Safety in Beauty Campaign reveals cosmetic injections had record year of complaints
Cosmetic injections continue to remain the number one source of complaints, with over 187 reported to the Safety in Beauty Campaign from October 2014 to October 2015, according to a recent report.
Lip injections and facial fillers were the most common concern, with over 82% of complaints made regarding concern of the injectors ability to practice safely and skilfully due to a lack of sufficient and adequate training, followed by concerns over hygiene and suitability of premises. The largest area of complaints centered around unethical marketing of cosmetic medical injections, such as prescription only medications like botulinum toxin, or thread lifts used for facial lifting and tightening.
More than 63 complaints about cosmetic surgery were also presented to the campaign during 2014 to 2015, with primary areas of concern remaining the lack of recourse of substandard work and visiting overseas surgeons who are often unaccountable once they leave the UK.
Semi-permanent make-up complaints and “botch jobs” have crept up to become a major concern, with 58 complaints made about unhygienic premises, unregulated treatments being carried out, infections and substandard work, due, it said, to a lack of regulation in training and education.
The Safety in Beauty campaign has launched a new anonymous complaint service to help consumers who have experienced substandard service within the beauty industry.
Industry professionals, product manufacturers, brands and the general public can complain about anything that is dangerous, damaging, ineffective, exploitive or otherwise unsatisfactory or unsafe. The complaints service has been set up to remedy the fact that many people are too frightened or intimidated to speak out about substandard service, interventions and products.
Last year the Safety in Beauty campaign logged over 360 complaints about a wide range of issues from counterfeit makeup and fake equipment in beauty salons, to botched injectable fillers administered by personnel inadequately trained and ill-qualified to do so. The complaints service is another way in which the campaign is helping protect consumers and provide much needed support. The organisation is run on a voluntary basis and was founded by beauty industry writer and coach, Antonia Mariconda.
