Last November, The National Post reported that Alberta Health aims to eliminate 500 nursing jobs over the next three years in an effort to find efficiency in the budget.

Not surprisingly, we have had nurses come to us for guidance on how they can use their training and experience in the beauty industry.

Nurses working with injectables.

Nurses who join the beauty industry are often interested in offering injectables. Botox and fillers are amongst the fastest growing services in the beauty industry,

Alberta Health asks 3 questions when it comes to injectables:

1. Who can buy it?
2. Who prescribed it?
3. Who administers it?

If you a member of any college of nursing in Alberta (such as CARNA, CLPNA, or CPSA) you have to check with your college to see what you as a member are allowed to administer as a nursing professional.

If you want to provide aesthetic services, there are multiple medispas that hire RNs to administer injectables. For example, some spas work directly with doctors who are able to get and prescribe the injectables and the RN administers it.

Each manufacturer may have their own rules around a physician being present in the facility when injections are being administered. You will have to contact the manufacturers in question and inquire about their specific instructions.

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Cosmetic Botox® and Nurse Colleges

Botox is a Schedule 1 drug and therefore requires a prescription. Once a prescription has been written, it is currently up to each college to decide whether to allow their members to administer the drug, and under what conditions.

Botox® Manufacturer’s instructions

ALLERGAN’s instructions for use of Botox generally state that injections can only be given by physicians with the appropriate qualifications and experience in the treatment and the use of required equipment.

Who can buy it?

The sale of Botox is regulated federally. Only certain health professionals can purchase this drug legally.

Illegal Cosmetic Botox

Health Canada says is very interested in any inappropriate sales of Botox®. Alberta Health asks you report any suspected illegal sale of Botox.

Cosmetic Botox® and Alberta Health Violations

Alberta Health is not proposing a policy on the use of drugs in personal service settings, but, if reports arise that Botox is being offered in an unsanitary manner, steps will be taken by health inspectors to correct those violations.

The amended Personal Services Regulation and Standards require an operator using cosmetic Botox to follow any accompanying instructions for safe use.

Alberta Health Inspectors may also take referral steps if an inspector suspected irregularity with the purchase, prescription or administration of the drug. These referrals might be to a regulatory college, Health Canada, Alberta Health or to administrators the Pharmacy Act.

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Classification of Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers (Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres (PMMA) and Hyaluronic Acid) are neither a drug, nor a cosmetic. Rather they are a Class 3 medical device (given how far they are inserted into the body).

Sale of Class 3 medical devices

There are no restrictions placed on these devices by Health Canada as to who can sell them. Some manufacturer’s state that the fillers are only to be used by a health care practitioner.

Dermal fillers and Alberta Health

The newly updated Personal Services Standards regulate the use of fillers to require that they carry the product name, a list of ingredients and instructions for safe use. Also, any instructions for safe use must be followed by the operator.

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EXECUTIVE SPA GROUP

Beauty Industry Resource Centre

(780) 604-2772

info@executivespagroup.com

So you want to work with botox injections and fillers…

The popularity of cosmetic injections continues to grow immensely. The social media buzz over the treatments have helped them to become some of the most in demand treatments offered at dermatologist offices and medispas. First let’s take a look at these treatments and some of amazing things they can do:

BOTOX and DYSPORT

These are the two most widely used products that are erasing lines and wrinkles around the world. Prior to 2009 BOTOX® was the industry-leading injectable and go-to choice for establishments offering injections. Dysport launched in the summer of 2009 and has since been in direct competition with BOTOX. DYSPORT has surprisingly enough been holding it’s own and has become a serious contender in the battle against aging. These products both work by temporarily relaxing the muscles responsible for causing expression lines. The effect generally last anywhere from 3-6 months. Let’s take a look at some facts:

• BOTOX® Cosmetic is a trademarked product manufactured by a pharmaceutical company, Allergan Inc. Anyone who offers botox injections in their medispa is a consumer of this product, and the client in turn, is a consumer of the medispa.
• Allergan is the biggest manufacturer of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox).
• DYSPORT is made by Ispen Pharmaceuticals in Europe.
• Both of these companies also manufacture a wide variety of drugs including filler injectables.

FILLERS

Volume, volume, volume- this is what fillers do. The most popular fillers have an immediate plumping effect and are comprised of hyaluronic acid, a natural occurring sugar protein found in the skin. Lips, cheeks and nasal labial folds are a few of the most common areas that are injected. Results are immediate and depending on the brand can last anywhere from 6 months to 1.5 years. There are many different brands to choose from and with the treatments becoming so in demand, the variety continues to grow. Fillers plump the skin from the inside out and vary in molecular size which means some are specifically designed to treat certain areas. Fillers are also a wonderful treatment for deep, indented acne scarring. Some of the most popular choices for filler are:

• Restylane and Perlane which are manufactured by Ispen Pharmaceuticals.
• Juvederm, Juvederm Volbella and Juvederm VOLIFT which are manufactured by Allergan.
• Teosyal is another popular brand which offers a variety of different fillers to choose from depending on the area being injected including TEOXANE, REDENSITY and KISS.

These are a few of the most known and used plumping agents available although currently there are over 30 approved filler products approved by Health Canada.

Who regulates Allergan’s products, specifically, botox/filler injections, in Canada?

Health Canada is the ministry responsible for ensuring every drug prescribed to Canadians performs its purpose safely. By following the Food and Drugs Act and its associated cosmetic regulations, Health Canada regulates the safety, efficacy and quality of drugs and medical devices, including injections and fillers. Health Canada conducts post market surveillance on all marketed health products. Health Canada also monitors research on interactions between drugs, medical devices, natural health, and food products, and communicates information to health professionals and consumers about the risk of potential interactions. Manufacturers are required to provide Health Canada with reports of serious adverse reactions for health products they sell in Canada. Consumers and health professionals are also encouraged to report adverse reactions.

FYI

Clients who choose to receive BOTOX or DYSPORT injections must see an authorized doctor annually for a check up to ensure they are a candidate for treatment. Contact Executive Spa Group to add information.