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Superdrug, the\’a0health and beauty retailer, recently announced their plans to introduce Botox and Dermal Filler injections in specific high street locations nationwide.\’a0
According to their spokesperson, Anish Sabherwal;
\’93Now a customer can nip into our store during their lunch hour, get a manicure, have an anti-wrinkle consultation, have their brows threaded before choosing a sandwich meal deal and heading back to the office\’94.
This attempt to take advantage of the recent rise in demand for these treatments, on the back of high profile celebrities\’a0such as Kylie Jenner, the Kardashians and TV shows such as Love Island, although offered at bargain basement prices….may actually come at a cost!
Experienced\’a0 practitioners can spend months in training, and attain years\’a0of experience in\’a0performing aesthetic procedures,\’a0to ensure that they have an in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy, the aesthetic consultation and individual treatment planning, as well as an\’a0awareness of specific product characteristics and potential complications. This level of training is represented\’a0in their charges,\’a0as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for".
It is clear that these practitioners, who strive to ensure optimal results,\’a0taking\’a0pride in their work and building their reputations and subsequent clientele on this, would not be offering lunch-time treatments and a free meal deal to any client, at any cost.
The optimal aesthetic procedure requires a detailed individual client assessment, which includes\’a0exploring client expectations, having an honest and objective discussion about realistic outcomes, identification of potential concerns\’a0such as contraindications of treatment,\’a0and identification of possible concerns such\’a0body dysmorphic syndrome. This procedure\’a0requires time, in fact current guidance suggests up to two weeks. It is simply ludicrous to\’a0suggest that the average lunch-break would allow for this level of detail.\’a0\’a0
Many of those attending a "lunch-break" procedure simply bypass\’a0these important factors, running the risk of poor aesthetic outcomes, hard to correct complications and a long-term apprehension of cosmetic interventions.\’a0
It is these vulnerable people that regulatory bodies should be protecting, and it is our responsibility as experienced practitioners to advocate this,\’a0ensuring\’a0that inappropriate collaborations, such as those between major pharmaceutical companies and high street retailers, be discouraged at all costs.
So this would be my advice to those considering\’a0bargain basement high street procedures…DON'T. Remember, if something looks too good to be true…it usually is!
Please feel free to message me directly at info@drpaulelgey.com , @drpaulelgey for FB or www.drpaulelgey.com if you have any burning questions or simply want advice about how I may assist in your treatment goals.
Dr Paul Elgey
London\’a0
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