If you’re injecting chemicals into your face, you’d think that knowing exactly what those chemicals are would be high on your list of priorities. However, according to a new study, the majority of youth-seekers are now furrowing their brows – which can’t be good for wrinkles – as 84% of patients have no idea whether their line smoothing treatment is Botox or Faux-tox.
While 67% of those surveyed by Transform Cosmetic Surgery researchers claimed that they were aware of wrinkle-smoorthing toxin treatments, 84% had no idea which one had been administered to them. In fact, when this same group of individuals were asked which products they knew of, they were only able to name Botox. However, this isn’t even the most worrying outcome of the investigation, as the research also revealed that more than a third of practitioners failed to tell patients which brand they were receiving. Even the ones that did aren’t shining examples of anti-ageing wellness, as just 20% explained the differences between the products and gave patients sufficient knowledge to choose the right product for them.
The research – which is part of a Transform campaign to raise awareness about the specifics of such treatments – also showed, perhaps somewhat sadly, that 67% of people would think having treatment showed that their partner cared about their looks. And it’s not just women who want to turn back the clock; now 90% think line smoothing treatments are no longer just for the girls. In a similar vein, what other people think was a big factor involved in choosing a practitioner, with, worryingly, more than half of those who undergo line-smoothing treatments doing so based on a friend’s or colleague’s recommendation.
On the face of it – no pun intended – this seems like a good idea as you know exactly what you’re getting. However, this may end up perpetuating the cycle of ignorance. After all, if the provider misinformed or didn’t advise your friend, you were probably given the same (lack of) information. And if practitioners are indeed not giving the advice they should, it’s really no wonder that 40% of patients are being given this prescription-only medicine in a non-clinical environment, while 4% are buying toxins over the internet!
According to Patricia Dunion, Managing Director at Transform, ‘As part of our CLEAR Patient Charter and in support of current reviews into the regulation of cosmetic surgery, we were keen to raise awareness of misconceptions around line & wrinkle treatments. Patients need to be better educated and armed with information they need to make the choices that are right for them. The findings, while worrying, haven’t come as a surprise to us as we have long suspected a lack of understanding and knowledge; perhaps exacerbated by less than forthcoming information from some practitioners. We hope that in highlighting this, consumers who wish to undergo non-surgical treatment for lines and wrinkles will ask better questions of their practitioner, and themselves if they are seeing a great “deal”, or a lower than usual price. At Transform, treatment may cost a little more, but it’s always conducted in a clinical environment, by medical staff using household named products.’
Dr Hilary Jones, an independent member of Transform’s Clear Panel, commented, ‘Informed consent is vital for any medical procedure and cosmetic interventions such as anti-wrinkle injections are no exception. It is essential that each patient understands exactly which product is being injected into their body and whether the brand of botulinum toxin used meets stringent standards of quality efficacy and above all safety, and has an enduring and proven track record. If someone is offered Botox specifically for example that is exactly what they should be given and nothing else.’
