Netherlands shows the way today in taming the ‘wild west’ of Aesthetic Medicine says BCAM

According to the market research company Mintel, 46% of Britons believe non-surgical procedures are increasingly becoming a part of everyday beauty routines.1 Yet the public remain at risk of procedures being carried out by untrained, unsupervised and unregulated hands.

In the Netherlands July 1 saw aesthetics is being recognised as a medical speciality. 

The British College of Aesthetic Medicine is calling for UK legislators to follow suit in the interests of patient safety. Regulation in aesthetic medicine is long overdue. The field is presently open to non-medical practitioners and with a multiplicity of professional registers and standards.

• Some medicines such as Botulinum Toxin (Botox) are available prescription-only. Others, such as dermal-fillers are classed as medical devices without such strict criteria applying to obtain quality product.

• Injections may be legally performed by virtually anyone on anyone.

• Premises are unregulated presenting a major issue for the performance of aesthetic procedures in places lacking an aseptic clinical environment, such as salons and other non-clinical premises.

• Lastly, it is possible for a practitioner to have had very little training with no formal assessment to set up as an ‘aesthetic practitioner’ which is not in the best interests of patients.

Whilst treatments continue to be offered in salons, spas and high street shops, rather than in clinical settings, the potential for under-qualified practitioners to remain under the radar remains acute.

Mr Greg White, Chief Executive of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine, said: “Today the Dutch equivalent of the GMC (the College of Medical Specialisms [CGS]) recognises aesthetics as a medical speciality. This is something that we in the UK need to look at seriously if we are to progress from an unregulated ‘industry’ into a ‘speciality.’”

Dr Paul Charlson, Cosmetic Dermatologist and President of BCAM added: “As a minimum, practitioners should be adequately trained, practise in an appropriate environment and have the ability to deal with any complications. This must be industry standard and hopefully legislation will follow.”