Cosmetic Surgeon and owner of Expert Aesthetics, Miss Jonquille Chantrey, gives ten things you need to know and think about if you are thinking about getting treatment – including advice on selecting a practitioner, product, what treatment you get, among others.

Is your practitioner qualified?

Qualifications of the practitioner are paramount. Only those with medical training as a doctor, dentist or nurse prescriber as an absolute minimum should be considered.

Is your practitioner experienced in the area of treatment you want?

Please conduct thorough research on practitioners and their experience in your area of interest. How much proficiency in carrying out this particular procedure, for example how long have they been doing this treatment and approx. how many patients have they treated? Many practitioners may hold full qualifications to prescribe and treat but have only been on a 1-day course with very little practical experience.

 Have you had a consultation?

A medical consultation is very important. Check that they ask about any previous procedures, complications of those procedures and understand your full medical history. There are contraindications to treatment and only a medical professional can advise you. It should also be documented if you are taking any medication, have any allergies or have experienced any adverse reaction in the past.

 Remember every patient is different – don’t compare treatment to your friends

Every patient is unique and so require different treatment plans. There is a considerable necessity for artistry in this work, it is not enough for the practitioner to be qualified and technically skilled. To devise a bespoke plan, the practitioner needs to be able to assess the nuances of a face and adapt their techniques for each individual.

Take a step back and think about your whole face

It can be easy to focus on one area of the face, either due to trends, a friend’s experience or your own foible. But in order to achieve a balanced, beautiful result the entire face needs to be taken into account. For instance, the width and fullness of the lip needs to be proportioned relative to the width of the jawline and the chin projection in profile. We all know examples where a lip taken out of proportion from the other subunits of the face can take away from beauty rather than add to it.

Take photographs with you, it helps the practitioner achieve an authentic result

The best results are natural ones whereby you can look improved but still like yourself. Taking in photographs of when you were younger or perhaps your mother can help both you and the practitioner assess what has changed over the years and where to focus, whilst maintaining an authentic result.

 Know your product

Always ask which brand of filler they are recommending for you. There are many different types of filler available in the UK, but not all are approved. It’s vital to ask if it is permanent or temporary – how long on average does the product last in the face? Fillers such as Juvéderm are subtle, temporary and rigorously tested for safety. Juvéderm also has a portfolio of different strengths for various areas of the face.

Ensure your practitioner is insured

Ask to see the insurance certificate. Medically qualified practitioners must maintain medical insurance for this procedure. If they are unqualified you are putting yourself at risk and if a complication occurs you will have difficulty correcting this.

Are you covered if something goes wrong or you don’t like the result?

Another important question is what will happen if you are unhappy with the results or something goes wrong. Are they contactable? There are many procedures performed in the UK where the practitioner works alone and is ‘mobile’. Some patients I have seen have then had difficulty contacting their practitioner to have check-ups.

Do not go to your local beautician for treatment (unless they are medically qualified of course)

Obviously everyone should exert caution with treatments offered in non-clinical environments, such as a hairdressers or a beauty salon, as Beauticians are not qualified to carry out this treatment.

 To visit Miss Jonquille Chantrey, Cosmetic Surgeon, at Expert Aesthetics please visit her website: www.drjonquille.co.uk

 To find an experienced and qualified practitioner near you, please visit the Clinic Connector on locator.juvederm.co.uk