Some of our more eagle-eyed readers may have noted a recent article on the Guardian newspaper\u2019s website about potential legislation on who can administer dermal fillers<\/a> (reference 1 below). At the moment, there are very few restrictions on this and it seems that almost anybody can set themselves up on the high street and offer this facial treatment.<\/p>\n Dermal fillers are becoming very popular, especially for plumping up the lips. Whether we like it or not, they are also becoming increasingly popular with younger people who may not fully understand the risks that they are taking by using these high street outlets, looking to cosmetically improve their appearance. We should say, of course, that many of these outlets will operate legitimate businesses and take good care of their patients, but the problem remains that there is no easy way of knowing which ones these are.<\/p>\n What could go wrong?<\/strong><\/p>\n In the very worst case scenarios, equipment used in some of these outlets may not be sterilised properly and could lead to infections that could potentially disfigure the patient. More likely though, is that the results of the treatment could go horribly wrong. The \u2018trout pout\u2019 is the best known poor outcome, with the lips being disproportionately larger than they should be.<\/p>\n The MP for South Leicestershire, Alberto Costa, who raised this issue in parliament, cited a patient in his constituency who suffered a \u201cterrible injury following a botched lip filler treatment\u201d (if you aren\u2019t squeamish and want to see the results, you can do so here\u00a0 https:\/\/www.prevention.com\/beauty\/a25429413\/lip-filler-injection-artery-swelling-rachael-knappier\/ ). In this instance, the filler was accidentally injected into the patient\u2019s artery, causing her lips to swell to five times their normal size.<\/p>\n This particular outcome is a very extreme example of what could go wrong, but as there were nearly a thousand complaints about the results of this type of treatment in the UK last year, it is safe to say that there are many unhappy people out there who probably wished they had never had the filler in the first place.<\/p>\n Can dermal fillers be safe?<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n With any procedure, there are always certain risks. The more invasive the treatment, the more likely this is to be the case. The fact is that dermal fillers are perfectly safe in most instances when carried out correctly and by trained professionals. To ensure this, you should have them done in a regulated medical environment such as a dental practice. We offer this treatment at The Clocktower Dental Clinic<\/a> and many of our Epsom patients have received this treatment safely and successfully.<\/p>\n By avoiding places that pop up on the high street, and instead using a safe environment such as our own, you can be sure that all safety aspects will be treated seriously, enabling you to have a safe procedure.<\/p>\n At The Clocktower Dental Clinic, we will:<\/strong><\/p>\n Facial aesthetic treatments can be hugely beneficial to patients, not only from a physical appearance aspect, but also with their confidence too. It is though, very important to make sure that any treatment you receive is administered safely. Taking the chance on the high street may work out just fine, but it is a risk, and one that we would recommend that our Epsom patients don\u2019t take.<\/p>\n If you have been considering either having Botox or dermal fillers to give you a younger looking appearance, why not arrange to have a no-obligation consultation with one of the facial aesthetics team at The Clocktower Dental Clinic? You can make an appointment with us by calling us on 01372 720136<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n