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The JCCP releases new BBL guidance

The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) has released new guidance, specifically aimed at supporting local authority environmental health officers in addressing the risks associated with buttock augmentation and other body contouring procedures.

The guidance was published after the tragic death of Alice Webb following complications from a non-surgical liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL). Webb, a mother of five, fell ill after undergoing the procedure and died in the early hours of September 24 at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Her death marks the first fatality caused by this treatment being performed in a UK clinic.

The document was developed in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the British Beauty Council (BBC) in response to the rising number of reports regarding the dangers posed by these unregulated procedures.

The guidance gives information on the powers available to local authorities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which enable them to issue Prohibition Notices to businesses or practitioners posing a risk by performing these procedures.

The document also contains detailed information on the classification of buttock, breast, and genital augmentations as surgical procedures, requiring the involvement of qualified medical professionals, and expert advice on identifying non-compliant businesses and practitioners and promoting a consistent approach to enforcement.

“These procedures should only be performed by appropriately trained specialist surgeons and fully qualified General Medical Council registered medical doctors who possess additional qualifications,” read a statement from the JCCP.

To read the full guidance, visit https://bit.ly/4f448Je.

Alice Hart-Davis appointed ambassador for BCAM

The British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) has announced the appointment of its first ambassador: renowned aesthetics and beauty journalist, influencer, and founder of The Tweakments Guide, Alice Hart-Davis.

Hart-Davis is an award-winning journalist with over 25 years of experience in reporting on non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Her career has been marked by her commitment to exploring and understanding the latest advancements in the field, often personally trying procedures and products to provide her audience with insightful and honest reviews. Her hands-on approach, combined with extensive research and engagement with leading practitioners, researchers and brands, has made her a trusted voice in the rapidly evolving world of aesthetic medicine.

Hart-Davis’s appointment came just before the BCAM Annual Conference on September 21 where she spoke, alongside the BCAM president, Dr Catherine Fairris.

“The board are delighted to have Hart-Davis as an ambassador. She is an advocate of patient safety in aesthetics and promotes the medical model of aesthetics. We look forward to working with Hart-Davis to champion patient centred, safe and evidence based aesthetic medicine” said Dr Fairris.

Vanessa Bird joins AMS Hall of Fame

The Aesthetic Consultant Vanessa Bird is one of only three business presenters globally to be featured in the Aesthetic Multispecialty Society (AMS) Hall of Fame. The digital conference, which will be live streaming on December 14, will feature 40 presentations, hand selected as the best talks of 2024. Bird’s presentation, entitled ‘Features tell, benefits sell: Effectively using features and benefits with patients to maximise treatment uptake” will show how to effectively turn patient enquiries into bookings. For more information, visit multispecialtysociety.com.

The Cadogan Clinic celebrates 20 years of innovation in cosmetic surgery and dermatology

The Cadogan Clinic proudly marked two decades as a leading global centre for cosmetic surgery and dermatology. Founded in 2004 by world-renowned plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou and dermatologist Dr Susan Mayou, the clinic was the first of its kind in the UK, a purpose-built specialist aesthetic day care hospital. Today, it holds the position as the standard bearer for all the clinics that have followed.

Located in Sloane Street, home of all of London’s luxury brands, it is the largest facility of its type in the UK, housing over 115 industry-leading consultants and conducting over 30,000 appointments each year. It was awarded an “Outstanding” rating for Leadership by the CQC in its 2023 inspection and hosts an International Faculty, keeping it at the forefront of global trends in cosmetic medicine.

In 2024, the Cadogan Clinic earned two prestigious awards: Aesthetic Clinic of the Year at the Aesthetic Medicine Awards and Best Clinic London at the Aesthetics Awards, reinforcing the Clinic’s status as a leading institution in its industry.

Scottish parliament commits to strengthening medical aesthetics regulations

On October 3, 2024, a cross-party debate was hosted in the Scottish Parliament aiming to address gaps in the medical aesthetics industry’s regulation. Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) pledged to complete a consultation on new regulations by Christmas, with implementation planned by April 2026.

The key issues discussed included regulating non-medical practitioners, introducing a minimum age for treatments, and tighter controls on high-risk procedures like botulinum toxin and fillers.

Currently, only licensed medical professionals are regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), while non-medics remain unregulated.

Public health advocates and medical professionals are calling for comprehensive regulations to protect patients and introduce higher standards across the industry.

Managing director of Dr Victoria Skin Clinic, Hamish Dobbie, attended the debate and “was pleasantly surprised and pleased to see that the roundtable event [he] had organised stimulated many MSPs, who had attended, to positively contribute, and at which Renata Wojno attended and told her story as a victim.”

While Dobbie acknowledged that he, and others, may not fully agree with the final proposed implementation when it is published, he was “delighted that a time frame and cross-party agreement is in place that action must be taken urgently.”

