ASKED BY KATYB

How do I know that I can trust a clinic, are there any governing bodies? I’ve heard that some people aren’t qualified?

The most important thing to consider when looking to have any cosmetic medical procedures is the practitioner who will be treating you. In the UK today however the Aesthetic Medical and Cosmetic Surgical industry are completely unregulated. There are many non-medically qualified people performing these treatments which strictly are not illegal but potentially very dangerous. Botox for example is a prescription drug so only a medical persona can prescribe this. In some cases a prescriber provides this for the non-medical practitioners to be administered by them.
The really worrying aspect of all however is what is being put into someone’s face. Products can be bought over the internet often with no way of knowing what is in them and the consequences can be permanently damaging.
It is difficult to check the credibility of an aesthetic practice as anyone can potentially set one up.
My advice would be.

1.Check the practitioner is medically qualified by asking for certificates or checking with the General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or General Dental Council (GDC).

2. Make sure they are insured to carry out aesthetic procedures.

3. Ask about their experience i.e. how many procedures have they performed.

4. Ask to see photographic examples of their work.

Finally some clinics are registered with the Quality Care Commission or the Independent Health Advisory Services. This is not a requirement for clinics and certainly would not rule out an extremely good clinic but could be a good pointer.

Author: Dr Lisa Delamaine MBBS BSc Hons , Cosmetic Surgeon
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