Aesthetics - Doctor or not?

So what are the benefits of having a medical doctor do your aesthetics treatments?

Well, there are loads! Obviously being a GP myself I’m going to think doctors are the best option but even I amazed myself when I started compiling a list. I have blogged before about what you should think about when choosing your practitioner, but why choose a doctor?

Just before I get into it, this blog is all about the positives of chosing a doctor, however it does not mean that only doctors should be aesthetic clinicians. There are lots of well-trained, highly experienced, trustworthy aesthetic clinicians who are not doctors out there providing excellent treatment and care.

The aesthetics industry is largely unregulated, that means that it is is not controlled or supervised by any regulations or laws. For this reason it is really important you make choices to give you the best possible outcome, in the safest way possible. 

In recent years there has been a move towards developing standards and affiliated bodies to hopefully encourage practitioners to only carry out procedures they are trained (and competent!) to do. This is a good first step but more is needed. 

Here are some areas to think about when considering who is going to provide your aesthetic treatments:

Regulation

As a doctor I am regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC).  All doctors registered in the UK have to abide by a set of standards set out by the GMC - Duties of a Doctor. https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-guidance-for-doctors/good-medical-practice/duties-of-a-doctor This covers various aspects of our role including our knowledge, skills and performance; how we practice safely and how we communicate with patients in an honest and open way.

On top of these general expectations of doctors, the GMC have also issued specific guidance for doctors providing aesthetic treatments. These highlight the ethical aspects we should consider, the importance of practicing within our competency and underscore the vital role of trust in what we do.

If you are treated by a doctor, you can expect that they will only be offering you treatments in line with these codes of conduct.

Your practitioner should stay up to date, attend updates and courses.  Doctors undergo a process of yearly appraisal to ensure they are meeting all of the required standards.  On top of this, they undergo a more rigorous process called revalidation every five years. This ensures we remain fit to practice.

This is great news for patients as you know your practitioner has been through these processes - you should feel free to talk to your practitioner about what appraisal they have undertaken, who this was with and whether they have undergone any form of revalidation. 

Safety

To become a doctor takes five years in medical school, but even this is just the start of our training.  Take me for example, once I’d completed my time at university I then had a year as a junior doctor, followed by three years of specialist training to become a GP.  That was 13 years ago so I’ve now had over two decades of medical education and experience… 

That is a lot of anatomy learning, hundreds of injections, yearly resuscitation and anaphylaxis training, lots of consenting for and performing procedures, and dealing with many many stressful medical emergencies.  It’s this experience that you are getting when you have you aesthetic treatment done by someone with a medical background.

An important part of your initial consultation is understanding your medical history and any medication you take.  A doctor is ideally placed to advise you about how your aesthetic treatment might be affected by these, or vice versa. 

Most aesthetic treatments are straightforward and free from significant side effects, however if one of the rare complications you want to know that the person treating you is experienced in recognising and dealing with them.  At the most extreme end this could be a matter of life and death.

If you were to have any complications, these should be identified and treated by your practitioner. Doctors will know how to recognise and treat complications such as herpes (cold sores), bacterial infections and allergies. This means that any problems should be quickly identified and you can get a prescription promptly avoiding any delays that might occur if you had to see your own GP or the original prescriber, both of which can be troublesome. 

Convenience 

Lots of aesthetic treatments require prescription medications.  If your practitioner isn’t able to prescribe themselves they will need to work with someone who can, meaning you might need multiple consultations to get your treatment.  If you see a fully-trained doctor they will be able to complete the whole process for you, if you have agreed a treatment plan you’re happy with this could all be done in one visit.

Every patient is unique and treatments should be tailored to that individual. This is why the consultation is such an important part of your treatment plan. Consulting skills are paramount to enabling your practitioner to understand your concerns and needs which ultimately feeds into your treatment plan. By seeing a doctor you know you are dealing with someone who is well practiced in this area - it’s the bread and butter of what we do every day!

So, why should you choose a doctor to be your aesthetic practitioner? Accountability, safety, medical experience, and convenience without compromise. 

To book a free consultation with Dr Becky at our Wilmslow clinic click below.