Tweak or treat: our safety guide to not looking spooky after a treatment
Forget horror films and ghost stories. There’s nothing more terrifying than a tweakment gone wrong. We’ve all seen the consequences online and in real life: wonky eyebrows, pillow faces, migrated lips and angry, peeling skin. It’s easy to declare that it could “never be me”, but in reality, it’s actually not so easy to know how to avoid such disasters.
This is because – astonishingly – in the UK, the aesthetics industry is still completely unregulated. This means anyone can inject you legally. A polished website and an Instagram page loaded with followers is often enough to reassure people that they’re in safe hands. But in an industry filled with amateur injectors and self-professed “experts”, you need to do more research than that to keep yourself safe.
Luckily, that’s just what this blog is here to do. We’ll be walking you through everything you need to consider – both before, during and after a treatment – to ensure you stay looking radiant, natural and not like a Halloween mask…
Always go to a medically trained professional
The best place to start when safeguarding yourself during an aesthetic procedure is to choose a medically trained professional or clinic. If you’re ever in any doubt, your injector should be happy to provide you with a list of their credentials. “Medically trained” can mean many things (which can add to the confusion) but typically you’ll want to choose someone who has studied medicine, dentistry or nursing at a university degree level or higher for many years, or someone who has undertaken extensive healthcare training, such as a pharmacist prescriber.
You’ll also want to look out for companies and individuals that are accredited by Save Face and the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), both of which list government-approved practitioners in the UK.
Why is it so important to seek out a medically trained professional for these kinds of procedures? Importantly, medically trained professionals have a thorough understanding of anatomy, which is crucial for achieving results that truly look good. Botulinum Toxin (aka Botox) for anti-wrinkle injections is only available via prescription which means that, legally, you must have a face-to-face consultation with the prescriber prior to any injections. These consultations aren’t a tick-box exercise, they’re your chance to learn and communicate about the best results for your facial anatomy—which your injector should be an expert on.
Medically trained professionals also have in-depth training on complications, as – regardless of who’s injecting you – there’s always a level of risk involved. In the unlikely event that something does go wrong in the hands of a medical professional, they will know the best course of action to rectify the situation. For example, Hyalase – the dissolving agent for dermal filler – is also only available via prescription. If a complication were to arise where Hyalase was required, a non-prescriber or non-medic legally wouldn’t have immediate access to this, which could be a big problem.
Take the time to find an injector you trust
Once you’ve found a certified practitioner, you still need to take the time to learn about their work, as not all accredited professionals have the same style. It’s important to always book a face-to-face consultation with any new injector so that you can chat with them explicitly about the results you’re after. You’ll also want to have a detailed look at their work, which should include before and after photos.
No matter what look you personally prefer, opting for an injector who gives natural-looking results is always the right way to go. Overdoing tweakments is not just down to personal preference, it can also be dangerous.
Trust your injector if they say no to a particular treatment
When choosing an accredited medical professional for your procedure, you’re not just investing in their injecting expertise. You’re also investing in their professional opinion on whether to have the procedure done at all. There are many reasons why certain procedures won’t work for individuals. But, sometimes, it’s simply someone with your best interests at heart telling you that something doesn’t suit you, or no longer looks natural.
Avoid the following things ahead of your appointment:
Blood-thinning medications (such as aspirin), alcohol and strong coffee can all cause increased bruising after an injectable procedure. Some more powerful skincare ingredients (such as retinoids) should also be avoided in the run-up to certain skin procedures, like microneedling. Consult your practitioner if you’re uncertain about what to avoid and when.
Follow the aftercare instructions given by your injector
It’s tempting to see how great you look in the injector’s mirror and forego the aftercare—but some of the most common aesthetic mistakes are made after you leave the chair. Whether it’s avoiding alcohol, the gym or the hairdressers, these instructions are there to ensure your results stay looking great. Proper aftercare will also help you to heal more quickly and avoid any complications. If you ever misplace your aftercare email, we keep a handy copy on our website.
At Tweak East, our clinic is made up of medical professionals and is accredited by Save Face, so you’ll be in safe hands. We take a holistic approach to tweakments, giving you natural results that go hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle. Want to find out more? Book a consultation with a member of our team today.
