RESEARCH YOUR TREATMENTS

Samantha Stirzaker, a leading senior aesthetic nurse at independent healthcare provider Greater Lancashire Hospital, is cautioning people about how to ensure they choose a reputable practitioner ahead of the ‘Love Island’ spike in non-surgical aesthetics treatments. Photography: SusieQ.co.uk

The non-surgical cosmetic industry is almost entirely unregulated, and the UK currently doesn’t have legislation to prevent non-medical professionals from delivering procedures such as injectable cosmetic treatments, or chemical peels. The practice of allowing non-medical professionals to offer these kind of treatments doesn’t happen in any other country in Europe, US, Canada, or Australia.

Samantha, who has over 20 years’ combined experience in the aesthetic industry, is urging people to exercise caution when considering any surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedures, commenting: “The consistent drip drip effect of social media and reality show celebrities, who all look a certain way, can make cosmetic surgery procedures seem like a nonchalant next step in enhancing appearance for many, and lead to people taking a casual approach to these procedures, when actually they are serious medical procedures in their own right, not just a beauty treatment,” said Samantha.

“There are a worrying number of beauty therapists and aestheticians offering procedures such as anti-wrinkle injections or lip fillers without any actual medical experience, merely taking a practical training course as a supplement, which can leave you open to a range of risks and complications.”

Ultimately anybody administering wrinkle smoothing treatments, dermal fillers, or similar must have sound anatomical knowledge and the ability to manage a complication and understand factors in which it may not be suitable to offer treatment to a patient.

“Don’t just have a procedure because you’ve seen a celebrity has had it, or go to a practitioner because they recommend them,” she says.

To find a reputable practitioner Samantha advises to make sure:
• Your practitioner is a registered doctor, dentist, or nurse, with specialist training.
• The products they use should all be licensed and sourced from reputable suppliers.
• They are insured for each treatment and have procedures in place to protect you from risk or harm.
• You find out how much experience they have, how long they have been practising aesthetics. Is it their primary job? How many patients have they treated?
• Their practice standards meet the requirements to provide you with safe treatments, in a safe environment.

Samantha adds: “It’s important to remember that everybody and every body is different, and if you are going to undertake cosmetic surgery of any kind you need to do your homework on where you get these procedures done, who will be administering them, and what their experience and training is, rather than looking for the quickest and cheapest option.”
Greater Lancashire Hospital only ever uses fully qualified, highly trained staff for all surgical and non-surgical treatment.

Greater Lancashire Hospital
Wyder Court, Millennium City Park
Preston PR2 5BW
01772 663977
www.greaterlancashirehospital.co.uk

Comments

comments

Tedd Walmsley

Be the first to know

To get exclusive news, be the first to know about our special offers and competitions, sign up to Live Magazines for FREE.

Tedd Walmsley managing director of Live Magazines shares his views on the latest topics in media.

Follow him on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn to join the conversation