These are the Dangers of Members of the Public (non-medical) Injecting

This article will examine the dangers of unregulated aesthetics services, including risks like blindness, stroke, infections, and disfigurement. We'll also provide tips on how to stay safe and what to do if you suffer complications from a cosmetic procedure.

Lack of Regulation and Training

Unlike medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, and physician assistants, who must complete extensive education and clinical training before being licensed to perform injections and other medical procedures, currently very little regulation exists around who can inject botox and fillers. Shockingly, in most places, anyone can order botox, dermal fillers, and the required supplies online and then start injecting clients with minimal, if any, formal training.

Doctors must graduate from 4 years of medical school and complete 3-7 years of residency training in a specialty like dermatology or plastic surgery before they can start practicing independently. Nurses undergo 2-4 years of nursing education and hundreds of hours of clinical work under supervision. Even aestheticians, who perform laser treatments and facial procedures, typically have to complete 600+ hours of supervised instruction at an accredited school.

In contrast, members of the public (non-medical) who offer injectables like botox or fillers are free to purchase materials online and inject clients after getting credentials from non accredited "training" programs that can be as short as a weekend seminar or online course. This lack of enforced standards means anyone can promote themselves as qualified to inject neurotoxins, dermal fillers, and other substances into clients' faces and bodies regardless of their actual skill, knowledge, or experience.

Risk of Skin Damage and Disfigurement

Injecting dermal fillers is a complex procedure that requires extensive training and an artistic eye. When performed by under qualified individuals, the risks of skin damage and disfigurement are high. Some potential dangers include:

• Necrosis - This is death of skin tissue which can occur when fillers are injected improperly. The area turns black and essentially dies. This requires immediate medical treatment to avoid permanent scarring or deformity.
• Open wounds - Lack of proper sanitization and injection technique can lead to open wounds on the face that are prone to infection. These may require stitches and leave behind visible scars.
• Permanent scarring - Scars can form any time the skin is damaged from poor injection technique. Even if treated, scars may remain permanently.
• Lumps and bumps - Incorrect placement or poor filler distribution can create visible lumps and bumps under the skin, inexpensive fillers are very hard to dissolve and may never go away.
• Asymmetry - Uneven injection or use of too much product can distort facial symmetry and make one side appear drastically different than the other. This effect is hard to reverse.
• Blindness - Product injected incorrectly near the eye or tear duct can lead to complete loss of vision. This is rare but can occur in the hands of an untrained injector.

Alarmingly, a 2021 survey found that 63% of plastic surgeons reported seeing patients with complications from unqualified injectors in the past year. Risks like blindness and stroke are higher when receiving injections from non-medical professionals. Consumers must do their research to avoid disfigurement at the hands of unlicensed, unskilled injectors.

Risk of Blindness

Injecting fillers is an incredibly delicate procedure that requires extensive training and precision. When improperly injected, dermal filler can accidentally enter a blood vessel, travel through the circulatory system, and block blood supply to the eyes or optic nerves. This can result in sudden and permanent blindness.

There have been numerous reports of blindness caused by unqualified injectors administering filler injections. In one case, a woman was left permanently blind in one eye after getting filler injected in her nose by an unlicensed practitioner. The filler blocked an artery that supplied blood to her optic nerve. Another woman went blind after getting a dermal filler injection from an unqualified provider at a Botox party. The filler blocked an artery in her forehead, cutting off blood supply to her optic nerve.

Blindness is an irreversible complication that can result from improperly injected fillers blocking blood supply to the eyes. Only medical professionals with extensive knowledge of facial anatomy should perform these injections. Patients risk losing their eyesight when getting injectables from unqualified, untrained individuals. The dangers are simply too high.

Risk of Stroke

Injecting fillers into arteries in the face can lead to devastating consequences. If filler is accidentally injected into an artery, it can travel through the bloodstream to the brain and cause a stroke. This is an extremely serious risk when procedures are performed by untrained personnel without medical supervision.

Studies have shown that the number of adverse events from unregulated aesthetics procedures is rising. One survey found that between 2010-2017, unregulated procedures led to over 200 cases of blindness and 14 confirmed deaths from stroke. Many of these strokes occur when improper injection technique leads to occlusion of arteries in the face. The filler blocks blood flow to the brain, depriving it of oxygen.

When a stroke occurs, it can lead to long-term disability or even death. Effects of a stroke include paralysis, loss of speech, and vision problems. Approximately 80% of strokes caused by aesthetic filler injections happen during or shortly after the procedure. This demonstrates the immediate danger of allowing untrained practitioners to perform risky medical procedures.

The risk of stroke can be minimized by choosing properly accredited medical professionals like plastic surgeons, Dentists, Doctors and Nurses. Their extensive medical training allows them to understand facial anatomy and injection techniques to avoid injecting into arteries. However, unregulated members of the public often lack this medical knowledge and put clients at risk. Consumers should be aware of these dangers before seeking discounted services. No minor cosmetic enhancement is worth losing your life or health over.

