Aesthetic clinics 'picking up pieces' of botched makeovers

Almost three quarters (72%) of the UK’s leading aesthetic professionals who are providing treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers, chemical peels, laser hair removal, non-surgical facelifts and teeth whitening, have had to correct the work of another practitioner, according to a new study.

The 102 leading doctors, surgeons, nurses, dermatologists, dentists and practice managers who took part in the research argue that these aren’t isolated incidents. 

Indeed, more than three quarters (77%) have had to perform a corrective treatment in the past year. For two of the professionals, this even makes up the bulk of their work.

They suggest a key problem is that too few people ask to see someone’s qualifications or look at examples of their previous work before having a treatment – 74% feel not enough checking like this is done.  

A further 84% of professionals also argue that the lack of regulation of non-surgical beauty treatments is part of the problem, resulting in far too many untrained people providing them.  

This is coming at a time when demand in the UK for non-surgical treatments is at an all-time high.

A whopping 87% in the CCR Expo survey say the rise in demand has caused the recently reported 40% drop in cosmetic operations.  

Non-surgical treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers have become a big part of everyday life with 50% of professionals reporting that their clients typically use their services at least three times a year and 41% saying that people are typically starting to use their services in their 20s.

Alison Willis, Division Director of CCR Expo, says: 'The boom in demand for non-surgical procedures, when combined with such lax checking by consumers and a lack of regulation, is leaving the door open for unqualified people. The end-result being that the industry’s true, highly trained professionals are all too frequently having to pick up the pieces and step in and correct others' poor work.'