A new survey has confirmed that wrinkle-relaxing injections are the world’s most popular non-surgical procedure and they now account for 38 per cent of procedures worldwide.
According to the recent survey released by ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) who publish annual statistics on the global cosmetics industry, ‘Botox’ accounts for 39 per cent of non-surgical treatments carried out in the UK.
Botox is a non-invasive procedure and the trade name for a substance which is injected into the skin to inhibit muscle movement and prevent wrinkles developing or worsening. Women and men use it for its ability to ‘soften and sculpt’ their facial features.
Aside from the obvious benefits of experiencing smoother looking skin, if you are considering Botox, it is important to first research the practitioner’s qualifications. A clinic, for example, should always adhere to the professional medical standards as laid out by the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2016, provided by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) who issue specific guidelines on cosmetic surgery. Breach of either set of guidelines could lead to the GMC launching a fitness-to-practice investigation. A good clinic will work to these rules – which include responsible advertising, doctors to personally manage the consent process and making sure patients know who to contact in the event of complications.
Trust your research as well as your gut instinct, is the general advice. Your initial consultation should be an open and relaxed two-way dialogue with no questions left unanswered.
Helen Allen, a registered nurse and owner of Pure Aesthetics, who offer Botox at its clinic in Nottingham, recommends: – “Ask your practitioner to give you examples of their work and show you photographs. Find out how long they have been offering treatments and make sure they run through a medical questionnaire as standard with you.”
“A reputable clinic also should not be treating anyone who is pregnant, breast feeding or who has muscle problems or chronic diseases and if the clinic that you find does offer treatment in any of these cases, it should ring warning bells.”
Helen adds: “A trusted Botox clinic should also advise customers that it can take three to seven days to start seeing results and that they will need to have follow-up treatment. Botox is not permanent and re-treatment will be required every three to four months.”
The extreme beauty trade is flourishing and looks set to continue. One may argue that there are grounds for making cosmetic treatments available on the NHS as most studies point to the positive effects even a minor cosmetic procedure can have on a person’s quality of life, but whatever your decision, make sure you do your research, take your time and find a clinic you can trust.
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