Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

Dear Dr. Lam, I have been reading that recently it has come out that a Botox bottle is supposed to be only for one patient and not multiple patients. The bottle states that it is for single use for one patient.The risk is that the bottle will be contaminated and pass a disease from one patient to another. The company that makes botox has known about this being done, but has never issued an alert to doctors or patients. Patients are being advised to demand that a new bottle be used and to observe the injector destroying the rest of the bottle.

What do you think about this? Are you using the botox bottle for single patient use? If so, does this increase the price of botox?

That is literally insane. First of all, I go through 5 to 10 bottles oftentimes in a single day. Botox is so expensive that to use one bottle on each patient and waste the rest would be psychotically cost prohibitive. I have never had an infection and do not reuse needles or something crazy like that. I use Botox sterilely and keep it refrigerated. It is absolutely clean. For me to charge a $1000 for a single area is crazy. I oftentimes use close to a full bottle on a patient anyway (not quite but close).

Remember that Allergan (who makes Botox) has a financial incentive for them to sell more of their ridiculously priced product. Their warning is to use the bottle within several hours of opening the bottle because the product no longer works. i believe that is still their position on the matter. Clinical studies have shown that the efficacy of Botox does not even diminish a little after 2 to 3 weeks with an open bottle. Now, obviously, I go through multiple bottles in a day so that I don't ever keep a bottle that long. However, it is interesting to show again how the company's policy is completely misaligned with reality because there is tremendous financial gain on their part to have someone throw out a bottle after a few hours. This is crazy too. No study supports that.

best,
sml

[quote="dr. lam"] I use Botox sterilely and keep it refrigerated. It is absolutely clean. For me to charge a $1000 for a single area is crazy. I oftentimes use close to a full bottle on a patient anyway (not quite but close).sml[/quote]

Dear Doctor, as I told you, I can tell the injectable filler is used on me only, etc. etc. but I think my doctor uses botox for man patients. How do I know itis kept sterilized? What should I ask him? what do you do and what should he do for me to feel safe that it is really sterilized? I want to know what type of answer I should expect, and not just hear that "yes, sure" but notknow if it is enough what the doc does.
Thanks
(Does it tire you that we ask so much? If so, forgive me!)

don't worry about the questions. that's why i'm here. as far as keeping sterile botox, it is just like everything else, i.e., a surgeon should perform sterile procedures. i think you just need to go to someone you trust. it is assumed that all surgeons use sterile technique. that should be a given. asking a surgeon that question would be a bit insulting and in my opinion hopefully unnecessary.

[quote="dr. lam"]don't worry about the questions. that's why i'm here. as far as keeping sterile botox, it is just like everything else, i.e., a surgeon should perform sterile procedures. i think you just need to go to someone you trust. it is assumed that all surgeons use sterile technique. that should be a given. asking a surgeon that question would be a bit insulting and in my opinion hopefully unnecessary.[/quote]

Ah, ok! thanks for clarifying!

My doc is so trustworthy with fillers, he must very careful with botox too... you are right, he might feel offended when it would not be fair to him because he does everything so "cleanly" in terms of injectable, for sure.
Hugs

perfect!