HALF of women would have an ‘invasive’ aesthetic treatment even if they didn’t really understand it.
A study of 2,000 women found just 35 per cent said they would research the treatments online before booking.
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While only 12 per cent would ask how much training their practitioner has had, and just a quarter (25 per cent) would consult independent reviews.
It even emerged that 76 per cent of respondents would spend more than 10 minutes researching a hotel, (58 per cent) a restaurant and (67 per cent) researching flights before booking.
This compared to only 38 per cent reporting they would spend more than 10 minutes researching an aesthetic treatment before booking.
Despite this, 67 per cent were unaware that injecting a face required fewer hours of training than it does to become a barista in the UK.
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In fact, national data sourced by Laser Clinics UK has found the average training time for cosmetic injections comes to just 16 to 40 hours or two to five days compared with a reported one to two weeks for average barista training.
This is compared to the company’s own rigorous internal training and practitioner standards only hiring highly qualified, insured and medically registered doctors, dentists and prescribing nurses.
Doctor Jemma Gewargis, medical inject lead at Laser Clinics UK, which commissioned the research as part of its campaign to provide people with credible standard checks for aesthetic practitioners, said: “Practitioner vetting is incredibly important in aesthetics, especially as there is still a significant variation in training and qualification standards across the UK.
“While consumer awareness has improved, I still see many who don’t fully understand their practitioner’s professional background, qualifications or level of training, or even know what they should be looking for when choosing an injector.”
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The research also found just two per cent believe the risks and downsides of cosmetic treatments are always clearly explained on social platforms, despite the growing role of social media in shaping beauty decisions.
Among the reasons women were put off getting procedures, fear of something going wrong (53 per cent) and concerns about safety (49 per cent) came out on top.
While the lack of regulation followed (41 per cent), alongside not knowing if the practitioner was qualified (36 per cent), according to the research by OnePoll.
This aligns with just 18 per cent reporting they were confident they knew what qualifications or training an aesthetic practitioner should have before carrying out injectable treatments.
And 41 per cent admitted they were aware the cosmetic injectable and aesthetics industry was not strictly regulated in the UK.
So unsurprisingly, 92 per cent felt there should be clearer minimum training standards for people carrying out invasive treatments.
But awareness is growing, with 49 per cent sharing they would check if the clinic was registered or accredited, 37 per cent would look up the practitioner’s qualifications.
Doctor Jemma Gewargis added: “We take this very seriously and have a strict, multi-stage recruitment process in place to ensure high standards across all our clinics and prioritise public safety.
“Every candidate is initially screened for suitability and must complete a detailed skills assessment before a clinical interview with myself to assess their experience, knowledge and suitability for the role.
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“We also work closely with key UK organisations, like Save Face, that are driving standards in the aesthetics industry.
“This ultimately involves clearer, more consistent regulation, recognised minimum training standards and improved public awareness, leading to a better understanding of safety within the industry.”