Botox for the bank balance

Just a couple of hours a week can really fatten up your wallet � to the tune of $2,000

By Marcello Palmieri

"I'm the number one user of Botox in all of Canada," proclaims Dr Mark Baily, a family physician turned full-time Botox guru. After learning about the many uses and benefits of the 'miracle' therapy, Dr Baily traded in his stethoscope for a Botox-filled syringe and got to work smoothing his patients' unsightly wrinkles and sagging brows. And it's not just limited to cosmetic applications. Dr Baily also uses it to treat conditions from hyperhidrosis to myofascial pain syndrome and headaches.

Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) and although there are several subtypes, ranging from A through F, only BTX-A is commercially available in Canada. The cosmetic uses for the toxin were first discovered in 1987 by Dr Jean Carruthers, a pediatric ophthalmologist from Vancouver. It got the okay from Health Canada in 2001 for a wide range of indications and has a long list of off-label applications, including drooling and chronic motor tics.

The basic idea behind Botox is to immobilize certain areas of the body so it won't wrinkle or spasm uncontrollably. Once Botox is injected into a muscle, it blocks the release of acetylcholine � a protein that conducts nerve impulses. The end result is that the muscle doesn't receive the message from the brain telling it to move. Dr Baily cautions, however, that Botox isn't a quick fix. The effects are temporary and can last anywhere from three to eight months.

Aside from working with patients, Dr Baily also helps family doctors generate some extra cash by training them on how to use Botox in their practices. After developing a partnership with Dr Sharon McQuillan, medical director of Ageless Health Inc in Columbus, Ohio, the two have trained hundreds of doctors in both Canada and the US.

They offer a CME course that provides individualized training for physicians and their assistants. Trainees can get up to three days of hands-on Botox experience, either from the comfort of their office or in a group setting in their area.

Day one focuses on the most common therapeutic uses of BTX-A and teaches the injection technique in the treatment of headaches and myofascial pain, to name a few.

The second day deals with the cosmetic use of BTX-A and the last day explores the use of facial fillers for esthetic enhancement. So what's the cost? The complete three-day package comes with a $6,000 price tag while two days of training will cost you $4,500. If that puts too much of a dent in your wallet, it's possible to opt for a one-day session at $2,500.

And the investment should pay-off in the long run. According to one figure on Dr Baily's website (www.totalbotox.com), the average profit per Botox treatment is $345. It's possible to do three treatments per hour, which adds up to a whopping $1,035. If a doctor does just two hours per week, the yearly profit comes to a staggering $107,640. Not too shabby for a couple of hours of work on the side.

So for all those docs out there who are unsatisfied with their current paychecks, adding Botox to your practice will get you that summer cottage a whole-lot quicker.