Note: The contents of this post are current as of the post date. To remain current on legislations, please visit SOS TEXAS CODE.
Who Legally Can Inject Based on The Texas Medical Board RULE §193.17?
Not all MedSpa and Aesthetic Centers are created equal. In fact, you want to do your homework and have at least a basic understanding of who can perform certain cosmetic procedures in Houston under Texas law. With so many MedSpa and Cosmetic procedures being offered to supplement income for certain health and beauty establishments, you want to make sure you walk through the door of a reputable and safe establishment that knows what they’re doing, and you want to make sure they’re following the legal code of requirements.
So this might seem a bit boring to some, but please bear with us, as it’s important to at least know the basics when it comes to who can or cannot legally inject for cosmetic procedures before any practitioner puts her or his hands on you.
What is the Purpose of Texas Administrative Code RULE §193.17?
As outlined in Texas Medical Board RULE §193.17 – Nonsurgical Medical Cosmetic Procedures:
“the purpose is to establish the duties and responsibilities of a physician who performs or who delegates the performance of a nonsurgical medical cosmetic procedure… These procedures can result in complications, and the performance of these procedures is the practice of medicine. This rule shall not be interpreted to allow individuals to perform procedures without a physician or midlevel practitioner being onsite, or a physician being available for emergency consultation or appointment in the event of an adverse outcome.”
Who Can Legally Inject for Cosmetic Procedures in Texas?
Per the Texas RULE §193.17, while qualified unlicensed personnel may perform procedures there are a number of factors that determine who can legally Inject in Texas. First, locations must have oversight by a Physician and that Physician must be properly trained, including hands-on training, prior to delegating a procedure. Second, if the procedure is not being performed by a physician or mid-level practitioner (Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant) performing procedures under delegation of the physician, the patient must have a Good Faith Exam, written orders, and created or approved protocols (these must be completed annually. Lastly, the physician must be on site when procedures are performed or available in the event of an emergency.
DermaTouch RN takes it a step further to ensure client safety…
While we feel this is a good start at DermaTouch RN, and we comply with these requirements, we take this a step further to protect our client’s safety. Injectable treatments are only performed at our facilities by Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners. All of our providers have extensive nursing backgrounds, having worked in high acuity roles in their past including emergency rooms, labor and delivery centers, cardiac rehab, and plastic surgery operating rooms.
Not only should patients have a high level of confidence in our staff’s knowledge, but they should also know that should something go wrong, they are in the hands of someone adequately prepared to handle the situation.
Additionally, we are very proud of our long standing relationship with our Medical Director. The law simply states the physician completes training, but again, we take it a step further by partnering with a physician with decades of plastic surgery experience, giving us and our patients the resources needed if things don’t go as planned.
When is it illegal to inject in Texas?
Per the definitions above, only a physician or midlevel practitioner—a physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse—can diagnose and prescribe for cosmetic procedures such as fillers, Botox, and any procedure that requires numbing injections, and so forth. The physician or midlevel practitioner can delegate to an unlicensed professional only if “a physician or midlevel practitioner is onsite during the procedure” or “a delegating physician is available for emergency consultation in the event of an adverse outcome, and if the physician considers it necessary, be able to conduct an emergency appointment with the patient.”
It’s tough for the medical board to police all of the physicians who utilize illegal practices unless they are turned in to the medical board by another organization or individual.
Who Do You Prefer for Your Filler or Botox Injections?
All things considered above, having a licensed, qualified physician or registered nurse backed by experience is the preference when it comes to conducting cosmetic procedures; and don’t be fooled, in some establishments, the registered nurse has more skill and experience than the physician does when it comes to injections, so ask about experience.
DermaTouch RN has a highly trained staff backed by years of experience in cosmetic procedures, including Founder and Director of Nursing, Renee Moschitto, RN, BSN, and Medical Director, R. Scott Yarish, MD and Board Certified Medical Surgeon. DermaTouch RN’s treatment and care for the patient is unprecedented for MedSpas today, with national recognition from patients.
For more information about the DermaTouch RN team, visit our About page.
For more information about Texas Medical Board RULE §193.17 visit SOS TEXAS CODE.
DermaTouch RN offers minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments for men and women in Houston, San Antonio, Spring and Cypress, as well as the surrounding areas of Texas. We are the largest aesthetic practice in the Houston area, and all of our medical spa treatments are performed by a team of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and aestheticians who receive continuing education to remain abreast of emerging treatments that benefit our patients. We invite you to learn more about our office before your consultation.
