Why is it so much cheaper down the road?
A question I get asked quite a lot.
To start, a recap on my clinical background and how I got to the position of where I am and why I feel I am your best option for safe and effective treatment outcomes compared to the competition:
- Dental Hygiene and Therapy Qualification (which includes head and neck anatomy)
- Facial Aesthetics Qualification – Beginner and Advanced – 2014
- Advanced courses with Prof Bob Khanna
- Constant development with aesthetic companies such as Merz and Vivacy
- Level 7 qualified with MATA 2021
- All together 14 years in dentistry and 9 years in facial aesthetics
Personally, I feel this is what you need to be looking for when picking a practioner. Someone who has invested time in themselves, who wants to constantly be better, has experience, comes from a medical background but most importantly, treats patients safely AND in a safe and clinical environment, and this is why it is cheaper down the road. Being safe is the most crucial part of all of this, and we are seeing more and more examples of bad treatment outcomes and poorly managed complications. Dermal fillers can be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands and poorly managed Botulimium toxin (Botox) treatments can make your life hell for that period of time it is effective.
I always struggle to understand how someone can be a hairdresser, insurance broker, teacher, or builder (these are all genuine examples by the way) then suddenly turn their hand to facial aesthetics, with no medical background or experience whatsoever. It is quite scary really. The damage you can cause with dermal fillers and even botulinum toxin in terms of aesthetics and safety can be life changing. I still to this day, inject with a level of fear. The reason being is I care. I also know what the implications are if it goes wrong and I understand the importance of being prepared to manage these sorts of complications.
Until now, the regulations within aesthetics have been practically non-existent. You don’t have to be a medical professional, you can literally do your Level 4 ‘whatever you wish to call it’ course, then hop onto a training academy willing to train and teach non-medics. After this if you find an insurance company willing to insure you also, and you are off and running. You can then treat out of locations such as hairdressers, nail and beauty salons, and the most popular, converted wooden sheds in the back garden.
So, as you can see, the vague ‘why are they so cheap?’ question really does involve a lot more than just ‘cheap products and low overheads’. The hardest thing to do right now is compete with these types of practitioners. I trust the process, I believe I am as safe and as clinically capable as I have ever been, with constant self-development courses. Of course using a really awful cement like cheap filler in someone’s lips at around £20 per 1ml is going to make you quick money. But what are the long term inclinations of these cheap fillers and Botox? Can they be dissolved properly? We just don’t know. There is not enough scientific evidence based studies around the cheaper brands and therefore, you cannot be sure.
Do you research, go by recommendation and have some respect for yourself and your face, by investing properly in a practioner who will look after you before, during and after your treatment.