Victims of botched filler ops ‘IGNORED by rogue practitioners after complaining in 80% of cases’
BOTCHED filler victims are being "ignored" by rogue practitioners in 80 per cent of cases after they complain, new research shows.
More people are turning to anti-wrinkle jabs and fillers amid an apparent "Zoom boom" as people want to look good on video calls, experts say.
But they warn bungled procedures are causing irreversible damage to customers’ physical appearance and mental health.
Save Face, the national register of non-surgical cosmetic treatment practitioners, received 1,617 complaints last year.
They found 82 per cent of complainants were ignored or “blocked” by their practitioner when they sought help for problems.
Some 81 per cent were not required to give appropriate consent prior to treatment and 76 per cent were not told which product was used.
Further, 93 per cent were not made aware that serious complications could occur and wrongly thought the jabs were low risk.
RAISING STANDARDS
The Royal Society for Public Health has now launched a qualification to raise standards and boost public confidence in the procedures.
Duncan Stephenson, from the RSPH, said: “Demand for non-surgical cosmetic procedures is believed to have increased as a result of the 'Zoom boom' – with the explosion in online video-calling encouraging many more people to seek ways to enhance their appearance on-screen.
“This research from Save Face is extremely concerning – particularly the lack of aftercare or support when things go wrong.
“It is also worrying that these treatments are often carried out by unqualified practitioners taking advantage of the public’s growing appetite for anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers.
“These types of procedures can go wrong when performed by individuals without the necessary knowledge, understanding and competence.”
Had Our Fill campaign
Britain's Botox and filler addiction is fuelling a £2.75billion industry.
The wrinkle-busting and skin plumping treatments account for 9 out of 10 cosmetic procedures.
50% of women and 40% of men aged 18 to 34 want to plump up their pouts and tweak their faces.
Fillers are totally unregulated and incredibly you don’t need to have ANY qualifications to buy and inject them.
83% of botched jobs are performed by people with no medical training, often in unsanitary environments - with devastating results.
Women have been left with rotting tissue, needing lip amputations, lumps and even blinded by botched jobs.
Despite the dangers, there is no legal age limit for dermal filler, which is why Fabulous has launched Had Our Fill, a campaign calling for:
- fillers to be made illegal for under 18s
- a crackdown on social media sites plugging fillers
- a Government-backed central register for practitioners with accredited qualifications
We're working in conjunction with and are backed by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) and British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS).
We want anyone considering a non-surgical cosmetic treatment to be well-informed to make a safe decision.
We’ve Had Our Fill of rogue traders and sham clinics - have you?
The RSPH, which is offering the course with the Qualification Council for Cosmetic Procedures, says it will “transform the landscape of aesthetic medicine”.
The Sun’s Had Our Fill campaign has been calling for tighter regulation of the £2.75billion industry.
It wants fillers to be made illegal for under 18s, a crackdown on social media sites plugging fillers and a Government-backed central register for practitioners with accredited qualifications.
Gillian Murray, from the QCCP, said: "Current levels of education and training are not standardised across the UK among aesthetic practitioners.
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“This gives rise to different practice standards and allows misleading claims of competence.
“The qualifications produced by the QCCP will give the practitioner a curriculum to work to and provide assurances that training providers are teaching to produce competent practitioners.
“Having a certificate endorsed by RSPH will help to underline and establish the medical model of practice, allowing the practitioner to have confidence in their level of training.”