Alcohol-fuelled 'Botox parties' a 'very real risk' warns health boss

Unregulated Botox parties are a ‘very real risk’ for people’s health and safety, a health boss has warned.

Scotland's regulator of private health clinics, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), fear unregulated healthcare professionals organising get togethers where alcohol is consumed while treatments are performed are using materials from overseas not authorised in the UK.

Director of quality assurance and regulation Eddie Docherty issued his concerns amid the growing trend in so-called Botox parties.

And he advised people to only seek procedures from regulated healthcare professionals.

He said: "Having a cosmetic treatment is a serious undertaking that should only be entered into with due consideration of the very real risks to an individual's health and safety.

"Bringing together the injecting of Botox, alcohol and a party atmosphere reduces people's judgement, and their ability to properly provide consent and consider the real risks.

"No clinic regulated by us, and run by a healthcare professional, would be permitted to run Botox parties as an appropriate environment to provide such a treatment.

"We would urge anyone looking to get cosmetic interventions to think about their health and wellbeing and put their care into the hands of professionals with years of appropriate training and experience behind them, and where they can trust them to make their wellbeing a priority.”

All private clinics, hospitals and hospices where services are provided by healthcare professionals are legally required to be registered with HIS.

And Mr Docherty insists people need to be cautious of the contents of materials used for procedures like dermal fillers and slimming jabs.

He added: "In addition, if you are receiving Botox from a beautician, then it may be a product that has been imported from overseas and not authorised for use in the UK.

"Only a trained and experienced healthcare professional should administer Botox, acquired through a registered pharmacist, as they can access it legally, understand the physiology of the face in order to administer it correctly, and have ready access to effective medicines if something goes wrong.

"People should always check that a clinic is registered with HIS before undertaking treatments."

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