The Importance of Patient Safety During Aesthetic Treatments

With the popularity of non-surgical cosmetic treatments continuing to rise, it’s more important than ever to know how to recognise a clinic that truly prioritises your safety. While social media is full of enticing before-and-after photos and low-cost offers, the real measure of a reputable clinic lies in its medical standards, transparency and patient care — not just its marketing.

This article explores the importance of patient safety in aesthetics, how to identify a safe and reputable clinic and the role of medical expertise in reducing risks.

Why Is Patient Safety So Important During Aesthetic Treatments?

Aesthetic treatments continue to grow in popularity, helping people feel more confident and look their best. However, it’s important to remember that these treatments are still medical procedures, and they can carry serious risks if not carried out properly.

Under UK law, aesthetic treatments are classed as non-invasive procedures. These treatments do not involve cutting the skin or using surgical instruments, examples such as  anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, chemical peels and laser hair removal.

While these procedures can enhance your appearance, even non-invasive treatments carry risks if they’re not performed by qualified professionals in a clean, clinical and safe environment, such as:

• Infections
• Nerve damage
• Scarring 
• Allergic reactions
• Burns
• Hyperpigmentation
• In severe cases, blindness or disfigurement

As reported by The Guardian, a 33-year-old woman named Alice Webb sadly died in the UK after undergoing a “liquid Brazilian butt lift”. This treatment involved filler injections into the buttocks. The procedure was carried out by someone with no medical qualifications and without proper medical regulation or supervision.

This tragic incident highlights how a lack of regulations, poor training, unsafe environments and weak governance can pose serious risks to patient safety during aesthetic treatments.

How Can I Tell If an Aesthetic Clinic Is Safe and Reputable?

1. Verify qualifications and registration

To ensure an aesthetic clinic is safe and reputable, check whether the clinic or practitioner:

Appears on an accredited professional register, if someone is claiming to be a nurse or a doctor you can verify this by searching for them on the GMC or NMC registers. If it is not clear whether someone is a nurse or doctor, 99% of the time it will mean they are not. 

Is listed as a trusted, reputable provider on a register or website like SaveFace UK, The Tweakments Guide or Consulting Rooms. These registers only list providers who have the required qualifications, training and expertise to offer safe treatments to patients. 

Has verifiable credentials displayed online or in the clinic, such as being CQC-registered, which indicates the clinic is regularly monitored and audited to ensure they are providing the highest level of patient care and following the appropriate aesthetic guidelines.

Unqualified or poorly supervised practitioners are one of the leading causes of complications following aesthetic treatments. For an in-depth look at why choosing a CQC-registered clinic matters, see our article on CQC registration and safety standards.

3. Expect a full consultation

Before any treatment takes place, you should be offered a comprehensive, unhurried consultation that includes:

• A full medical history review.
• Assessment of your skin type and treatment suitability.
• A balanced discussion of risks, benefits and alternatives.

If you’re pressured to proceed immediately or offered treatment without consultation, that’s a serious red flag.

3. Know exactly who will treat you

It’s important you know who will actually perform your treatment and not just who conducts your consultation. A safe, reputable clinic will:

• Clearly identify the practitioner responsible for your care.
• Welcome questions about their training and experience.
• Some aesthetic treatments are not performed by a doctor or nurse, but you should still aim to find a medically-led clinic so that medical support is available if required.

4. Look for a clean, clinical environment

Cleanliness and hygiene are an important part of safety in aesthetics and are key indicators of professionalism. Safe treatments, particularly injectables or laser procedures, must be performed in:

• A sterile, clinical space.
• Rooms that follow strict infection control and waste disposal procedures.
• A visibly organised and hygienic environment.

Save Face also advises avoiding any provider who operates in non-clinical surroundings. If you’d like more detail on the importance of accreditation and what to look for, read our guide to what accreditations should you look for in a medical aesthetic clinic.

How Do Qualified Aesthetic Practitioners Reduce the Risks of Complications?

Patient safety during aesthetic procedures is also about prevention and strategy, which is why it is so important to choose medically qualified practitioners. Understanding anatomy is one of the most critical elements of being a safe and skilled injector. They need to have a true understanding of facial vascular anatomy, tissue planes and danger zones. This is not possible unless they are a registered doctor or nurse.

There are many non-medical practitioners out there who have years of experience in injectables. The treatment you receive may be adequate but the thing to remember is that they don’t have the tools, knowledge or expertise to safely manage any complications or adverse incidents that may arise after treatment.  

To ensure safety in aesthetics and adherence to professional guidelines, good practitioners remain committed to ongoing, continuous education and training. This dedication not only protects patient safety but also upholds the integrity of the entire aesthetic industry.

What Does MediZen Do to Ensure the Highest Standards of Patient Safety?

At MediZen, we are a medically led aesthetic clinic in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, that has been treating patients since 1999. Our clinic offers treatments across injectables, skin, body and health and wellbeing, including anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, advanced laser treatments and weight loss support, all with patient safety as a priority. 

A doctor led team and Dr David Eccleston

Our aesthetics clinic is led by Dr David Eccleston,  an industry renowned, qualified doctor with over 25 years experience in the aesthetics field, who has taught thousands of practitioners around the world. He has nearly three decades of hands-on experience using anti-wrinkle injections and has acted as lead investigator on clinical trials for the first UK-licensed brands of toxin treatments.

What aesthetic guidelines does MediZen follow?

At MediZen, we have various accreditations and professional memberships, reflecting our commitment to our patient’s safety and well-being. We make sure we use evidence-based treatments and are:

• Registered with the Care Quality Commission 
• Accredited by Save Face 
• Affiliated with the British Medical Laser Association
• Only our doctors and nurses provide injectable treatments
• Our aestheticians are degree level trained and supported daily by a full team of medical professionals

Our team uses clinical assessment tools such as VISIA skin analysis and industry leading devices like the Xeo+ laser and Excel V+ laser systems. We also use world-leading, licensed product types such as hyaluronic acid fillers and medical-grade skincare. 

Ready to talk about safe, sensible treatment?

If you’re considering an aesthetic treatment and want peace of mind that you’re in safe medical hands, book a consultation with MediZen. The team will take time to understand your goals, explain your options clearly and recommend treatments that are right for you. To learn more about our background, ethos and medical team, read our article ‘Who Are MediZen?’ for a clear overview.