Consumer Complaints
New data published by independent accreditation body Save Face has shown nearly 1,000 consumer complaints about aesthetic treatments in 2017-18.
The data highlights the need for better training and regulation in the industry, as it revealed that 83% of the complaints related to treatments carried out by non-medical practitioners (beauticians, hairdressers and lay people).
Of the 939 total complaints received, the breakdown showed that over half of which related to dermal fillers:
- 616 complaints following dermal filler treatment
- 213 relating to swollen/bruised lips after lip fillers
- 156 complaints related to lumps and nodules in the lips after fillers
- 6 cases of vascular occlusion or impending necrosis
- 224 complaints following botulinum toxin treatment
- 86 cases of bruising/swelling
- 57 cases of asymmetrical results
- 38 cases of no result
- 23 drooping eyelid/eyebrow
- 16 looked ‘too frozen’
- 4 cases of blurred vision
The report also showed a worrying picture for BOTOX® and botulinum toxin treatments:
- 68% of complainants had not had face-to-face consultation with a prescriber
- 76% did not know botulinum toxin was a prescription only medicine
- 11% of treatments took place at a ‘party’
Complications
The Save Face report also reviewed how complications were handled:
- 226 people were ignored by the practitioner who had treated them
- 387 had corrective procedures by other practitioners
- 27 went to their GP
- 11 went to A&E
The Save Face report concludes:
“Treatments carried out by laypeople or unaccountable practitioners often means there is no redress for patients when things go wrong”
For further information, see the full report at https://www.saveface.co.uk/complaints-report/
SkinViva Training Academy Manchester
SkinViva Training Ltd offer a range of professional training courses for cosmetic and medical skin treatments. Their courses in cosmetic treatments directed at suitably qualified medical professionals* who wish to learn and build on their skills in delivering these procedures (*subject to meeting SkinViva Training’s entry criteria).
Their course journey is designed to build expertise, starting with the popular Foundation BOTOX® & Dermal Fillers course and progressing through intermediate courses for specialist areas such as lips, cheeks, tear troughs.
As part of its commitment to a safer industry SkinViva Training Academy has developed courses to help delegates understand facial anatomy and avoid complications, namely the Cadaveric Master Class as well as the eLearning Course – Botulinum Toxin Complications course.
See our full list of forthcoming training course dates.
SkinViva Training Academy was established in 2013 by Dr Tim Pearce MBChB BSc (Hons) MRCGP – learn more about us. The SkinViva Training Academy team upholds high standards of clinical training providing a combination of fully-supervised practical experience together with essential theory.
For further information, to discuss which course is right for you, to enquire about availability or to book a training course please call 0161 850 2491, or email info@skinvivatraining.com.