Did you know that there is no legal requirement in the UK for your injector to hold any qualifications? The person you choose could have a fancy social media profile and make big claims about treatment outcomes, but until last week, they could have been a pub landlord, florist, cleaner or builder! Crazy right!?? So, how do you know which injector to choose to provide safe treatment, in a clean environment, using approved and licensed products? Let me highlight things to look out for:
Is the person a registered health care professional?
This is an important consideration as health care professionals such as Doctors, Dentists and nurses are all regulated by a professional body. This means that they have to uphold certain standards and behave in a responsible and ethical way at all times. They also HAVE to have medical malpractice insurance, unlike non health care professionals, which means that you as the person receiving treatment have recourse should anything go wrong. You can ask to whether the person has valid insurance and they should provide you with proof of this. If they don’t then this is a big red flag.
Health care professionals also have to undergo lifelong continual professional development. This means they constantly update their knowledge and skills to prove they are up to date and safe. They also partake in reflective learning; this means looking at weaknesses as well as strengths in order to fill gaps in knowledge and skills, continually improving. Non health care professionals do not have to do this, so how do you know if they are up to date?
Do you have a consultation before treatment?
It is important to undergo a thorough assessment prior to treatment. This is so that the person treating you can understand your concerns, assess your health and well-being and suitability for treatment. It also gives you the chance to get to know them and whether you feel comfortable having treatment with them. You should have the opportunity to ask questions and various options for treatment should be presented to you, along with any risks associated with treatment. It is only when you have all the information can you make a fully informed decision regarding your treatment. Don’t feel rushed or pressured into treatment and take time to consider your options.
Is the price too good to be true and are discounts offered?
If the price is really cheap then you really need to consider whether the products used are genuine (or of good quality) and whether the person has had training. You should not be tempted to have treatment based on price alone as it could end up costing you more in the future to rectify things.
Health care professionals should not offer discounts on injectable treatments as it is deemed unethical by our professional bodies and seen as incentivising people to have a procedure which they would not normally have. So really think about this when considering a treatment.
Does the person advertise Botox?
This is a BIG NO NO. Botox is a brand name for Botulinum Toxin A, which is a prescription only medicine (POM). It is illegal to advertise any POMs, including Botox, hay fever injections, Vitamin injections, the list goes on.
Do you see a prescriber face to face before receiving Botox treatments?
Doctors, Dentists and nurses holding a prescribing qualification can automatically assess you for these treatments. Additionally, Doctors and Dentists are able to hold stock of POMs (including Botox) but should still hold a consultation appointment with you to allow for a cooling off period prior to you committing to treatment. BUT, if you see anyone else for these treatments and you are not assessed face to face by someone who can prescribe the Botox for you, then this is illegal practice and deemed unsafe. This is to determine suitability for treatment as well as carefully assessing your medical history and whether there are any conditions which may affect your ability to receive a safe treatment.
Prescribers will also have access to drugs which may be needed to dissolve fillers in an emergency situation!
Is the person using licensed products?
Always check with the injector what product they are using. Things to consider are that there are currently only 5 licensed Botulinum Toxin A products in the UK and the brand names are Botox, Bocouture (also known as Xeomin), Azzalure (or Dysport and Alluzience), Letybo and Nuceiva. Any other names are unlicensed and therefore illegal.
With dermal fillers, it is more of a minefield. There are so many products there, but ask your injector what they are using and why? It shouldn’t be a price thing!! It should be based on science and research and development. Ask about the company producing the product and whether it is CE marked, otherwise it will be illegal to use.
Profhilo treatments are very popular in the UK, but did you know that the official suppliers of Profhilo in the UK do not supply or train anyone other than Doctors, Dentists and nurses in this treatment. Yes, I know, loads of places offer it, but they have not been officially trained in the correct way AND are not sourcing products from official sources. This means that the product supply chain cannot be guaranteed, which may at best lead to the product not being stored correctly, but at worst, the product may be counterfeit and cause harm to you!!
It may also be worth asking where they source other products from as many of the more premium brands, with a proven safety record and license have preferred pharmacies supplying their products, guaranteeing safety and official product being used.
Premises
Where is the person carrying out your treatment? Is it from a clean, clinical environment, employing appropriate infection prevention control measures? Or is it from their living room/bedroom/kitchen?? Or yours? The treatment should be carried out in a clean, hygienic environment and the room should have a sink for handwashing. The floor should be easily cleanable, so no carpets. Does the person wear personal protective equipment such as scrubs/tunics, gloves and a mask? Do they have their hair tied back? Are they wearing lots of jewellery or false nails (this is a no-no from a cleanliness point of view). These are important considerations especially when you think that dermal fillers can last a very long time within your body and should be considered an injectable implant, requiring strict cleanliness protocols prior to injecting.
The icing on the cake would be a CQC registered clinic, where minimum standards have to be upheld such as being safe, caring, responsive, effective and well-led. These clinics will also have access to appropriate emergency drugs, equipment and training should it ever be needed.
