8 Questions You Must Ask Before Any Aesthetic Treatment
It’s alarming to consider that anybody can set themselves up as an aesthetic practitioner and insert a needle into your face. Patients often trust a clinical environment but inadequately trained practitioners can be found even in seemingly high-end practices.
Last month, Prime Minister Theresa May met with Aesthetic Doctor Dr Selena Langdon, and Antonia Mariconda of The Safety in Beauty Campaign. They gave the PM a report which outlined the areas of concern within the cosmetic interventions industry, and called for regulation to be implemented on a mandatory basis. This regulation has yet to implemented.
According to Dr Harris, the growing numbers of unqualified practitioners, coupled with the increasing popularity of aesthetic procedures, multiplies the risk of potential serious complications and requires urgent intervention by government.
In the meantime, we urge all patients visiting a new practitioner to ensure their safety - before any injections - by checking the following:
- Is the practitioner medically qualified and registered with the GMC (or are they a registered dentist or registered prescribing nurse)?
- If a doctor, or dentist, are they a member of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM), or if a nurse, a member of the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN)?
- Are they registered with the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP)?
- Do they have full medical insurance with a reputable organisation such as the Medical Defence Union (MDU) or Hamilton Fraser Cosmetic Insurance?
- Have they been practicing aesthetic medicine full-time for at least 5 years?
- Are they proficient at managing complications and do they have a fully stocked emergency trolley with safety protocols in place?
- Do they have fully informative consent forms and are they compliant with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?
- Do they work in a clean, medical environment?