Can a dentist give a botox shot?
The Dutch Association of Cosmetic Medicine (NVCG) has taken note with interest of the ruling by the Regional Disciplinary Tribunal for Healthcare in Amsterdam on April 16, 2019. In this ruling, the Tribunal judged that dentists are only authorized to administer injections insofar as these have a dental purpose.
Giving botox and filler shots in the face for cosmetic reasons does not serve a dental purpose. In the opinion of the disciplinary judge, dentists are therefore not authorized to perform these injections,' says Dr. Catharina Meijer, cosmetic doctor and chairwoman of the NVCG for the past 4 years.
The NVCG is concerned about the proliferation of dentists who incorrectly perform medical cosmetic treatments in the face. The NVCG is very satisfied with the fact that the Disciplinary Tribunal has now made it clear that dentists are not allowed to perform these treatments. Dentists are not medical doctors and are therefore not authorized to perform these treatments under the BIG Act. The NVCG trusts that the Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate will enforce action against dentists who continue to offer these treatments.
Through the efforts of the government, the NVCG, and other medical specialisms, the regulation of the cosmetic sector for medical doctors has significantly improved. The greater danger now seems to come from non-doctors, including dentists and also beauty specialists. For example, the so-called hyaluron pen is popular among beauty specialists. With this device, fillers are not injected but 'shot' through the skin under high pressure, with the risk of skin necrosis and other complications. 'The NVCG advocates for tightening legislation to protect patients against existing and new medical techniques performed by non-doctors. For example, the supply of Fillers, Botox, and medical equipment to unauthorized individuals should be subject to strict regulations,' says Dr. Catharina Meijer.
Medical doctors are authorized under the BIG Act to perform injection treatments, including Botox and fillers, provided they are competent. Doctors can acquire this competence by undertaking additional training and gaining sufficient experience.
To become a recognized, a 2-year training program must be followed. Until now, it has been difficult for patients to know which doctor is authorized and competent for Botox and filler treatments. The NVCG is therefore very pleased that, as of July 1st, the profile specialization of cosmetic medicine will finally be a reality. After July 1st, cosmetic doctors who are registered as profile specialists will demonstrably be authorized and competent for Botox and filler treatments. Source: blikopnieuws.nl
