How important is it to have a medical professional perform your dermal fillers and other non-surgica
Have you come across horror stories of lip fillers gone wrong?
Have you seen people in town who clearly have had too much filler treatment?
It is these situations that give the industry a bad name...but how do you prevent this happening to you?
Do your research!
Look for:
Level 7 Qualification:
The government commissioned a review of the industry by Prof Bruce Keogh and from these recommendations Health Education England created the Level 7 Qualification.
The Level 7 is a Masters equivalent qualification in Injectables. Practitioners with this qualification have performed a set number of procedures under supervision and passed difficult exams so that they can practice in the Aesthetics field. The Government is considering making this a requirement for all practitioners in Aesthetics.
If your practitioners has an advanced qualification in Aesthetics, they are specifically trained for this field and are not just doing the occasional procedure.
Dr Kim Booysen was one of the first 3 practitioners to have this new qualification. Read the press release here. She now teaches this course to other doctors wishing to learn the art of Aesthetics.
Regulatory Bodies:
Check to see your practitioner is registered with a regulatory body. These bodies register practitioners only once they have met strict criteria. You can check their registration online.
Doctors: General Medical Council (GMC)
Dentists: General Dental Council (GDC)
Nurses: Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC)
Dr Booysen is fully registered with the GMC as a doctor. She is currently registered in the UK, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Cheap is never good:
Cheap prices that are well below the general prices of clinics in your area indicate a few things:
- beginner injector wishing to attract patients
- cheap products likely bought from a non-reputable source
- possible sharing of filler between people which is a big risk for infections and complications!
- lack of training (which costs money)
Quality injectors cost money and their skills are worth paying for. You could pay £200 for a nice shirt which you may wear once a month. You wear your face every day, isn’t it worth a bigger investment? Groupon or similar deals may seen like a good idea, until complications occur.
Ask about their years of experience and how familiar they are with the procedure.
Dr Booysen has been a doctor for 15 years and has worked in a variety of specialities including dermatology and ear, nose and throat. She is a lead trainer for Harley Academy and works as a Field Clinical Specialist for a large pharmaceutical company, educating other practitioners on the use of fillers. Feel free to ask about her experience with specific procedures.
Do remember that even doctors with many years of experience may not have the latest training or follow the newest recommended procedures, so always look for a combination of experience and latest qualifications.
Ask about Emergencies
Complications can occur with any procedures but to ensure you are with the safest injector ask about their emergency protocols.
Emergencies include blindness, stroke and loss of facial skin from blood vessel blockages from filler. These are very rare but can happen. Rather be safe than sorry!
Only registered doctors and dentists can keep emergency medicines to treat these complications in their clinics. This means that if you are not seeing a doctor or dentist, then if an emergency occurs they may not have the medicines to treat you.
Emergency medication is expensive and requires training, therefore the cheapest clinics may not have these on hand. Check before you get injected!
Dr Booysen works part time as a Senior Emergency Physician in the world-renowned University College London Hospital and treats emergencies on a daily basis. She has all the emergency equipment to deal with complications from fillers and had attended complications treatment workshops with industry specialists on a yearly basis. She is also a member of the Aesthetics Complications Expert Group.
The Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP)
The JCCP is a new council that is looking to create a register of all aesthetic practitioners qualified to treat patients. This register goes live on 1 March 2018.
You will be able to look up your practitioner and see what their qualifications are.
Dr Kim Booysen will be one of the first doctors on the register as part of a pilot programme with Harley Academy.
Ask about insurance:
Hamilton Fraser Cosmetic Insurance has just taken a stand to not insure non-medics and this sends a strong message to non-medical practitioners about their use of fillers and toxins. You are welcome to ask your practitioner whether they hold valid insurance if you are worried in any way.
Dr Kim Booysen is fully insured with Hamilton Fraser for all the treatments she provides in the clinic.
Can I ask to see photos of other treatments?
Most patients value their privacy and don’t want their private medical treatment published. Dr Booysen does not publish photos of patients who have not consented to have their photos shown publicly. If you wish to remain private then this will be respected.
Hopefully this article has given you some pointers on what to look out for when choosing a professional and safe practitioner to administer your fillers and toxins. Cheap is never the best answer and research is the best prevention against side effects and adverse reactions.
Be safe and keep smiling.
