Non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections, dermal fillers, chemical peels, and laser therapies are now widely used in the UK, with 7.7 million people receiving aesthetic treatments in 2023. Non-invasive treatments accounted for a significant share of the industry’s growth.
They are popular for several reasons: they are readily accessible, affordable, and can be carried out relatively quickly. In fact, procedures like Botox and dermal fillers are popularly known as ‘Lunch Break’ treatments because they can potentially be carried out during someone’s lunchtime.
Some may think that another reason for their popularity is that they are risk-free. But is that really the case?
What is the difference between non-surgical and non-invasive cosmetic treatment?
Firstly, it’s important that we understand the difference between the terms ‘non-surgical’ and ‘non-invasive’ in any discussion of cosmetic procedures.
Non-invasive treatment doesn’t involve any breaking of the skin.
Non-surgical treatment encompasses a broader range of procedures, including non-invasive methods and those that involve needles or scalpels to break the skin, typically in the form of small punctures or tiny incisions. Botox, dermal filler injections and microneedling are in this category of ‘minimally invasive’ treatments.
Why is the term “non-surgical” misunderstood?
It’s probably because when people hear the term “non-surgical” cosmetic treatment, they immediately assume that, because the procedure does not involve an anaesthetic, undergoing invasive surgery or requiring long rest and recovery times, it must be safe.
However, we’ve established that the definition of non-surgical treatment includes procedures that break the skin, and they carry inherent risks. That risk doesn’t disappear because procedures like Botox injections are not carried out in hospital settings, but instead in salons or, in some cases, more dangerous places, such as someone’s bedroom.
The risk with these minimally invasive treatments derives from who provides the treatment and how it is performed, rather than from what the treatment is called.
Can non-invasive treatments cause harm?
You may be surprised to learn that even treatments described as non-invasive can go wrong and cause harm to the client.
Procedures such as laser treatments, IPL, chemical peels, and ultrasound skin tightening work on the skin in different ways. They use heat, light, or chemicals to achieve the desired effect.
What happens, however, if the person applying the treatment is inexperienced?
Or, what if they don’t know how to use the equipment properly, or fail to review the client’s medical history?
Perhaps they make a rare mistake and fail to provide or apply the treatment correctly?
Adverse outcomes of non-invasive treatment include burns and blisters, changes in pigmentation, eye injuries, changes in skin texture, irritation and redness, skin conditions such as melasma, scarring, infection, and, in the case of ultrasound treatment, potential nerve damage.
Many of these symptoms are short-lived; others may take weeks or even months to resolve.
It doesn’t mean there can’t be damage beneath the surface, purely because a botched cosmetic treatment doesn’t puncture the client’s skin.
So, what risk am I running from having minimally invasive cosmetic treatments?
Once beauty treatments involve breaking the skin’s surface with needles, the risk increases.
Botox, dermal fillers, and microneedling may be considered routine, but they are still invasive procedures. A foreign object punctures the skin, immediately increasing the risk of infection.
Other possible harms that may occur if the procedure is not performed properly include nerve or tissue damage, allergic reactions, visual complications, and ptosis (droopy eyelids).
Complications from invasive treatments aren’t always immediately apparent. Some develop gradually, but others may take weeks to appear.
Once again, most of these problems we describe result from patients receiving substandard treatment from cosmetic practitioners who aren’t up to scratch.
Is the non-surgical cosmetic treatment industry regulated?
A large part of the risk associated with non-surgical cosmetic procedures stems from the lack of any organised regulation of the industry.
As it stands, anyone can work in a salon and administer a Botox injection without any formal training. The same applies to the provision of dermal filler treatments.
Over the past few years, the government has been looking at cracking down on what they have described as “cowboy” cosmetic procedures.
This has begun to change, and there are now clearer moves toward tighter regulation and licensing, particularly for higher-risk aesthetic procedures. Further progress is anticipated in this area in 2026.
In the meantime, it remains the case that not everyone offering these treatments is adequately trained. Some practitioners have extensive experience. Others do not, and their lack of training can affect their judgment and how complications are handled when they arise.
Proper supervision matters too, as does having appropriate insurance in place if something goes wrong. These are not details most patients will think to ask about at the outset, but they often become important later. In our experience, the absence of these basic safeguards is the cause of many avoidable problems.
What should you do when cosmetic procedures go wrong and cause you harm?
Despite all the precautions you take, mistakes can occur when even the best cosmetic practitioners perform cosmetic procedures, in the same way that top surgeons make errors that lead to medical negligence claims being brought against them.
Cosmetic treatment practitioners owe a duty of care to their patients, just as healthcare professionals do.
Practitioners breach their duty of care when treatment fails to meet the standard of a reasonably competent professional in their field.
If you suffer injury or harm as a result of your cosmetic practitioner’s negligence, you may have grounds for bringing a cosmetic injury negligence claim.
Since cosmetic negligence claims can be complex, it’s advisable to seek help from an experienced personal injury solicitor or even a medical negligence solicitor. Many firms will handle your claim on a No Win No Fee basis.
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