What can we do for you?
As we all know, it is pretty easy to order just about anything online these days, but when it comes to pharmaceutical products or prescription medications, the answer is a big fat no.First, lets start with Botox
Botox (or any botulinum toxin) is a prescription only medication. This means there are laws and regulations regarding the sale and administration of them.
In order to buy genuine products, you would need to see a licensed prescriber before treatment. When it comes to Botox for cosmetic purposes, not all medical practitioners are prescribers, and don’t need to be, but they do need to work with a registered medical prescriber before they can proceed with treatment. The registered prescriber will be a medical professional who is also qualified in aesthetic medicine.
Only when these legal steps have been carried out, can your product be ordered. They will always only be ordered from a registered pharmacy in exactly the same way as you would expect when you see your GP.
Registered pharmacies will only dispense your prescription when thorough checks have been carried out on the prescriber to ensure they are qualified. It is not possible to order from a pharmacy unless you have medical registration.
Why does this matter?
This will ensure that you are suitable for treatment, the product is genuine, and is traceable in case of any adverse reactions.
As you can see, this is the only way to guarantee that you are being injected with a safe product that will cause you no harm.
If you compare this to buying Botox online, you will understand that none of these safeguards are in place. How will you know that the product injected into you is genuine, or where it has come from? You won’t!!
Don’t let the packaging fool you. That is no guarantee of what is inside.
Dermal fillers
Dermal fillers are legally categorised as a medical device, so will not require a prescription before treatment. There is also currently no legal restrictions in the UK on who can purchase and administer dermal fillers (although this is set to change soon).
This makes it extremely easy for anyone to purchase them online and many online shops sell low price fillers.
Prices should also be a red flag. Genuine products are very expensive.
The safety of ordering online fillers is questionable for the same reasons as Botox, in that there is no traceability or guarantee that the filler is genuine.
Medical aesthetic practitioners will always purchase injectable products from licenced pharmacies to ensure they are safe, genuine and have been stored in the correct way.
The easiest way to ensure you know what is going into your face is to invest in treatments with a regulated medical professional. We have a legal duty of care to ensure your safety.
Although it is tempting to be seduced by low prices and the urge to try a little DIY, we would always advise that if you have a limited budget, hold off treatment until you can afford the best. Alternatively, seek out reputable clinics that offer credit to help spread the cost.
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