With more men and women across different age groups availing of Botox treatment to look younger, you may be looking to get your hands on generic Botox and commission, say, a “trained” wellness practitioner at your local spa to administer the injections for you, so you can save money. As harmless as your desire is to reap the benefits of this FDA-approved procedure, this proposition may pose some health risks.
First of all, there is no such thing as generic Botox in the market. Botox, also known as onabotulinumtoxinA, is under the patent of Allergan Pharmaceuticals and under existing laws on biologics, which means that other manufacturers are not allowed to create generic Botox injections. Biologics are drugs made from living organisms. In the case of Botox, it’s created using the toxin of live bacteria (Clostridium botulinum) is used.
You may be thinking that the patent for Botox will eventually expire, or that existing laws and rules on biologics can change which will open up the market for generic Botox. However, know that the Botox treatment administered by licensed physicians is made from highly purified botulinum toxin protein. In other words, these Botox injections have undergone the most stringent QA standards, and have a record of experience that physicians know and trust.
Furthermore, regardless of whether you’ve managed to purchase genuine vials of Botox, you will still need an experienced physician to administer the injections for you. This is because the serious side effects of Botox can be life threatening, and should anything go wrong while you’re taking them, like getting an allergic reaction, a licensed and trained doctor should be able to respond to your medical emergency immediately.
All in all, Botox works and you can reap its skin-defying benefits if you take no shortcuts to the procedure, and consult an experienced physician like Dr. Tang.
To schedule an appointment, contact us at (408) 740-5320.