AN EDINBURGH clinic is offering a day of free consultations to people who have experienced complications from cosmetic procedures on 25 October.
The clinic is now banging the drum on unlicenced and botched procedures, which it says are on the rise in Scotland, with more and more patients coming in for treatments after botched Botox and cosmetic surgery procedures.
The Stockbridge Clinic has operated since 2021, and offers cosmetic treatments to people who want to “look and feel the best they can”, but are now seeing a “troubling rise” in patients who have experiences botched treatments.
The Scottish Government announced earlier this year that it plans to crack down on these unlicensed cosmetic treatments with tougher regulations.
The clinic, which was co-founded by clinical director and lead aesthetic doctor, Dr Ben Taylor-Davies, will open its doors to attempt to help those affected by this “troubling rise” on 25 October.
Dr Taylor-Davies said: “We’re witnessing a troubling rise in patients who need expert assessment following botched treatments.
“The lack of regulation for too long has left patients without proper protection and we want to help those dealing with the repercussions.”
This comes amid warnings that Scotland is becoming the “worst country in Europe” for unlicensed and unqualified operators injecting people with dodgy fillers and other cosmetic treatments.
Regulations around fillers and cosmetic treatments are far less stringent in Scotland than those in England.
For example, there is no ban on under-18s receiving cosmetic treatments in Scotland, while one has existed in England and Wales since 2021.
The British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) said that people are even crossing the border for cosmetic treatments.
The Scottish Government has announced plans to tackle these issues and cut down on the number of unlicensed cosmetic surgeries, but a bill isn’t expected to be introduced until May 2026.
At the time of the announcement of new regulations, public health minister Jenni Minto said: “It is deeply upsetting to hear of cases where people have suffered as a result of non-surgical cosmetic procedures going wrong.
“The current gaps in regulation mean that anyone can perform most of these procedures without the need for any formal training or qualifications.
“These proposals reflect our determination to protect the public and ensure high standards across this growing industry.
“I am particularly heartened by the broad support for action to make the sector safer, and we will continue to work closely with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, local authorities, and the wider industry to support a smooth and effective implementation.”
Many feel that the Scottish Government’s actions are not coming soon enough, however, and that many more people will be affected by procedures from poorly trained beauticians before their bill becomes law.
Patients who have experienced complications from non-surgical procedures in Scotland are being encouraged to email [email protected] with detailed information about their complication, photographs, and relevant treatment history.
