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Safety in Whilst practitioners with less experience may be happy
Aesthetics
It is undeniable that, in recent years, the demand for
aesthetic procedures has dramatically increased.
Whilst previously, the general public may have only
been aware of Botox®️ and little else when it comes
to non-surgical procedures, this is rapidly changing.
As well as Botox®️, or other anti-wrinkle treatments,
many now know not just of the procedures available,
but of the multitude of benefits they can have in the
skin. Even treatments that were previously
considered outlandish are now a regular staple of
clinics across the country, including fillers, PRP,
chemical peels, and medical-grade skincare.
Whilst this has often been attributed to the rise in
celebrity culture and social media, this boom in
aesthetics is linked to a fall in the number of people
seeking surgical correction, offering a non-invasive,
safer alternative with far less downtime, and an
improvement in the accessibility of such treatments.
However, there is a marked downside to the rise in
prominence of such treatments. Shockingly, there is
little regulation in the aesthetics industry. This has led
to many under-qualified and inexperienced
practitioners cropping up in salons and high streets
across the country.
Whilst this has undeniably lowered the cost and
improved how accessible aesthetics treatments are
to the majority of people, it opens up the potential for
unsafe procedures that negatively impact both health
and appearance.
Prospective patients should always take the utmost
care when selecting where to go for their aesthetics
treatments. Unfortunately, there are far too many
unscrupulous practitioners out there, and it can be
difficult to know what to look for in order to make the
best possible choice.
With this said, there are also several signifiers that
patients are in the best possible hands that are simple
to find and easy to understand. For example, any
practitioner you visit should be a healthcare
registered professional and also be registered with
the Care Quality Commision, or CQC, for medical or
surgical treatments, such as PDO thread lifts. The
qualifications of their practitioners should be clearly
displayed, allowing patients to be totally at ease with
their decision. It may also be helpful to look at patient
testimonials and reviews on social media in order
to gain a full insight into how other patients found
their experience.
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to perform whatever treatments you ask for, it is the sign
of a highly competent, skilled aesthetics professional to
decline your requests if they feel them inappropriate or
not in your best interests.
In most reputable clinics, a thorough consultation is
required to assess your concerns, allowing professionals
to recommend and carry out the most suitable
treatments for your skin.
This often differs from what patients think they may
need, and as such, it is important to bear in mind that
searching for the exact treatment you may wish to
undergo may not be the best strategy, but rather the
concern or condition you are looking to correct. Make
sure that you do thorough research into your clinic and
practitioner; a well-qualified practitioner should make
you feel comfortable and at ease. They should help you
to fully understand the risks and possible side effects
associated with your treatment, and you should leave
your initial consultation feeling educated and fully
informed, and with enough of the facts to make a decision
as to whether to proceed with your treatment.
If you are having treatments such as Botox®️ or Hyalase
to dissolve dermal fillers, a consultation with a doctor,
dentist or nurse prescriber is always required by law
to assess suitability for treatment and to order the
Prescription only Medicine (POM) in your name. A
second appointment would then have to be booked
for treatment.
Deborah Vines is a Registered General
Nurse, Nurse Prescriber and the
Medical Director of Face Medical
Clinic based in Heywood. She has been
a full time Aesthetic Nurse for eighteen
years and owns one of the longest
established Medical Aesthetic Clinics
in the North West and has recently
gained her Care Quality Commission
Registration for medical treatments.
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