If you’re considering getting cosmetic work done, you should look for a facility or practitioner that you have complete faith in. You want your treatment to be carried out carefully so that you may maintain your natural appearance, and you also want it to be carried out in a risk-free manner using the very finest ingredients. Sadly, all of us are exposed to instances of terrible treatment on a regular basis, whether it be from reading publications, watching television, or just going down the local main street. Bear in mind, however, that the majority of your friends who are now undergoing treatment probably simply look terrific, and no one knows they have had any therapy. Botox and dermal fillers are examples of treatments that, when administered by a skilled professional, have the potential to be both effective and safe. However, because all medical procedures carry the potential for unwanted effects or complications, it is in your best interest to locate a practitioner who possesses the highest level of training and experience. How are you going to choose who among these folks you can trust with something as valuable as your appearance? I believe that when it comes to selecting your clinic, you should approach the decision-making process with the same level of scrutiny that you would apply to any other significant choice. It is prudent to use extreme caution. My nine years of experience as the owner of a cosmetic clinic and my interactions with clients who have had negative encounters elsewhere have led to the formulation of the following recommendations. rule number one: evaluate your healthcare provider before letting them evaluate you! You wouldn’t purchase the first property you saw, so you shouldn’t make the assumption that the first person who compliments you on your beauty is going to be the one who is going to look well on you. You need to learn as much as you can about their experience and history, and you also need to evaluate how comfortable you are with the counsel they provide you and the manner they communicate with you. hence, here are the top recommendations that I have: 1. “what are your prior experiences and qualifications?” In the UK, the answer may be anything from a plastic surgeon to a doctor or nurse to a dentist to a physiotherapy to a pharmacy to a beautician, or it could be none of these things at all (anywhere else in europe and the usa no-one except medically qualified doctors can administer injectable cosmetic treatments.) Which of these do you believe will have understanding of dermatology as well as the identification of linked medical diseases, anatomy, as well as the expertise and experience necessary to aid should any difficulties occur following treatment? Please don’t be scared to ask questions; I am often amazed by how few people really probe me and my work with thoughtful inquiries. No practitioner should be startled when they are asked these questions, nor should they take offense at being questioned in this manner; in fact, the more surprised or uncomfortable they are, the more probable it is that they are not as competent as you would want them to be. 2. “How long have you been providing these therapies, and do you have any specialized training?” interesting question, and it does provide some assistance; but, keep in mind that just because someone has been providing treatment options for a long time does not always mean that they are effective. Even among those who have a lot of experience providing therapy, I’ve observed a huge variety in competence levels when I’ve worked as a teacher for practitioners ranging from those who are just starting out to those who are more seasoned. It is essential that they get enough training; but, do they have documentation that they have been evaluated after receiving training? Keep in mind that participating in a training session is not, on its own, sufficient evidence of competence. 3. “Are you a member of a professional organization that is recognized by the industry?” In the United Kingdom, this might refer to the General Medical Council (GMC), the British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM), the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), the General Dental Council (GDC), or the Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc). In the event that you are uncertain about someone’s credentials, you should always verify with the appropriate regulatory body. 4. “How many therapies have you had, and what issues have you experienced as a result of those treatments?” In this case, all you need to do is watch how the question is answered since the person responding may say whatever they want to, but it will still serve as a guide for you. It is impossible for someone with expertise to claim that there have never been any complications, and they certainly have no need to be guilty about admitting this, given that complications are an unavoidable part of the medical field. If someone asserts that they do not encounter any issues, you may want to probe them more with further questions. If they are able to provide you with their own rate of problems, you should be impressed since this demonstrates that they carefully monitor their treatments and the outcomes of their work, as well as that they take their education and practice seriously. 5. “If I have a question or an issue, how easy is it for me to get in touch with you or visit you?” When it comes to requesting guidance after a treatment from some practitioners, particularly in the event that there is a problem, it might be exceedingly difficult to get in touch with them. If you are the patient, this is likely to be very upsetting and stressful for you. For instance, if your practitioner only visits a clinic once a month, they won’t be able to see you very often. Because of this, you should make sure that you are certain that in-person guidance will be accessible to you whenever you want it. If you are about to undergo a more intrusive surgery, you should be given a cell phone number to call outside of regular business hours in case you have any concerns. 