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By: Kendall Upton
Botox® is on the rise, especially among young people in their 20s and 30s utilizing Botox as a preventative measure to deter the onset of facial wrinkles. Plus, aesthetic medicine’s clientele appears to be expanding—the term “Brotox” has rippled across social media vernacular in recent years, referring to the uptick in men who are opting for Botox.
Medical assistants support the basic administrative operations of healthcare facilities and can perform a variety of basic clinical duties. As they prepare for their careers, medical assisting students should familiarize themselves with their state’s scope of practice laws to ensure that they understand exactly what they can and cannot do once they’re out in the workforce.
What is Botox?
Botox is the brand name for a type of injectable neurotoxin which is primarily used to minimize face wrinkles.
“Neurotoxin treatments are the most popular single cosmetic procedure in the U.S. and are mainly used to smooth dynamic wrinkles, or those wrinkles that form as a result of facial movements like frowning, squinting, smiling and other expressions we tend to make day after day,” the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) states. “Treatment works by blocking nerve impulses to the muscles, causing them to relax. As a result, your expressions soften and the dynamic wrinkles are greatly reduced.”
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were over 4.7 million procedures of using botulinum toxin type A (which includes Botox, Dysport® and Xeomin®) in 2023.
Though most people think of Botox as a cosmetic treatment, it also has a variety of medical uses. For instance, it can help treat excessive sweating, migraines, muscle spasms, foot pain, overactive bladders and more.
When administered incorrectly, it can have numerous adverse effects including an uneven appearance, drooping eyelids, swelling and even vision problems. That’s why it’s absolutely imperative that only qualified health professionals administer Botox to patients.
Can medical assistants administer Botox?
No, medical assistants generally cannot perform Botox injections.
Scope of practice laws for medical assistants vary by state. Some states allow medical assistants to administer injections (such as vaccinations) under correct supervision. Others require medical assistants to obtain special credentials in order to give injections. But Botox isn’t just any injection—it’s a medical procedure that can only be performed by qualified professionals.
“While Botox has federal approval from the FDA, individual states determine who can administer it,” the American Association of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery (AAAMS) states. “In California, for example, licensed physicians are the only ones who can administer Botox and fillers without supervision. Other providers—like registered nurses (RNs), nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs)—can typically offer injections with a physician’s supervision or direction.”
According to the AAAMS, the following professions are authorized to give Botox injections:
“Medical and clinical assistants, aestheticians and other professionals outside of those listed above typically cannot perform injections with or without supervision,” the AAAMS states.
Can estheticians administer Botox?
Estheticians—which may be spelled aestheticians—are cosmetic professionals that specialize in providing skincare treatments and consultations. Common treatments include facials, chemical peels, hair removal, makeup applications and more.
Estheticians must be licensed by their state in order to practice, but these are not medical licenses.
“In the U.S., estheticians are not permitted to inject Botox, as it’s considered a medical procedure. Only professionals with a valid medical license can perform these injections,” the American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE) states. records specialists (of which medical coders are a part) also suggest that the demand for medical coders should remain strong. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics points out, for example, that as the population gets older, people live longer and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease continue to rise, the demand for medical care—and medical coders as a result—should follow suit.
Aesthetic medicine career paths
If you’re a current or hopeful medical assistant that is interested in aesthetic medicine, there are still many options available to you. Even though you won’t be administering Botox to patients, you can still seek out employment opportunities at plastic surgery clinics and dermatology clinics. These kinds of physician offices typically offer aesthetic/cosmetic procedures to patients.
If you want to expand your scope of practice and be more hands-on within the field, you might even consider becoming an RN. You’d have to go back to school for an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in nursing, but your experience as a medical assistant can definitely help make you a more competitive nursing school candidate.
Once you’ve become a licensed RN, you could also choose to pursue certifications through the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB) such as the Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) or a Certified Plastic Surgical Nurse (CPSN). Depending on your state’s laws, you may be able to administer Botox as an RN under the supervision of a physician.
Wrapping it up
Even though medical assistants can’t give Botox injections, there are ways for medical assistants to pursue a career within aesthetic medicine. Working in plastic surgery and/or dermatology offices, for example, may allow you to observe physicians administering Botox to patients, along with numerous other aesthetic and cosmetic procedures.
If you’re ever unsure about what you can do as a medical assistant, always refer back to your state’s scope of practice laws.
