Who do you trust with your face?

Who do you trust with your face? 💉

10 TOP TIPS when choosing a safe provider for your cosmetic injection treatments.

Martin MacKenzie, clinic manager and co-owner of a successful private doctor-led medical aesthetic and wellness clinic (Dr Xavier & Associates Clinic) for the last 17 years, shares his top tips when choosing a practitioner or clinic.

It can be a confusing and overwhelming search when choosing a clinic for treatments such as dermal fillers, botulinum toxin (commonly known as BOTOX), thread-lifting, PRP, lasers and many more, because you are confronted with so many different types of providers all showcasing their services in the hope of attracting your custom.

❌ The gloss!

A simple Google or social media search presents us with flashy websites, glamorous social media profiles and YouTube videos full of flawless models as well attractive adverts all vying for your attention, you hard earned money and of course your face!

❌ The price problem!

It is also more challenging if you're on a tight budget where the tendency may be to choose the lowest price option, which is generally the least experienced or least medical-qualified option. Remember ago-old expression; “You get what you pay for."

❌ The lack of regulation!

In an industry that is so unregulated, the choices range from people with absolutely zero medical qualifications right up to highly qualified medics who are regulated by their professional medical bodies and in some cases also regulated by government healthcare regulators. This wide array of providers all competing in the same ‘space’ can make it difficult to choose a clinic that is right for you.

A good example of the absurd and confusing situation we face in the UK is with threads/thread-lifting which, by their very nature, are one of the highest risk non-surgical procedures that are popular today. Threads are considered to bridge the gap between non-surgical treatments and cosmetic surgery, so a comprehensive knowledge of facial anatomy, risks and complications is essential, yet there are hundreds, if not thousands of provides with absolutely no medical qualifications offering thread-lifting treatments and in often non-clinical environments.

In England, by law, any healthcare professionals offering threads must be registered with the government regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) because threads are considered as surgical procedures. However, this does not apply to non-medics who are offering threads (after perhaps only a one-day training!) and who are not registered with any professional or regulatory body.

So, if you care about the experience and qualifications of who is going to inject your face, read on….

When choosing a clinic for cosmetic medical treatments, I believe you should consider several important factors to ensure your safety, your satisfaction, and for more optimal results.

Here are key considerations to keep in mind:

1. Medical Qualifications of the Practitioner:

In the UK, unlike in the USA and most other European countries, almost anyone can get training and insurance to offer cosmetic injections and put a needle in someone’s face!

In such an unregulated marketplace, I recommend looking for a clinic that employs qualified and experienced medical professionals.  This may include doctors, surgeons, nurses and dentists though there are other healthcare professionals such as paramedics and pharmacists also offering these treatments.

The one thing they have in common is that as healthcare professionals, they all have professional care standards from their respective professional bodies that they must operate within.  This gives you some reassurance in relation to the level of clinical care and experience that you will receive.

Checking a practitioner’s credentials is generally straight forward for example; the doctors’ GMC online register, the nurses’ NMC register. and the dentist's GDC register Look for their certifications and years of experience in performing the specific treatments you're interested in. 

Also there are a number of professional bodies that help to demonstrate through membership that the practitioner is staying current with professional standards and these bodies usually have trainings, seminars and annual conferences that member attend to help with their professional development. 

Examples of professional bodies to look out for that represent medics include:

✅ BCAM - British College of Aesthetic Medicine

✅ BACN - British College of Cosmetic Nurses

✅ BAD - British Association of Dermatolgists

✅ BAAPS - British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons

✅ BAPRAS - British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons

Don’t be afraid to ask about these when you pick up the phone to them or their reception teams.

2. Location, location, location!

Where the practitioner is located is, I believe, a major consideration. Do they operate from a dedicated clinic premises, where they are able to maintain good standards of care or are they operating from a beauty salon, hair salon, hired office space or perhaps even mobile where they go into people’s homes to provide treatment. This may well raise concerns about not only the basic level of clinical care but also the provision of emergency medical equipment to deal with any sudden (albeit rare) adverse events.

Remember these are first and foremost medical treatments and not beauty therapy so the appropriateness of the location for such treatments is an important consideration.

3. Reputation and Reviews:

I always advise people to take time to research the clinic's reputation and read reviews from previous patients. Look for testimonials, ratings, and feedback on trusted platforms or through word-of-mouth recommendations from people that you know and trust. Positive reviews and a strong reputation can indicate a clinic's commitment to patient care and satisfaction. Even if there is a negative review, how the clinic responded to it can also give you a level of reassurance about the care standards and commitment to customer service.

4. Safety and Hygiene Standards:

Healthcare professionals do have requirements placed upon them to meet basic safety and hygiene standards so by choosing to restrict your search to medically qualified providers only, it does give you a basic level of reassurance in your search for a safe treatment.

Ensuring that the clinic maintains strict safety and hygiene protocols can be researched more easily if they are a CQC registered provider because inspections carried out by the regulator are available publicly online. Cosmetic injections themselves (such as dermal fillers) are not regulated by the CQC but if the clinic provides other treatments that are regulated then you know that care standards of that provider is subjected to such as sterilization techniques, infection control and safety measures will be higher than for others.

