Beautician or surgeon? What you need to know before having cosmetic injections

Across Spain, and here in Marbella, you will find many beauty salons and hairdressers offering cosmetic injections, many of them advertising what appear to be very attractive prices. But what risks do you take by choosing to have your procedure outside of a medical setting?

We answer your questions related to the rules, regulations and risks around cosmetic injectables, so you may be fully informed when selecting a practitioner.

What does Spanish Law say about cosmetic injections?

The laws around administering cosmetic injections in Spain are very strict. You need to be a qualified doctor registered with the Ministry of Health. In addition, doctors undergo specialist training and gain specific qualifications. The clinic where the treatments are given must also be licensed.

According to Spanish law, not even nurses or dentists are allowed to give cosmetic injections.

So, are these other establishments operating illegally?

Yes. If anyone other than a registered doctor is offering facial or filler injections they are doing so illegally. These practitioners are both unqualified and unregulated.

How are qualified practitioners regulated?

Doctors who are registered to administer cosmetic injections are regularly checked by the authorities to ensure they are following safety procedures. This includes checking the integrity of the product, which is especially important due to the rise in counterfeit or ‘fake’ injectables in circulation. They also ensure the medication is within its date and correctly stored.

Why is it necessary to be a doctor to give cosmetic injections?

It must be understood that a cosmetic injection is a medical procedure. It involves the injection of a potent neurotoxin into neuromuscular tissue, in order to paralyse facial muscles. It is therefore vital that the practitioner is highly skilled and medically trained.

Having a cosmetic injection is not the same as having a facial or a manicure, and in the wrong hands the results can be disastrous.

What are the risks involved with having facial injections?

Properly administered, this is a safe and well-tolerated treatment. However, there are a number of side effects that may be experienced when the injections are given by an under-qualified practitioner.

The most serious include drooping of the eyelids, blurred vision or decreased eyesight, unwanted weakness/paralysis in nearby musculature, and facial necrosis (death of the skin, leading to unsightly scarring).

In addition, patients may experience an allergic reaction resulting in hives or swelling, or in rare cases, anaphylactic shock. If complications do occur, being under the care of a qualified doctor in a fully equipped medical setting ensures patient safety. 

How do the laws around cosmetic injections in the UK differ from those in Spain?

In the UK, the laws around administering injectables is far laxer. People with no medical training, such as beauticians, can administer cosmetic injections and do not have to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (the independent regulator for health services in England).

The Royal College of Surgeons and The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) are campaigning for stricter controls. They believe only those who have medically recognised qualifications and training should carry out cosmetic procedures, and in a registered clinic with resuscitation equipment on hand in the event of an emergency.

I’ve been invited to an ‘injectables party’, should I go?

An ‘Injectables party’ is a social gathering, often held in a person's home, at which facial injections are given. Having your treatment at a so-called injectables party may appear an attractive choice – you may feel more comfortable in a domestic setting and supported by the company of your friends, who are also being treated. You may also enjoy discounted group rates.

However, even if the practitioner administering the injections is a qualified and registered doctor, it is always advisable to receive treatment in a medical setting. A party like this might not have measures in place to ensure safe and effective treatments.

You should also avoid drinking alcohol before getting injections, as this can increase your tendency to bruise afterward and prevent you from fully understanding the risks and benefits of the treatment.

If you're considering having cosmetic injections in Marbella, don't take chances. At Ocean Clinic Marbella, cosmetic injectables are administered only by fully qualified and highly experienced doctors.  

You will be offered an extensive consultation before the treatment is performed to help determine if this is right for you or if maybe another surgical or non surgical procedure is better suited for your individual case.

Contact Ocean Clinic today to further discuss your options.