As non-surgical aesthetic treatments grow in popularity, choosing the right practitioner is more important than ever. Whether you’re considering Botox, dermal fillers, or something else, these treatments can be transformative—but only when performed by a skilled and qualified professional. You may have seen the recent tragic news about a 33 year old mother who died after a non-surgical BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift). While such incidents are thankfully rare, they serve as a very powerful reminder that your safety should always come first.
At Appearance Based Medicine, our founder, Clare McLoughlin, is a highly qualified Registered General Nurse and Independent Nurse Prescriber with over 24 years of experience in aesthetics. Clare also sits on the Expert Advisory Board at Save Face UK, ensuring that every treatment at AB Med meets the highest safety standards.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through the green flags to look for when choosing an aesthetic practitioner, as well as the red flags to be aware of.
Green Flags: What to Look for in a Practitioner
1. Accreditation and Qualifications
Ensure they are fully qualified and accredited by doing your homework before booking a consultation. One of the best resources for finding trusted practitioners is the Save Face register, which is a Professional Standards Authority (PSA) government-approved register. With over 1 million users, Save Face helps patients find trusted and qualified practitioners. They ensure that every listed practitioner has passed a rigorous 116-point safety and qualification assessment.
Clare McLoughlin, the founder of AB Med, is Save Face-accredited. She recently received her 10-year accreditation award from Save Face, highlighting her longstanding commitment to patient safety and care.
For doctors, checking the GMC register (General Medical Council) register confirms that their registration is current and that they have no endorsements or restrictions against them. For nurses, the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) register verifies their current registration but also indicates whether they hold a prescribing qualification. This ensures that you are seeing a nurse prescriber who is qualified to prescribe prescription-only treatments like Botox and also manage any potential side effects of your treatment.
2. Initial Face-to-Face Consultations
For all injectable treatments, including Botox, it is essential to have an initial face-to-face consultation. This is especially important because Botox is a prescription-only medicine, which can only be prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or nurse who holds the necessary prescribing qualification.
During this meeting your practitioner should discuss your goals, assess your overall health and consider the nuances of your facial anatomy to ensure the treatment is tailored specifically to you. They will carry out a physical assessment and evaluate whether the treatment is suitable for you.
3. Informed Consent Throughout
Informed consent is imperative, but it includes so much more than just signing a form.
A qualified practitioner will want you to fully understand your treatment by:
- Discussing the anatomy and ageing processes related to your concern.
- Offering other treatment options for consideration.
- Outlining what the procedure involves, including short-term effects.
- Explaining potential side effects and how they will be managed.
- Informing you of how long results last, when repeat treatments may be needed, and their costs.
- Giving you written aftercare instructions and an emergency contact number. At AB Med, all our patients are given a number to contact Clare McLoughlin directly.
For more detailed information on what to expect during your consultation, you can read our previous blog here. This process ensures you make an informed decision—something that can’t be covered in a brief chat before treatment.
4. The Clinic Should Have a Prescriber Onsite
Safety is always the top priority and having a prescriber onsite is a key green flag for any clinic offering aesthetic treatments. In rare cases, complications such as a dermal filler occlusion may occur, requiring a prescription-only treatment like Hylase to dissolve the filler. Having an experienced prescriber in the clinic ensures that emergencies can be handled immediately.
5. Professional Clinic Environment
The atmosphere of the clinic should make you feel confident in the level of care you’ll receive. When you visit, check that the clinic feels clean, organised and professional. You can take a look around the AB Med Clinic based in Marlow here. During treatments, products such as dermal fillers and Botox should always be opened in front of you to ensure they are sterile and single-use.
6. Cooling-Off Period
A reputable practitioner will offer a cooling-off period after your consultation. This gives you some time to consider the treatment without any pressure. You should also be provided with written information about the procedures, products and suggested aftercare. This is a hallmark of a clinic that prioritises patient education and safety.
7. Transparent Reviews and Feedback
Before choosing a clinic, take the time to read reviews from other patients. Reputable clinics will have a wealth of positive reviews that speak to their professionalism, the quality of their treatments and their customer care. At AB Med, we encourage potential patients to check out our reviews and read about the first-hand experiences of others before making a decision. Trustworthy feedback is a great indicator of the level of care you can expect.
8. Ongoing Care and Follow-Up
A good practitioner doesn’t stop at the treatment. They will offer a review after your procedure to ensure everything is healing well and to make any necessary adjustments. This follow-up care is essential for maintaining long-term results and looking after your health.
Red Flags: Warning Signs to Avoid
1. Not accredited
If a practitioner is not accredited by an independent body like Save Face, it’s a red flag. Always check whether your practitioner is listed on Save Face or another reputable register. If you feel pressured to book a treatment without a proper consultation or if the practitioner avoids discussing potential risks, it’s time to reconsider. For more information on how to raise concerns about a practitioner, you can visit Save Face’s guide to raising concerns.
2. Remote Consultations for Injectable Treatments
Whilst remote consultations are fine for a variety of treatments, they should not be offered for treatments such as Botox; instead an initial face-to-face consultation is required.
3. Lack of Information
If the practitioner doesn’t provide enough information about the treatment or doesn’t answer your questions thoroughly, it may indicate that they are not prioritising patient safety and education.
4. Pressuring for Immediate Treatment
If you feel rushed into making a decision or pressured to undergo a treatment immediately after the consultation without a cooling-off period, this is a sign that the practitioner may not have your best interests in mind.
Questions to Ask Your Practitioner
When booking your initial consultation, ask these important questions to ensure you’re making an informed decision:
1. Are you accredited by Save Face or another reputable body?
2. Will I have a face-to-face consultation with a prescriber before my treatment?
3. What qualifications and training do you have in administering aesthetic treatments?
4. Will you provide me with a cooling-off period and written information on the treatment?
5. Do you offer follow-up appointments to assess the results?
By taking the time to find a practitioner who is accredited, experienced and transparent, you’ll be protecting your health whilst also having peace of mind in knowing that you’re in safe hands.
At AB Med, Clare McLoughlin’s extensive experience and dedication to patient care set the standard for safe, ethical aesthetic treatments. If you’re ready to take the next step, book a consultation today or call 01628 303020 and discover what truly personalised care can do for you.
