There are almost 1000 aesthetic clinics across the UK and in 2023 a staggering 7.7 million people had an aesthetic treatment. With the aesthetic industry set to be worth £5.6 billion by 2026, there are more people searching for an aesthetic clinic and practitioner everyday. With so many options out there, it can be a real minefield distinguishing the good from the bad, so how can you make sure you’re choosing an experienced, trusted and safe provider? 

Well we’ve got you! We’ve put together a list of the key things you should look out for when researching a new aesthetic clinic and practitioner.

Always Search For A Medical Practitioner

Many patients considering aesthetic treatments don’t realise that the UK is the only country in the world where anyone can inject products into the face and body. It is not a legal requirement to be medically trained to perform these procedures so please ensure you put your safety first and choose a medical professional. 

You can search medical professionals by name on their relevant regulatory body websites (GMC/NMC/GDC) to ensure they are legally qualified. If you can’t find your practitioner on any of these registers, they are not legally medically qualified. If it isn’t immediately clear on a practitioner’s website or social media that they are a nurse, doctor or dentist, they probably aren’t! Medical practitioners work extremely hard for many years to receive their titles – so they will usually display them front and centre. 

Use a Reputable Clinic/Practitioner Search Tool to Find Safe and Trusted Practitioners near you

Websites such as Save Face, Consulting Room, The Tweakments Guide and Safety in Beauty are all passionate about ensuring patients considering aesthetic treatments can find experienced, safe and trusted practitioners near them. Clinics and practitioners featured on these search tools go through regular auditing and checks to ensure they meet the required standards to be advertised as a safe and reputable aesthetic provider. These tools are usually your best bet for finding an amazing trusted provider near you.

CQC Registered

If you see a clinic is CQC registered (and you’ve done all the other checks), you are usually in very safe hands. Becoming CQC registered is an extremely rigorous and difficult process and many clinics do not meet the required standards. If a clinic is CQC registered, they are regularly inspected and audited to ensure they hold the very highest standards in patient care and safety. You can be sure if you visit a CQC registered clinic you are only receiving the very best care, in the safest of environments.

Read the Reviews 

Check out Google and Trustpilot reviews for clinics you are considering to see what patients’ experiences have been. Clinics can’t delete negative reviews so these are usually a relatively accurate representation of a patients experience with a clinic or practitioner. However, it is always worth remembering that it is more common for people to leave a review after a negative experience, so take reviews with a pinch of salt. Factor them into your decision but don’t rely solely on reviews.

View Their Before and Afters

Look through the practitioners before and after images either on their website or social media. Think about whether you like the type of results they have achieved for other patients and whether you’d be happy with similar results. For example, if your desired look is a more natural, subtle approach, ensure this is the kind of result you can see in their work. Remember that what suits one person, won’t suit another so find someone whose work resembles your desired outcome.

Be Wary About Awards and Accreditations 

Whilst there are some prestigious and trustworthy awards in the aesthetic industry such as the Aesthetics Awards and the Safety In Beauty Diamond Awards, lots of practitioners claim to have won awards which either do not exist or are not judged on specific relevant criteria. Be mindful that anyone can say they are the number 1 or top practitioner/clinic/provider – think about who actually gave them this title and whether it’s legitimate. 

Does the Price Seem too Good to be True?

If the price seems to be too good to be true, it probably is! Cheap treatments often reflect poor quality products and a lack of experience. Medical professionals who are highly trained, experienced and use high quality products will cost you far more, but trust us, they will be worth it! You can’t put a price on your safety and if you end up with a botched job or a complication – it will cost you much more to fix the issue than visiting the right practitioner in the first place.

When You’ve Found a Provider

We hope all of this advice and guidance will aid you in your research when searching for a new aesthetic provider. If you find a provider you think is ideal for you, we recommend booking a consultation. This will allow you to get a feel for the clinic, the staff, the environment and the kind of service and care you will receive there. 

Don’t rush into making a decision on treatment following a consultation. A good practitioner will give you all of the information you need, answer your questions and give you time to consider your options. Clinics who put your needs before their profits will always offer no-obligation consultations. Remember that your safety should always be your first priority and you should never feel forced into any aesthetic treatment.