Infections

Unsanitary conditions and poor hygiene practices by unlicensed members of the public(non-medical) can lead to serious infections like MRSA. MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is a bacterial infection resistant to some antibiotics that can rapidly spread and cause severe illness.

Many illegal aestheticians fail to properly sterilize their tools and workspaces between clients. They may reuse needles, fail to wash hands, and engage in other unsafe practices that spread bacteria. This puts clients at risk of contracting infections directly into the bloodstream through injections, leading to hospitalizations.

There have been numerous reports of customers developing serious infections that required strong IV antibiotics to treat after receiving injections from unlicensed providers. In one case, a woman contracted MRSA after lip injections and spent a week in the hospital fighting the infection. In another, a patient was hospitalized for over a month due to an infection from a botched Botox injection that led to swelling in her cheeks and eyes.

These severe infections from unsanitary illegal injections can leave permanent scarring and damage if not treated quickly. However, many victims do not realize the cause until it is too late. This demonstrates the importance of only using properly licensed, trained and certified professionals for any injectable aesthetic procedures.

Lack of Medical Oversight

Getting injections like Botox or dermal fillers from an unlicensed provider is extremely dangerous because there is no doctor or medical professional overseeing the procedure. Unlike legal and reputable aesthetics clinics, unlicensed injectors have no formal medical training and are not backed by a team of medical experts in case something goes wrong.

When you get injections from a licensed provider, there is always a doctor or nurse practitioner on staff to conduct medical evaluations beforehand, supervise the treatment, and handle any potential complications. With an unlicensed injector, you are completely on your own if something happens, and they will not know how to properly respond in an emergency situation. There is no safety net or medical oversight.

"Seeking discount injections might seem tempting, but it is never worth risking your health and safety. Only get aesthetic treatments from licensed, reputable providers with proper medical staff on hand. Avoid unqualified injectors who lack the training, expertise and oversight required to safely administer injections and handle complications. It is better to pay more for peace of mind and your wellbeing."

What to Do if You've Been Injured

If you've been injured or harmed by an unqualified aesthetics service provider, it's important to take action right away. Here are some steps to take:

• Seek medical attention immediately. Go to the emergency room or call your doctor. Getting prompt treatment can reduce complications from injuries.
• Document what happened. Take photos of any visible damage or reactions. Get the name and contact details of the service provider who injured you. Note the date, time, location, and exactly what services were performed.
• Report the incident. This is surprisingly very difficult to do in Scotland as the NHS at this time do not specifically record aesthetic injuries, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) only govern medical professionals and do not accept information regarding unregulated services, Environmental Health Scotland have no remit for investigating healthcare injuries. 
• Consult a Solicitor. A Solicitor can advise you if you have grounds for compensation and represent your case. They can help get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, permanent injuries and more.
• Leave Reviews. Politely warn others about your experience by leaving factual reviews on sites like Yelp. You could prevent someone else from being harmed.
• Verify a Clinic. To find a regulated clinic to access qualified aesthetics professionals, check our Clinic Finder Map

www.ukmasg.org/clinic-finder

How to Report Illegal or Harmful Activity

If you've received an unsafe, harmful, or disfiguring procedure from an unlicensed provider, it's important to report it to help prevent the same thing from happening to others. Here are some steps you can take:

• File an official complaint, again this is very difficult to do in Scotland for the reasons discussed. Provide details of what happened, including dates, provider name, location, and the specific issue. This creates a record and allows the agency to investigate.
• Contact Trading Standards and submit a consumer complaint. They can investigate businesses engaged in deceptive practices or causing consumer harm.
• Leave online reviews detailing your experience so others considering the provider are aware of the risks. However, avoid false claims or exaggerations. Stick to factual details of what occurred.
• Report serious cases to your local news consumer watchdog team. Media coverage further alerts the community and prompts faster action from officials.
• Spread awareness on social media and among your networks. Share your story while urging others to only visit properly licensed, accredited aesthetic professionals.

The more complaints that are formally registered, the likelier it becomes that unqualified providers will face penalties or be shut down. By speaking up, you help protect public health and safety.

Conclusion

Getting aesthetic procedures like filler injections or laser treatments from unqualified providers can be extremely dangerous. Throughout this article, we've covered some of the main risks, including skin damage, blindness, stroke, and infections. Without proper medical training and oversight, the person injecting or treating you may improperly administer the procedure or use unsafe products and techniques. This puts you at risk for complications both during and after the procedure.

It's crucial to do your research before selecting any aesthetics provider. Make sure they are properly licensed and have medical training. Ask about their experience and credentials. A qualified, reputable provider will be happy to answer your questions. They will also follow safety protocols to minimize risks.

If you believe a provider is operating illegally or has injured you, report them. Don't keep quiet, as they may continue to harm others. We all have a responsibility to speak up when public health and safety are at risk.

Report it here:   www.ukmasg.org/no-consultation-report-it  >>>

The bottom line is: don't take chances with unregulated aesthetics procedures. Protect yourself by being an informed, empowered consumer. Do your homework to find a qualified provider you can trust. It's the best way to get the look you want while avoiding the dangers covered in this article. Your health and safety should always come first.

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