Finding the right aesthetics professional

What should you be looking for?

Firstly, let's not beat around the bush, this is your face we are talking about, so choose your professional wisely. I keep referring to professional, why is that? Well, I firmly believe when we are talking about injecting your face this should only be carried out by medical professionals such as doctors, dentist and nurses. This is due to the extensive knowledge, training and expertise they have prior to choosing to specialise in aesthetics.


Ask to see their qualifications, a registered professional you will be able to check these on the appropriate register. Doctors GMC, Dentists GDC and Nurses NMC. This information is readily available on all of their websites. What training have they undertaken in the field they are working in, what are they doing to ensure their skills are still relevant and up to date.



Consultation

Do they offer a consultation? if they don't walk away now. The initial consultation is often undervalued. But how can you be helped if the professional doesn't know what they are helping you with? What you think may help you may not be the solution to your problem. Having a full and thorough consultation with your professional will help them to understand what your seeking treatment for, what your expectations of treatments are, they can discuss the range of treatments that could be available to you, what you can expect to get from these, how long it will last, any risks and complications and take a full medical history ensuring treatment is suitable.



Products

You may not think this is important, but ensuring the products a professional is using is essential. Have they been obtained from a reputable source. Did you know many of the pharmaceutical companies only work pharmacies they trust and have a proven track record. If products are bought from an unreliable source, it may invalidate insurance. Did you know that botulinum toxin has to be kept refrigerated to maintain its potency? if it's not kept in the cold chain at all times, it will reduce the efficacy. Not all products are licensed for use in the UK and unfortunately there are fake products out on the market. Don't be afraid to ask where the products have come from and be sure to ask to see the product and packaging to know what you have been told is being injected into your face is actually what is being injected.


Insurance

Are they insured to be carrying out the treatments they are doing, many insurance companies don't cover beauty therapists to inject fillers, and botulinum toxin is a prescription only medication, so this is even less likely to be covered. Many insurance companies have come forward this year and announced they will not cover professionals prescribing medications for beauty therapists or non-professionals.


Why is insurance important when considering your treatments. Not only does it show your professional is practicing safely it is an added protective factor for you in the unlikely event should anything go wrong.


The Price

This should be a consideration, let's be honest you don't want to get ripped off, but often in aesthetics you get what you pay for. Many people wrongly believe the bulk of what they are paying for is the product. Actually, it is the skill and expertise of the professional. Cheap treatments are rarely good and good treatments are rarely cheap.