Botulism and Unlicensed Injectables

The Risks of Unregulated Practitioners

These cases are a stark reminder of the risks that come with unregulated injectables and treatments carried out by practitioners who aren’t qualified. Without the right training, safe products, and appropriate facilities, the potential for complications increases significantly.

As Clare McLoughlin RGN INP, Founder of Appearance Based Medicine explains:

“If patients are not seeing the prescriber face to face, the likelihood is that the product may have been obtained dishonestly. This can include black-market Botox, which carries significant risks. Many of these practitioners are also uninsured and have no accountability to any governing body.”

Without the right training and regulation, some practitioners may unknowingly use products from unlicensed sources, skip important medical checks, or lack the facilities to manage complications safely. While complications from medical aesthetic treatments are rare when performed by qualified professionals, they can occur – and managing them requires proper training.

Why Patient Safety Comes First at Appearance Based Medicine

For Clare, patient safety is at the heart of everything she does, and it’s one of the main reasons she became involved with Save Face, a government-approved register of accredited aesthetic practitioners. Clare is part of the Expert Advisory Board for Save Face.

Being fully accredited by Save Face means every aspect of the clinic’s treatments and processes has been independently verified. This includes practitioner qualifications, product sourcing, clinical facilities, and complication management protocols – giving patients the reassurance that their safety is the top priority.

Clare explains:

“Professional medical-led clinics like ours have the expertise, products, and facilities to keep patients safe. We follow regulated processes at every stage – from consultation through to treatment and aftercare.”

The importance of choosing an accredited practitioner was highlighted recently in the BBC’s investigation “Con or Cure: The Rise of Fake Botox”, which revealed the growing risks of counterfeit products and unregulated treatments. Choosing a Save Face-accredited practitioner means patients can feel confident that the products used are genuine, the facilities meet strict safety standards, and their care is delivered by a qualified medical professional.

The Prescribing Process Patients Often Don’t Know About

One of the biggest patient misconceptions is around how prescription products, such as Botox and Bocouture, are obtained and administered.

These are prescription-only medicines, which means:

You must have an in-person consultation with a qualified prescriber before treatment.
Each prescription is ordered from a registered UK pharmacy specifically for you.
Every batch number is recorded and traceable – just like any medication you’d receive from your GP.

Clare explains:

“We have to demonstrate appropriate, safe prescribing to regulators, showing the exact supply chain we use and keeping detailed records. That’s why we can’t offer same-day consultations and treatments for new patients – safety always comes first.”

This level of regulation protects patients and ensures treatments are carried out responsibly.

How to Choose a Safe Aesthetic Practitioner

When considering any injectable treatment, checking the credentials of the person performing it is one of the most important ways to protect your safety. Here are a few steps Clare recommends:

Check the Save Face register to confirm they’re accredited.
Make sure they’re registered with a relevant governing body, such as the GMC or NMC.
Ask where their products come from and ensure they use licensed UK pharmacies.
Choose practitioners who prioritise safety and won’t bypass consultation requirements.

“Aesthetic treatments are medical procedures, not beauty treatments,” Clare says. “Choosing a properly trained, accountable practitioner protects your health and your results.”

Final Thoughts

The recent botulism cases are an important reminder of why patient safety should always come first when considering aesthetic treatments. When carried out by appropriately trained practitioners, using regulated products and in a safe clinical setting, treatments like wrinkle-relaxing injections are generally considered safe and effective.

If you’d like to learn more or discuss treatment options in a safe, medical-led environment, you can book a consultation with Clare at Appearance Based Medicine.

If you want to read more, the experts at Consulting Room really know what they're talking about and have put together some Botox, Bocouture and lines and wrinkles treatment FAQs just for you.

If you have more questions, you can use the Botox, Bocouture and lines and wrinkles treatment questions feature to talk to our panel of trained medical experts.

If you're keen to get started with any of these treatments right away then you're in luck - those clever folks also have a list of trusted, accredited Botox, Bocouture and lines and wrinkles clinics in your area.

Many thanks to the author of this blog Clare McLoughlin who founded Appearance Based Medicine in 2004, driven by a desire to provide advanced facial rejuvenation solutions and aesthetic treatments to patients in Marlow, Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas.

People choose Appearance Based Medicine because of the top-quality and personable service that they receive, and always leave the clinic with a welcome boost to both their inner confidence and outer radiance.

Call Clare McLoughlin now on 01628 303 020 or visit www.ab-med.co.uk