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Mercy plastic surgeon Dr. Craig Vander Kolk

Mercy's Dr. Craig Vander Kolk, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Discusses New Regulations For Administering Botox

New regulations in Maryland classify Botox as a medical procedure and have tightened the rules on how to administer it for safety reasons.

Botox injections are one of the most popular and widely used cosmetic procedures worldwide.

According to plastic surgeon Dr. Craig Vander Kolk of Mercy Medical Center's Plastic & Reconstructive Center at Weinberg, the new rules are all about safety.

"When a person comes in to have Botox, wherever they get it, they want to know that person has experience, has been trained to do it and that it's safe," DR. Vander Kolk said.

A physician has to be a part of the process under the new rules, and they have to be trained in the procedure.

"What they want is people that are trained. You can no longer just be trained by Allergan, the maker of Botox," he said. "Botox, if not done properly, can damage someone's face and cause sagging from the muscles. It is botulism, and you're injecting it into the muscles."

Kelly Steinhorn, 38, said she wants to keep her skin nice for a long time, and she's a big fan of Botox, which she's used for several years.

"Usually, it's the forehead and between the eyes," she said.

Steinhorn said she has been going to Mercy's Medispa for Botox for a long time. She likes knowing that her physician's assistant, Meg Fox, is board certified for the procedure.

Dr. Vander Kolk suggested those interested in the procedure should ask about the training of the person administering Botox, how experienced they are and who the physician overseeing their care is.

To view Dr. Vander Kolk's interview with WBAL-TV11 on this topic, click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/25799751/detail.html