CAMPAIGNERS revealed the ugly truth about unregulated clinics offering dermal fillers and Botox injections amid calls for a government clampdown.
A trade body revealed it has seen a surge in complaints from Scots left maimed by botched beauty treatments.
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And they say the failure to impose rules on cosmetic procedures means some practitioners start dishing out jabs after just a day’s training — while operating from garden sheds, caravans and even the side of a bed.
Save Face, a UK-wide register of qualified medics, saw complaints about dodgy beauticians soar from 121 in 2019 to 303 last year.
And they point out there are no laws in Scotland around who can offer aesthetic injections. Insiders say unscrupulous firms undercut registered workers by using cheaper products — even though medications need to be prescribed by experts.
Save Face director Ashton Collins said patients often fall for cheaper deals online. But when things go wrong their complaints are blocked by the operators — who are often uninsured and poorly qualified.
She told The Scottish Sun on Sunday: “Fillers in particular are high-risk treatments if you don’t know what you’re doing.
“They can cause blindness or kill off tissue — which would mean you’d need to have that part of your face surgically removed.
“They can cause infections, lumps, bumps and other horrible outcomes — people are left with the trout pout, overfilled, over-treated face.”
Medical professionals who offer cosmetic treatments have been required to register with Healthcare Improvement Scotland since 2017.
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They pay thousands of pounds to meet standards, face inspections and can be subjected to enforcement.
But Ms Collins told how those rules don’t apply to “lay” operators.
She said: “Patients find them on social media — often advertising cheap deals or package treatments.
“There is no consent process. They don’t explain what the treatment is, how it works, what product they are using, what the potential risks are and how they would look after you if you had a complication.
“So you pay your money, often cash, and you’re sent on your way.
“But if there’s a problem, you’re fobbed off. They say, ‘It’s just a bit of bruising, swelling, you’ll be fine.’
“The more you try to reach out, the less communicative these people become. Eventually they block you.”
Each year around 900,000 wrinkle-relaxing injections are carried out in the UK, while 7.7million Brits had a cosmetic procedure in 2023.
Dermal fillers can cost from £200 to several hundred pounds while botox treatments normally range from between £100 to £350.
Punters going abroad for cheap plastic surgery have cost the NHS nearly £5million to fix botched jobs in the past three years.
But experts warn the public health crisis is also getting out of control in Scotland.
We told how Marie Snapp, of Glasgow, was left with little control over her facial muscles after an unregistered nurse injected her with botox and lip fillers.
When she raised concerns, she said she was blocked by the practitioner.
Ms Collins explained that people suffering from botched treatments often get turned away from the “stretched” NHS if the issue is not life-threatening.
She said registered practitioners might not want to take patients on if they “don’t know what’s been injected”.
There are also concerns that some rogues use cheaper products bought online from Korea and China.
Botox, which can cause a droopy eyelid and severe allergic reactions, is a prescription-only medication.
But it is available online, along with cheaper dermal filler products.
Ms Collins added: “We’re seeing a big increase in that. It allows lay injectors to offer cheap prices but still make really big profit margins.”
More than 300 doctors, dentists and nurses have united to form the Scottish Medical Aesthetics Safety Group — which is demanding action to stop unregulated treatments.
Last night spokeswoman Susan McMahon said they’d welcome a dialogue with the Scottish Government and Healthcare Improvement Scotland to “move matters forward”.
She said: “The lack of any meaningful progress by them in tackling this public health crisis is shameful.
“We’ll no longer stand by and let this continue. The Scottish Government must tackle those who simply take a one-day course then open up a facility the next day.”
A source said: “Lots of medics are now dropping their professional registration because they are so p***ed off. Why would they stay registered? What is the incentive?”
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: “While the vast majority of those in the industry will carry out good practice, SNP ministers must engage with those affected and explore ways to clamp down on bad practice, ensuring effective regulations are in place to deter unregulated treatments.
“I have seen the consequences of these procedures first-hand and I am deeply concerned at the potential side effects that come with these cosmetic treatments.”
A spokesperson for Healthcare Improvement Scotland said there are over 500 clinics across Scotland that are registered or completing registration.
They added: “We would urge those opting to have cosmetic procedures to visit the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website and choose a clinic which is registered.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said public consultation has shown overwhelming support for tighter regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures that pierce or penetrate the skin, including dermal fillers.
They added:
“The Scottish Government acknowledge that this is an issue of concern, and we are actively addressing it.
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“This is a fast-changing sector, and we need to make sure that whatever action we ultimately take is robust and futureproofed.
“That is why we are working with key stakeholders including beauty industry representatives, environmental health officers and healthcare professionals to consider the potential scope of further regulation and make sure we get the detailed specifics right.”