The industry has been pushing for much tighter restrictions on the sector, which was highlighted by the case of a Glaswegian woman who was hospitalised after a serious infection following a “liquid” Brazilian butt lift carried out at a weekend pop-up clinic in the conference room of a Glasgow hotel.

The firm which carried out the detrimental BBL has been banned from performing procedures in the city following an investigation by environmental health officers.

Between April 2017 and 2023/24, the number of regulated independent clinics in Scotland, many offering cosmetic procedures, increased from 200 to 503. However, the exact number of unregulated practitioners remains unknown. Many of these individuals, who may have minimal training or lack insurance, operate privately from homes and promote their services through social media platforms.

Stuart McMillan MSP commented that “with the growing popularity of medical aesthetic procedures comes a growing need to properly regulate their provision, and it’s welcome that the Scottish Government is recognising this.

“The consultation is a first and very important step in the right direction, ensuring that any regulation is as effective as possible, with a focus on fairness and patient safety.”

Sinclair appoints Amber Edwards as chief executive

UK-based global aesthetics company Sinclair appointed Amber Edwards as its new chief executive officer on October 1.

With more than 25 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, Edwards has held executive leadership roles in pharmaceutical, medical aesthetics, and medical device sectors.

As chief commercial officer at Alastin Skincare, she drove over four-fold revenue growth in under four years through product innovation, e-commerce penetration, and international expansion. Her efforts were pivotal in the successful exit to Galderma, where she continued as global head of the premium skincare franchise. Most recently, she served as executive chair of the board for miraDry, where she helped steer a strategic turnaround before stepping down to join Sinclair. In addition to her chief executive role, Edwards will serve on Sinclair’s board of directors.

“Edwards’ extensive experience in both start-ups and large corporations, combined with her customer-centric approach and executional excellence, make her the perfect choice to lead Sinclair,” said Sinclair chairman Chengwei Liu. “The board looks forward to working with Edwards as she leads Sinclair through the next phase of development and growth.”

Déesse Pro names Dr Patrick Treacy as ambassador

Déesse Pro has announced the appointment of renowned aesthetic physician Dr Patrick Treacy as an ambassador for its new LED platform, EOS-X by Déesse Pro. Dr Treacy is widely celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to aesthetic medicine, particularly through his award-winning procedures, ‘The Dublin Lift’ and ‘The PLUS Technique’. A long-time advocate of LED technology, he has integrated it into his practices to enhance patient outcomes. “As the first medical-grade LED solution to incorporate 1070nm wavelength technology, EOS-X by Déesse Pro delivers clinically proven results by penetrating deeper into subcutaneous tissue and muscle,” commented Dr Treacy. “This promotes a biostimulatory effect on ageing and compromised tissues while enhancing microcirculation and cellular oxygenation.”

Dr Anna Hemming receives Lifetime Achievement Award at CUCF 2024

Thames Skin Clinic founder Dr Anna Hemming has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Cutera Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to the field of aesthetic medicine.

“The Cutera Lifetime Achievement Award recognises individuals who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and dedication to advancing the aesthetics industry over the course of their careers,” read a statement from Cutera. “Dr Hemming ’s work has not only transformed the lives of her patients but has also set a benchmark for aesthetic treatments across the UK and internationally.”

With over 25 years of medical experience, including more than 15 years in aesthetic medicine, Dr Hemming has become a leading authority in non-surgical treatments.

On receiving the award, Dr Hemming said, “I am deeply honoured to receive the Cutera Lifetime Achievement Award. This recognition is a reflection of the incredible advancements we’ve made in aesthetic medicine, and I’m grateful to be part of an industry that has the power to boost confidence and improve the lives of so many. I want to thank my patients, team, and colleagues for their ongoing trust and support.”

Music can help ease physical and mental fatigue of workers in standing roles

Many UK workers in standing professions, including healthcare and aesthetics, report significant physical and mental fatigue, with a quarter (25%) spending over eight hours on their feet. In response to this, new research from licensing company PPL PRS highlights the potential of music to reduce the effects of prolonged standing, with 45% of workers noting its distracting and energising benefits.

According to the research, aesthetic practitioners and others in physically demanding roles experience common symptoms like physical fatigue (72%), sore legs or feet (68%), and mental exhaustion (44%). For many, music acts as a remedy; nearly nine in ten (86%) workers play music during their shifts, with 82% recognising its mood-boosting power. Additionally, 45% report that the right music helps them stay focused and energised throughout the day.

Emma Wedgwood launches pro-bono clinic initiative

Emma Wedgwood, founder of Emma Wedgwood Aesthetics, has announced a new pro-bono clinic, EWA: Restore, Reclaim and Renew. This charitable initiative will support people recovering from addiction and substance abuse, helping them reclaim and revive their skin health, overall wellbeing and self-esteem. Emma’s work with these individuals will hopefully increase their chances of successful recovery and sobriety; as well as helping them return to work, rebuilding their lives and self-conf idence.