As we age, the volume in the face moves forward and down and as such, the signs of ageing slowly begin to appear. Dermal fillers, when used in the correct way, work beautiful to restore lost volume and definition and leave the skin looking fresh and rejuvenated. But are dermal fillers safe and how are patients protected in the aesthetics industry?
UK Legislation
UK laws and regulations surrounding aesthetic and cosmetic treatment are extremely lax and unfortunately almost anyone can administer dermal filler treatments. That said, change is on the horizon and on October 1st 2021 it became a criminal offence to administer dermal filler or botulinum toxin to anyone under the age of 18. Injectable treatments pose potential serious risks to patients’ physical and psychological health and must always be taken seriously. So, although not currently enforced by law, patients should always do their research and choose to have treatment with reputable and experienced healthcare professionals.
Safe Dermal Filler Use
Although safe dermal filler use lacks legislation, when in the right hands and with the right products, injected into the correct places with the correct amounts, filler treatments can be considered a relatively safe way to tweak and enhance the appearance.
What patient look for in a safe dermal filler injector
With regulations the way they are, it’s up to the patient to do their own digging in order to find a practitioner they trust. There are a number of steps a patient should take when looking for a suitable dermal filler clinician and, in turn, a number of things you should be offering your patients as a responsible injector:
Credentials: Patients should seek treatment from a reputable injector who is a healthcare professional. To responsibly offer filler treatments you should be a registered doctor or nurse.
Experience: Practitioners should have a breadth of experience in performing the specific treatment the patient wishes to have. You should be prepared to demonstrate your experience during the preliminary stages of their treatment journey.
Consultation: A thorough consultation is essential to the patient journey. They should be given the opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns and have what to expect from treatment, along with predicted results explained to them. They should then be allowed a cooling off period to consider their options, including the option not to have treatment at all.
A Treatment Plan: Treatment plans are essential to set out what the patient wants to achieve, the treatments that can offer them the best outcomes and the results they can expect to achieve. Good practitioners should be offering this as a matter of course.
High Quality Products: Patients should do their research and ensure the products used by their potential aesthetic injector are of the highest quality. For example, Juvederm are a well-established brand to look out for. As a practitioner, you should always use the safest, highest quality products on the market.
Aspir8 and Safety in Aesthetics
At Aspir8, we are innovators in the aesthetics industry and our devices are designed to improve dermal filler safety. Our products are simple to use, yet they offer improved hand stability and practitioner confidence, whilst making aspiration easier than ever and reducing the risk of vascular occlusion. What’s more? Your patients will be more confident and comfortable too!