GPs left to pick up pieces from ‘harmful’ filler and botox procedures

The national consumer watchdog has called on the Government to urgently regulate harmful aesthetic procedures such as botox and fillers, which leave GPs picking up the pieces.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), which promotes fair trading practices and protects consumers, issued a warning saying unregulated aesthetic procedures – such as fat injections, Brazilian Butt Lifts, botox and fillers – could be ‘putting lives in danger’.

The watchdog warned that there was ‘no collation of NHS data’ showing ‘the burden placed on already overstretched services through dealing with infections and life-threatening complications’.

However, according to a general practice indemnity provider, these procedures regularly affect GP patients, with half of GPs saying they have treated related conditions.

The CTSI is calling for:

• Removal of unsafe products sold online;
• A licensing scheme to help regulate the sector;
• The establishment of a ministerial-led government task force to help regulate this sector;
• Extension of underage legislation to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) said many GPs have already witnessed the impact of ‘untrained, unlicensed and uninsured individuals’ operating on their patients.

Data from a recent MDDUS survey revealed that almost half (46%) of GPs surveyed had treated patients who had suffered injuries following unregulated aesthetic procedures including botox, dermal fillers and liposuction.

The 2024 survey showed that doctors were most concerned about:

• Unqualified practitioners performing surgeries;
• Patients not being able to explain the procedure they had;
• Unknown ingredients in procedures such as fillers.

In all, 80% of doctors who had treated patients with complications from such aesthetic procedures said that they had seen a year-on-year increase in patients seeking medical help.

They reported that such cases can be difficult to treat, as they often have little information beyond what the patient is able to tell them about the original procedure.

Unlike doctors, who must be registered with a regulator and hold indemnity, there are currently few restrictions on who can perform aesthetic procedures.

Someone without a healthcare background can perform an invasive procedure after completing a weekend course, often taught by trainers also without a healthcare background.

In 2023, the previous government sought views on whether ‘high-risk’ cosmetic surgeries, such as botox and fillers, should only be carried out by qualified and regulated healthcare professionals.

Ian Andrews, head of environmental health at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), said: ‘We’re concerned about CTSI’s findings and would welcome clarity from the Government on when further legislation will be consulted on because what our members currently work with is outdated. The creation of a national licensing scheme would ensure that all those who practise are competent and trained, improving safety for members of the public.’

Dr Kate Arrow, medico-legal adviser at MDDUS said: ‘Unfortunately these numbers don’t shock me.I used to run a pre-operative assessment surgery and had a patient every couple of weeks presenting with complications from unregulated or overseas cosmetic procedures. 

‘I think it’s underreported how many people need secondary intervention from the NHS.’

Ashton Collins, director of Save Face – a register for medical professionals who provide non-surgical cosmetic treatments – said: ‘There is a systematic failure. The legislation that exists isn’t protecting the people it’s designed to protect.’