Year upon year, the beauty industry is expanding and developing. A beauty treatment from yesteryear might have consisted of a pedicure or a luxury facial. However, with the introduction of new treatments and technologies and every town in the UK seemingly having an aesthetic clinic on every corner, it can be difficult to know which therapist to go to. Unfortunately, with the rise of new technologies, also comes the rise of enquiries to beauty claims specialists such as ourselves, where a treatment has sadly gone wrong.
Treatments such as lip and cheek fillers are now the norm, along with Botox injections, cryolipolysis (fat freezing), skin chemical peels, laser hair removal, to name but a few. However, all these treatments do involve an element of risk if not carried out correctly and competently. Some of the procedures mentioned above can potentially lead to severe infections, scarring, lumpiness to the skin and permanent disfiguration.
So how can you avoid becoming a victim of an inexperienced practitioner? You need to do your research fully before agreeing to undergo a procedure. A clinic might have a special offer on for treatment at a reduced price, but does that mean you are getting a suitably qualified therapist who has been trained in carrying out the advertised procedure?
DO
- Ask to see the therapist’s qualifications in the treatment that you are interested in.
- Ask if they carry appropriate insurance cover (should something go wrong).
- Check reviews to see if anyone else has suffered a poor experience at that clinic or practice.
- Ask the therapist to explain the procedure and any potential risks in advance of committing to the treatment – a good therapist will always be happy to explain this to you and some of these treatments do carry risks that cannot be avoided even with a competent practitioner.
- Disclose any underlying health conditions or complications to the therapist in advance of the treatment taking place.
- Check that the clinic is clean and tidy and ask if the equipment being used is sterilised / on the right settings etc.
- Follow any pre-treatment and aftercare advice given by the therapist.
- Report any injury or unexpected side effect at once to the therapist, and insist that this is recorded in writing.
- Ask the therapist to stop what they are doing if the treatment feels uncomfortable or painful, and explain why you are feeling discomfort. No treatment should subject you to excessive amounts of pain.
DON’T
- Settle for the cheapest therapist, or the one advertising the best offer – if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
- Undergo treatment if the therapist hasn’t asked you any questions about relevant past medical history, any issues of skin problems, any adverse reactions to treatments in the past – these questions are to enable a practitioner to determine if there are any contraindications to you having treatment, and to enable them to make a decision as to whether to proceed or not.
- Feel that you have to continue with the treatment if the therapist seems reluctant to answer your genuine questions beforehand. It is better to walk away without injury rather than proceed because you feel embarrassed or that you might offend someone.
- Proceed if the therapist tells you that they have no insurance or are in the process of getting this sorted out. It is much more difficult to sue a practitioner in person if they have no insurance if things go wrong.
- Sign any waiver or disclaimers before the treatment.
If the worst happens and something goes wrong, then you can seek advice from a specialist personal injury solicitor who can guide you on whether you are entitled to make a claim, and what compensation you are likely to recover. Stephensons’ personal injury department have specialists within their team who can provide you with advice and support. Call us today on 0161 696 6235.
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