Data released by The Safety in Beauty Campaign has revealed that enquiries, concerns and complaints relating to domestic abuse has fuelled a rise in demand for aesthetic procedures.
The organisation received 347 enquiries from February 2020 until May 2021. Statistics showed that 98% of enquiries were from women between the ages of 27 and 49 seeking corrective or restorative treatment as a result of direct physical abuse. Facial injuries were reported in 92% of cases and 81% of the enquiries, one or more of the injuries were visible to the external world.
The common sites of injury where treatments were sought were the eye/eye area, mouth, jaw, lips, side of the face, throat/neck, upper and lower arms, scalp and hair and the skin.
Founder of The Safety in Beauty Campaign, Antonia Mariconda, outlined that the spike in domestic abuse enquiries was a jump from recent years. She commented, “Historically our organisation deals with around 20-30 enquiries a year from victims of domestic abuse seeking either free or charitable help in restoring and repairing injuries. Our core activity focuses on helping enquirers that are usually victims of sub-standard or botched beauty and aesthetic procedures, it was surprising to see a huge demand in people approach us for an area we are not predominant in.”
Mariconda contacted nurse prescriber and aesthetic educator Clare Spalding who has been supporting and helping victims for over 20 years. Spalding hosts a monthly discreet clinic for women seeking help and advice and is seasoned with assisting vulnerable women looking for restorative and corrective treatments.
Mariconda is now working with the Domestic Abuse Charity and Spalding to formulate two training courses via The Safety in Beauty Centre of Excellence due to launch in 2022.
The courses will focus on assisting domestic abuse victims, containing material such as recognising common injuries and encouraging victims to report domestic violence early.
