A national petition to make dermal fillers prescription only and the relevant insurance required to access them mandatory has been launched by the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioner (JCCP).
Currently, dermal fillers are classified as a class III medical device in the UK and do not require a prescription. As a result of this, they can be purchased and administered by anyone, whether or not they have relevant training in the treatment or the insurance to support their use.
The JCCP launched the petition, sponsored by JCCP patient trustee Dawn Knight, who previously experienced a complication due to cosmetic surgery, to coincide with the launch of the UK Government public awareness campaign in May, which aims to highlight the potential dangers and safety issues around surgical and non-surgical aesthetic treatments.
Professor David Sines, chair of the JCCP, commented, “There is a large acceptance that fillers are a major problem regarding complications based on evidence and case studies published in the media. By restricting fillers to be prescription devices only you would provide professional oversight for non-prescriber practitioners who can access them. As would making the insurance required mandatory in accordance with prescription riser requirements. I would encourage all practitioners in the specialty to sign the petition and advise their patients to as well. We believe that ensuring that prescribers provide oversight for all practitioners who administer fillers would be a step in the right direction to protect the UK public; something that has always been at the heart of the JCCP’s values.” He added, “This is just one part of a major campaign led by the JCCP in conjunction with the UK Government and more announcements will be made in due course.”
Simon Whitey, plastic surgeon and chair of the Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority added, “I strongly support the call to introduce legislation that would make fillers prescription only devices. Several years have passed since the Keogh review and patients continue to suffer harm from fillers. Reviews of patient attitudes have exposed a gap between levels of legislation and protection expected by patients and the reality. Classification of fillers as a prescription only device would close this gap.”
Knight shared with Aesthetics, “I have been where many patients are today, unaware and buying into adverts that may be leading to false promises. I believe that the public needs a system where all of the checks and balances, for me that is the JCCP. I am thrilled they are supporting this petition with me.”
To sign or find out more about the petition, click here.