Don't hesitate to inquire about a provider’s safety measures and standards. A safe practitioner or clinic will never shy away from such scrutiny or questions.

5. Range of Services:

Everyone’s face is unique, so their treatment needs and indeed the treatments that will deliver those needs will be different. Consider the range of cosmetic injections and treatments offered by the practitioner or clinic. A reputable clinic should provide a variety of options to cater to different patient needs. It's beneficial to choose a clinic that offers a wide range of treatments and has expertise in multiple areas of cosmetic injections. A ‘masterpiece’ is rarely created by just one colour so the more colours (treatment options) the practitioner has on their pallet (treatment menu), the more options you will have for a better outcome.

6. Consultation and Customised Treatment Plans:

A reputable clinic should offer a comprehensive consultation process and I believe that their website should clearly explain what you can expect if you book a consultation with them.

During the consultation, the practitioner should listen to your concerns, assess your unique needs, and develop a personalised treatment plan tailored to your goals. The treatment plan should detail all the treatment options discussed to meet your needs as well as timescales, transparent pricing and be offered in such a way that does not try to induce you to have the treatment before an price offer deadline or time-limited incentive. It is worth checking with the clinics you are looking at what their consultation process involves.

You should only be encouraged to have a treatment because you want it, it is suitable for you and that it’s the right time for you. You should not feel price-pressured into having a treatment beforehand. 

I firmly believe that the consultation should be with the medical practitioner who will actually be doing your treatment and not simply a sales staff member who is not qualified to assess your needs from a medical perspective.

The consultation is a very important start to your treatment journey so when you looking at a particular clinic or practitioner, how much time do they invest is getting to know you and your needs before they expect to put a needle in your face?

7. Before and After Photos:

It is not unreasonable for you to ask to see before and after photos of previous patients who have undergone similar treatments at the clinic.

Many practitioners will display these on their websites and do make sure that it is their own work that they are showcasing rather than stock images.

This allows you to evaluate the clinic's aesthetic approach and the quality of their work. Authentic and transparent clinics will readily provide these photos to showcase their results either on their website or social media or indeed during a consultation.

8. Patient Education and Informed Consent:

A reputable clinic will place a big emphasis on patient education, ensuring that you fully understand the procedure, potential risks, and expected outcomes. They should explain the details of the treatment, address any concerns or questions, and obtain your informed consent before proceeding with a treatment.

I firmly believe that if you have not had cosmetic injections before then a good practitioner will prioritise the consultation on your first visit and not administering a treatment until you have had time to reflect and think.

You should be free to take all the information you were given at the consultation away with you and then given time to make an informed decision about having the treatment or not. The clinic should live by the philosophy that because they provided you with a great consultation experience you will naturally choose to book the treatment with them when the time is right for you.

9. Follow-up and Aftercare:

Many cosmetic treatments need a follow-up appointment as part of the aftercare. Ask about the clinic's follow-up policy and aftercare support for the treatment you are planning to have. 

A reputable clinic should provide appropriate post-treatment care instructions and be available for any necessary follow-up appointments or concerns that may arise after the procedure. If a problem develops out of clinic hours is there a number available to you where you can at least get advice until they reopen the next day or if they are closed over the weekends? 

A reputable clinic will ensure that you still feel looked after following a treatment and will actively help you if any, albeit rare, adverse effects occur such as infections or other complications. 

Remember these are not beauty treatments regardless of the glossy images you may see in many providers’ social media feeds and it is important that your practitioner is able to not only identify complications, they also need to be able to treat them too. This is another reason to choose only a medical professional for your treatment and care.

10. Cost and Value:

I have purposely left talk about pricing until the end for a reason. While cost is an important factor, it should not be the sole determining factor in your choice of having a particular treatment or indeed choosing one practitioner over another. As I said before, remember the time-honoured expression; “You get what you pay for.” Absolutely consider the pricing structure and value provided by the clinic and when you are comparing prices among reputable clinics that you do find in your area, remember that expertise, safety, and quality of care should be prioritised over cost alone.

If you buy a pair of trousers from a fast-fashion retailer you would not expect it to last as long as a similar pair of trousers from a department store. Both will cover your legs, but which one has the better-quality fabric, stitching, zipper or fastenings? Which one will fade more quickly in the wash and not last as long? 

I firmly believe that if you are setting out to have a medical procedure to the most visible part of your body – your face, then it is not something that you want to let price be the determining factor in your buying decision of who is at the other end of that syringe.

In Summary…

We first opened our clinic doors over 17 years ago. We have seen our industry grow rapidly over this time and I have seen many clinics and practitioners come and go in this profession for a variety of reasons. However, the one thing that has not changed is that people want safe and trusted treatments in a professional and caring medical environment.

Because of a distinct lack of control or effective regulation as to who can and cannot offer these kinds of medical treatments, by considering these 10 factors, patients can make more informed decisions when choosing a clinic, ensuring their safety, level of care, satisfaction, and successful outcomes.

Take your time to find the right practitioner for you – consider it your journey of discovery to find a practitioner that you will get to know, like and trust so it is well worth not cutting corners on that journey.

Finally, I always recommended that you consult with multiple clinics as part of your research into your local providers, ask questions, and finally trust your instincts before making a final decision.