New company offers at-home Botox injections in Windsor-Essex

A new company is offering to fix fine lines and wrinkles in the comfort and privacy of people's homes.

Gotox is a mobile Botoxbusiness created by Josie Zakaria, a nurse practitioner at the Windsor Regional Hospital.

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"I just bring a little bag with me and carry everything," she explained."Botox is actually the safest non-surgical medical cosmetic technique out there."

Before she began her mission of smoothing appearances and soothing self-criticism, Zakaria said she got the green light from the Ontario College of Nurses and took a training course.

"Basically a nurse or nurse practitioner can practice in any setting as long as they're competent and have procedures in place," she explained.

Dermatologist raises concerns

Dr. Daniel Radin, a Tecumseh-based dermatologist who also does Botox treatment, praised the business savvy behind the mobile medical business, but said he has some concerns.

"Personally, I believe only a doctor should be doing injections," he explained. "We know the anatomy."

Zakariasays her education and trainingallowher to give Botox in a completely safe manner.

"I think within the nurse practitioner standards, we're able to differentiate anatomy as well," she said.

Radin also raised questions about regulation from the College of Nurses. He worries about maintaining proper hygiene levels in people's homes.

"There are bacteria, there are children and pets in houses," he said. "It's not like everyone is getting their house cleaned by Molly Maid."

Zakariabrings hospital-grade cleaning products during all her visits to ensure her work areas are clean, saying there are many other invasive medical procedures done in homes, particularly because of expanded home-care programs.

"People are having sterile cathetersput in [at their]homes, people are having dialysisin their homes," she said. "Botox doesn't need a sterile environment, it just needs a clean environment."

Radin also had concerns about medical emergencies, such as a patient developing complications or passing out during the procedure.

Zakariaprepares for those situations as well by always carrying emergency medication with her, just in case someone has an allergic reaction or is experiencing any side effects.

Her mobile office is just as safe as any office where people go to get Botox, she explained.

More than a dozen served

Zakaria said she's been cleared by the Ontario College of Nurses to proceed with her business andhas already served more than a dozen clients ranging from women in their early 20s and 30s to men in their 40s and 50s.

"They're noticing fine lines around their eyes or on their foreheads that are bothering them," she said. "Botox is used to prevent getting those deep, static lines you can see later in life."

Zakaria said as far as she knows, Gotox is the only company offering the service in the area and she expects to stay busy as Botox is booming.

"I think it's becoming more popular," she said. "I think it's becoming more acceptable and more normal."