How Long Can You Keep Botox in a Medical Fridge?

Botox can be kept in a medical fridge for up to four weeks whilst retaining its potency, so long as the correct storage requirements are met.

In order for Botox to remain safe for administration, it must be stored between a specific temperature range, and that is why a dedicated medical fridge must be used.

Below, we take a closer look at the temperature range Botox must be stored between, and how you, as a cosmetic health practitioner, can ensure that this temperature is maintained.

Botox Should be Stored Within the Cold-Chain Temperature Range

The standard temperature range for storing products used for non-invasive cosmetic procedures, such as administering Botox, is between +2°C to +8°C. This is also known as cold-chain conditions. 

The only way to be certain this temperature range can be maintained is to use a dedicated medical fridge. 

Unlike commercial fridges, medical fridges come fitted with state-of-the-art thermometers that measure the temperature inside the fridge as well as the temperature of the products being stored inside.

If the temperature they record falls below or rises above the required range at any time, an alarm will sound to alert cosmetic surgery practitioners.

This allows them to intervene and take action to ensure the products being stored inside – in this case, Botox – are not damaged beyond the point of use.

Botox Must be Stored Correctly

While medical fridges are capable of maintaining a very specific temperature range, products must also be stored correctly if they are to be kept in a usable condition within the four week time frame.

To do this, cosmetic products should have 1cm of space left between them and products should not touch the back or side of the fridge, as this can lead to freezing. 

The medical fridge should also never be more than 75% full, and Botox should be kept in its packaging to prevent light damage from occurring, especially if the fridge has a glass door. Allowing light to penetrate the Botox can lead to a loss of potency and can result in ineffective results.

Fridge cleanliness is also important too. External surfaces such as handles should be wiped down daily, while the inside of the fridge should be fully cleaned twice a month to help avoid any cross-contamination.

Temperature Monitoring is Key to Safe Botox Storage

The final factor required for the safe storage of Botox products is daily temperature monitoring and logging.

Cosmetic surgery practitioners must log the temperature of the fridge used to store Botox at least twice per day. Most practitioners do this first thing in the morning and at the end of the day.

This is to ensure the temperature has not fallen outside of the required cold-chain range. When conducting temperature monitoring and logging, remember the four “Rs”…

• Read
• Record
• Reset
• React

This means reading the temperature and accurately recording it in a dedicated temperature log. The person logging the data must also sign their name against the entry.

Recordings should be taken for current, minimum and maximum temperatures. Once the recording has been logged and signed against, the thermometer must be reset.

If the recording shows that the temperature has fallen below or risen above the required range during the night or day, then practitioners must react.

Contact Our Team

Through the use of a dedicated medical fridge and following the steps outlined above, Botox can be safely stored in your cosmetic practice for up to four weeks, and remain safe to administer to patients.

Of course, it is always best to check storage times with the product manufacturer, as this can sometimes vary. 

At CoolMed, we offer a range of medical fridges that are suited for the use in cosmetic surgeries. If you’d like to speak to one of our team regarding your need for a medical fridge , or any other services, contact us here.