6. “What would you recommend I do in the event that I have an issue that you are unable to solve?” If an unexpected issue were to emerge, there may be a very remote possibility that the scenario would call for more specialized guidance. Someone who has given this some consideration will be able to offer a quick response to this question. That response can be that they have a more experienced contact in the profession, or that the product maker will provide back-up and advise (i know from experience that not all manufacturers are good at this) 7. “which items do you use, and why do you choose those things?” I’m sure you’ve heard about the controversy surrounding breast implants, which included the usage of components intended for industrial settings in medical devices in order to reduce production costs. This ultimately resulted in more profits for the clinics that used them, but it led to devastating outcomes for the patients who received them. There are a lot of individuals working in the sector who are of the opinion that there will be issues in the future since new medicines that have not been tried or evaluated are being released on a regular basis, and there is not much evidence to suggest that they are safe over a long period of time. There are at least four major brands of botulinum toxin (the most popular ones being botox itself, xeomin, azzalure, and dysport), and additional manufacturers, which are not always dependable, are surfacing across the globe. There are several hundred distinct forms of filler that are accessible in Europe. The price of the various brands varies widely, however a clinic that uses a brand that is less costly could nonetheless charge the same as a clinic that uses a brand that is more expensive. You need to make sure that the clinic you go to choose the filler or fillers that they prescribe not because they are the least expensive and would allow them to make the most profit, but rather because they are effective and safe. Others may have just tried their product on a tiny sample of individuals over a short length of time, but a well-established firm will have done a lot of research to back up their claims of safety, effect, and durability; I know which one I’d prefer be treated with! The same is true with lasers; the price to purchase equipment that is claimed to perform the same function might vary anywhere from 20,000 to 80,000 British pounds. Consider the question: why would someone purchase such a costly gadget if a cheaper one would operate just as well and be just as safe? These are the seven questions you should ask, but before you make a final choice on who to trust, there are a few more factors you should take into consideration first: “are you being offered a genuine choice of available therapies or are you merely being told to have a therapy that your practitioner happens to do?” “are you being given a choice amongst treatments that are available?” if you need guidance with a specific issue, feel free to inquire. You want to make sure that you are presented with all of the available choices so that you may evaluate the costs, advantages, and risks associated with any treatment option before deciding which one to go with. Ethical advice would also include relevant therapies that are not supplied by your practitioner. GMC guidelines states that this is an essential component of the consent process, and ethical advice would cover these treatments. For instance, it is now generally accepted that the most fundamental component of facial rejuvenation is to have sufficient volume or “lift” in the cheeks; however, there are some practitioners who lack the expertise to treat this area and will therefore never offer it to you. If this is the case, you should avoid working with them. factors on the plus side If your practitioner is engaged with research into novel treatments, if they are sought for views on goods by firms in the aesthetic area, or if they are hired as a trainer by one of the large corporations, then this is a positive indicator that they are regarded within their industry. A good practitioner should make their own assessment of your situation and make suggestions to you that you might not have thought of rather than just giving you the treatment you’ve asked for because they should be the expert advising you after all. Instead of just giving you the treatment you’ve asked for, they should make their own assessment of your situation and make suggestions to you that you might not have thought of. Always keep in mind the importance of using your instincts. If someone seems approachable and easy to talk to, there is a good chance that they will listen to you and be sympathetic to you when it comes to treatment; as a result, you are more likely to be satisfied with the results. On the other hand, if they don’t appear to listen or explain things, don’t seem confident when asking your questions, or if you just don’t feel comfortable with the clinic setting, you would be better off looking elsewhere. problematic aspects If you don’t feel comfortable with the individual when you’re having the consultation, you should find someone else. Be wary if the skincare clinic you are at appears more focused with selling you a treatment or set of procedures for skincare rather than listening to your worries about your skin. Be particularly suspicious if you are informed that a given price will only be applicable if you book today, or if you are told that you may have additional surgery at the same time at a discounted fee. Both of these statements should raise red flags for you. This is a clear indication that the clinic operates on a commission basis and may be more concerned with increasing its profits than ensuring your health and safety. One more bit of guidance from me: there is no harm in going to visit a few different clinics so that you may get diverse perspectives on what would work best for you. In the end, this will be my last piece of advise. In this approach, you’ll be able to gain a sense of the environment in which you feel the most at ease. more reading: skin, skin clinic, skin treatments, similar articles Send a copy of this article to a friend via email! get email updates including stories much like this one right to your inbox. Today, you may get a free subscription!