Patients Routinely Ignored by Irresponsible Practices in the UK: Victims of Botched Filler and Silicone Injections
According to recent reports, victims of dishonest cosmetic professionals in the UK are routinely ignored when they file complaints.
A growing number of people have been seeking anti-wrinkle treatments and facial fillers during the so-called “Zoom Boom,” where people want to look their best while participating in video conferences. Eighty percent of these people feel their complaints fall on deaf ears when they have experienced irreversible damage to their appearance and psychological health.
Up to 81% of those treated failed to comply with the requirement to provide adequate consent before their procedures. And 76% were not even informed about the product that would be used to treat them.
Up to 93% of patients were not informed about the possibility of serious complications. They mistakenly believed the risk of adverse events due to filler treatments was low.
Fillers: a big problem
Facial fillers have become the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment in the UK. The industry is worth billions and accounts for 90% of procedures. Fillers involve the injection of materials such as hyaluronic acid and collagen to add additional volume to counteract the effects of aging or improve appearance.
The problem is that facial fillers are a completely unregulated industry in the UK. Therefore, no medical qualifications are required to purchase and inject the products.
This lack of regulation has directly led to an increase in dishonest professionals advertising their services on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. Although facial fillers are generally considered a very safe treatment, accidents are common in the hands of unethical practitioners. An estimated 83% of failed filler injections were administered by people without any medical training, sometimes in unsanitary conditions.
Raising the bar
Some changes are currently being proposed. A rating has been launched to raise industry standards and improve public confidence in cosmetic and anti-aging procedures.
Medical authorities are extremely concerned that the lack of support and follow-up care when adverse events develop is causing enormous problems. They are also concerned that unqualified professionals are exploiting the public’s growing appetite for wrinkle-reducing injections and facial fillers.
Bótox
Botox, while not technically a facial filler, is a type of wrinkle-reducing injectable that also causes problems when administered by unscrupulous professionals. The product consists of a toxin that, while generally safe in the hands of a skilled practitioner, can cause problems throughout the body.
Botox works by temporarily paralyzing the muscles into which it’s injected. Problems can arise when Botox is injected into areas it’s not approved for.
The “Had Our Fill” campaign seeks to educate the public about the dangers of facial fillers and injectables like Botox when administered by unethical professionals without medical training.
Key facts:
- Half of women and 40% of men want plumper pouts and retouched faces.
- Facial fillers are completely unregulated and no qualifications are required to administer them.
- The victims developed necrotic tissue and required lip amputations.
- There is currently no legal age limit for receiving facial fillers.
- Practitioners are injecting dangerous materials like silicone that cause side effects.
A key proposal of the Had Our Fill campaign is to make filler injections illegal for people under 18. Social media sites promoting facial fillers are also expected to face some form of restrictions, as well as the need for a central government registration process for filler practitioners with the appropriate qualifications.
The qualifications would lend some credibility to the facial filler and injectable industry. They would provide a curriculum and help assure patients that they are receiving treatment from a competent professional.
US Silicone Injection Removal Experts
A prominent US cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Rafael Antun, echoes the sentiments of public figures in the UK who are concerned about the dangers of fillers and silicone injections.
Dr. Antun is a silicone injection removal expert who has spent over 15 years exposing the dangers of these products and developing innovative techniques for safe removal.
It is hoped that the efforts of responsible professionals like Dr. Antun and other public figures will help turn the tide and inform the public about the significant safety risks of many of these cosmetic and anti-aging products.
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