Ministers have initiated a consultation to rein in the ‘out of control’ cosmetics industry.

In an effort to rein in the ‘out of control’ cosmetics business, ministers have opened up a consultation.

Thousands of Brits have complained about ‘botched’ results from cosmetic procedures like Botox injections while seeking plumper lips and smoother skin.

Victims have reported having “balloon-sized” lips that seemed like they might break apart or being in “stinging” pain.

A licensing scheme for businesses and individuals delivering such treatments will keep people safe, campaigners said today.

With concerns about procedures like Botox, laser hair removal, and dermal fillers, the consultation seeks opinions on proposals to regulate the aesthetics industry in England.

According to the government, this will be a major factor in the development of new rules, such as the rollout of a licensing system for practitioners and cosmetic businesses in England.

Many clinics are trustworthy, and procedures like Botox are often performed without incident. But an increasing number of patients are claiming adverse effects, leading campaigners to assert that the industry is “out of control.”

Over three thousand complaints were filed with the Government Approved Register of Accredited Practitioners in 2022 alone, with more than two-thirds of those complaints being about dermal fillers and almost a quarter being about Botox.

However, the number of complaints keeps increasing.

This year, there has been a 400% increase in reported issues with cosmetic practitioners.

Dermal fillers and Botox, both injected substances, carry the risk of infection and severe swelling if not administered properly.

Botulinum toxin, sold under the trade name Botox, is a paralyzing drug for the facial muscles that is used to treat wrinkles.

Dermal filler is a gel that is implanted under the skin.

It’s serious business, so we need to take precautions to keep things clean and make sure any potential side effects can be dealt with. 

She is particularly concerned about the fallout that could occur if a clinic did not have a prescriber on site.

She asked, “Can they provide the needed medication to effectively cure, according to the patient’s medical history and based on the shape of the face, if the dreaded vascular occlusion happens” (when filler enters a blood vessel)?

Is it illegal to purchase botulinum toxin without a prescription? Is a medical practitioner seeing the patient in person before writing a prescription for the product?

This will be the first time a government has ever held a consultation on treatments, commonly referred to as aesthetic procedures, and it will help create a new license scheme for businesses in the cosmetic industry in England.

Some of the proposed regulations include age limits and restrictions on high-risk treatments, such as the injection of fillers into sensitive areas of the body like the breasts and buttocks.

Proclaiming the consultation, the Minister for Women’s Health Strategy said, “We have heard too many stories about people who have had unpleasant experiences obtaining a cosmetic procedure from someone who is unskilled or underqualified, whether it is Botox, dermal fillers, or even a chemical peel.” 

“There is no denying the rise in popularity of cosmetic treatments; thus, it is our responsibility to guarantee consistent standards for clients and a level playing field for businesses and practitioners.”

The majority of the 900,000 annual Botox injections performed in the UK are met with zero complaints from patients. 

In December 2021, 23-year-old Grace Palmer of Earby, Lancashire, visited a practitioner and reported that after just two-needle insertions, her upper lip had swollen to three times its normal size.

“She merely stuck the needle into my skin twice,” she claimed in 2022. “It was excruciatingly painful when she pushed the filler into my mouth; it felt like a wasp had stung me.”

Leah Morton, a 26-year-old woman from Liverpool, claimed she almost lost her lip and nose, and that botched filler left her with lasting scars.

She admitted that she had filler in her lips before, but in June 2021, she said, “I have always hated the shape of my nose, so I decided to get the treatment done to my nose.”

“When I looked in the mirror the following day, the tip of my nose was completely white and very cold to touch.”

The filler had blocked a blood vessel in her nose, leading to a condition known as vascular occlusion.

Lora Evans, 32, from Swansea, who underwent the same treatment in 2017, also described her experience as terrifying.

“My lips were literally growing larger by the hour and beginning to split.”

“I was more concerned about the consequences in the long term, wondering if I had entirely damaged my lips out of vanity.”

The government has set an eight-week consultation period, which will end on October 28.

Botox injections are exceedingly hazardous when administered incorrectly. Botox is effective and secure when administered by trained medical professionals. They have the ideal delivery technique to ensure maximum effect.

Dentox is a program that teaches healthcare professionals how to inject Botox in a safe and effective way. For additional information about online and in-person patient training courses, please visit https://dentox.com/botox-training/ and https://dentox.com/live-courses/.