As a UK pharmacy announces plans to offer anti-wrinkle and skin rejuvenation treatments in store, similar concerns are also being raised in Australia over botched ‘party season’ procedures carried out by cosmetic surgery ‘cowboys’.

Should we worry about ‘high street’ cosmetic procedures?

If you’re not familiar with Superdrug, it is similar (but not related to) Australian chains such as Chemist Warehouse and Priceline Pharmacy. Found dotted along the UK’s shopping high streets and centres, the store has announced that it will sell Volume Enhancement Treatments and rejuvenating treatments alongside its other products such as headache pills, make-up and lunchtime snacks.

Image: A patient discusses her professional treatment at Cosmos Aesthetics

While it’s hard to deny the convenience of having Wrinkle Reduction Treatments or Volume Enhancement Treatments during your lunch-hour, the overwhelming and worrying truth is that cosmetic practitioners see countless cases of botched aesthetic treatments.
Near identical concerns were raised in Australia after a report, issued by The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery, revealed that up 100,000 Australians plan to undergo cosmetic procedures in preparation for ‘party season.’ Concerns surround people rushing to get ready for festivities and ignoring the dangers of choosing an inexperienced practitioner.

Speaking from The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (ACCS), President Dr Irene Kushelew said: “There is a major misconception in Australia and around the world that injectibles and Volume Enhancement Treatments are beauty treatments, in the same category as facials. This has been heightened by the number of practitioners offering these services in casual settings like shopping malls, at the hairdressers, and even at informal injectible parties.
She went on to warn: “But cosmetic injectables are medical procedures that carry risks, and these need to be weighed up with the perceived physical and psychological benefits. Before receiving any type of cosmetic injectable, you must have a medical consultation with a doctor so they can consider your medical history.
Dr Kushelew also emphasised how training from one practitioner to another can vary significantly. “The public needs protection from untrained, inexperienced, ‘occasional’ practitioners offering cosmetic procedures who do not understand the high-risk areas of the face. Many practitioners undergo a one or two-day training course only for cosmetic injectables – this is simply not adequate,” she said.

What can go wrong?

Cosmetic practitioners often have to rectify poorly and sometimes dangerously administered lip fillers. If you’ve ever seen a lady with ‘trout pout’ you will understand that, in the wrong hands, patients and their doctors go way beyond the naturally enhanced look that most patients desire. It’s therefore of the utmost importance to consult with a clinic and make sure that the person administering the Volume Enhancement Treatments is a fully-trained and qualified injector.

At Cosmos Aesthetics the staff are trained by Dr Joseph Ajaka, one of only 20 selected National Trainers for Allergan the largest supplier of anti wrinkle treatments and Volume Enhancement Treatments around the world. His unquestionable status as an educator means that he teaches the most up-to-date information and works with leading Volume Enhancement Treatments to produce amazing results.
Serious health implications or infections are another cause for concern. It’s therefore crucial that you inspect a clinic before undertaking any cosmetic surgery or treatment, no matter if it lasts half an hour or is a more serious operation.

Cosmos Aesthetics recently opened a new hospital in New South Wales, for major procedures such as mega liposuction. This development follows the tightening of controls to ensure patient safety. Speaking about compliance or rather a lack of it elsewhere,  Cosmos Aesthetics’ Dr Ajaka said: ‘People find ways of getting around the legislation. There are not many people policing them, which is the worrying thing. I think Victoria has come up with even tighter regulations only in July which makes it pretty much impossible to get around the regulations, and I do see that happening across the country in the next couple of years as well’.

How to choose a reputable cosmetic surgery clinic

  • Look for qualifications
  • Look at the experience
  • Look for patient feedback
  • Look for recommendations
  • Go into the clinic and see it for yourself
  • Consult with the doctor/injector/nurse before undergoing any treatment
  • Ask questions