announced, mean the Council now has powers to:

• Follow up concerns that a doctor is practising in the UK without insurance by calling for evidence of their policy
• Stop doctors practising by removing their licence if evidence is found that they do not hold the proper insurance or indemnity
• Deny doctors a licence if they cannot provide sufficient assurance that they will have in place the correct insurance once practising in the UK

Checklist

Here is a checklist that should be completed before agreeing to choose a practitioner for any non-surgical cosmetic treatments:

It is important that you feel completely comfortable with your choice of practitioner and procedure. Always thoroughly research your options and never rush into a decision. For the best results, choose a practitioner that you trust and who you can easily talk to about the procedure and any other concerns.

At The Cosmetic Skin Clinic, all consultations are conducted by one of our experienced doctors or nurses trained in aesthetics. During this time, a thorough medical consultation will be carried out. The patient may then go on to have the prescribed treatment that same day, or may decide to reschedule the treatment for a time in the future. We offer anti-ageing injectable treatments in both our clinics in London, near Harley Street and Buckinghamshire. Our Botox Bucks treatments and Botox London treatments have been rated as some of the best in the industry in Tatler’s annual Cosmetic Surgery guide.