Debate reignites over non-medics injecting as Save Face withdraws from JCCP and online petition is launched
The issue of non-medical professionals injecting botulinum toxin and dermal fillers was reignited this week after Save Face withdrew from the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) and a new petition was launched on Change.org.
The petition titled “Stop beauty therapists injecting Botox and fillers” was started by concerned medics and had reached 2,638 signatures at the time of writing.
It states: “Please stop unregistered practitioners from injecting botulinum toxin and dermal fillers. Botox is a potent neuromuscular toxin which can cause unwanted side effects which need to be clinically managed. Dermal fillers can cause again a whole host of medical problems such as vessel occlusions and infections. Medical interventions are required when both of these treatments go wrong, requiring immediate access to prescription medication such as steroids and adrenaline. An unregulated practitioner has no medical training and does not have access to this and this leaves the patient in a vulnerable and dangerous situation - which could potentially cause irreparable damage leading to disfigurements or even worse - an anaphylaxis.”
The petition was launched at the same time as news emerged that Save Face has withdrawn from working with the JCCP on its proposed register.
In a statement Save Face said: “We had several concerns and reservations throughout the consultation process, which we fear have not been adequately addressed. Our primary concern being that the proposed register will be inclusive of all backgrounds. The idea of a register that would be inclusive of non-regulated practitioners (be they beauty therapists or anyone else), is contrary to our fundamental principles; that non-regulated healthcare practitioners should not be providing these services to the public – and should not sit along-side healthcare professionals – this only serves to confuse the public, who we constantly work hard to educate and protect. Therefore, whilst such a register would be attractive to those who otherwise have no credibility or regulation, we don’t feel it would be attractive or acceptable to those we currently register- and any association would compromise our message to the public…having consulted with our Governance Board, who unanimously voted against, we have declined the invitation to express an interest, and decided to step away from the process.”
The injectables debate was previously reignited at the start of the year, when aesthetic nurses put forward a motion that they have no confidence in beauty therapists providing facial cosmetic injectable medicines. This was debated at the National Aesthetic Nursing Conference and resulted in a unanimous vote where 100% of delegates agreed they had no confidence in non-health groups injecting.
The JCCP has been has been consulting widely across the aesthetics industry to assess the appetite for the establishment of a new self-regulatory body. The organisation will be holding a stakeholder meeting in London next week (February 24) to update on its progress.
