Are Treatment Booking Apps Safe for Aesthetic Procedures?

We’ve entered an age when you can organise almost anything from a haircut to a massage at the tap of a button, especially with the rise of treatment booking apps such as Fresha and Treatwell. But when it comes to aesthetic tweakments, including toxin and fillers, there’s potential danger lurking behind the convenience. Here’s what you need to know…

The increasing interest in booking aesthetic treatments via booking apps was actually brought to our attention here at TTG in a press release from Fresha, the UK’s leading treatment booking service. It highlighted a recent boom in searches for polynucleotides, with 55,000 UK searches for the skin quality-boosting treatment in the last month alone.

While the report focused on the reasons behind the trend – not least polynucleotides’ ability to subtly improve skin quality (which is a big thumbs up from us) – we spotted a more concerning issue. The rising trend was affirmed by an unnamed aesthetics specialist listed on Fresha who said: “We’re seeing more requests for polynucleotides than ever before.”

But the big question is, should people be using these apps to search for aesthetic treatments in the first place? Or, is it potentially a safety issue?

What’s the potential problem?

While the convenience of booking app is appealing – you can scroll through options, compare prices and book in seconds – there’s growing concern that this “click-to-book” culture could lull people into a false sense of security when it comes to aesthetic treatments.

Most treatment booking platforms are predominately designed for beauty services, such as blow-dries and manicures – and they work very well for that. But unlike haircuts and massages, aesthetic tweakments, including injectables, are medical procedures. That means they involve increased risk and they require the individuals that provide them to have specific training, suitable premises and insurance.

Unfortunately, it’s probably not news to TTG readers that legislation to ensure only suitably trained individuals actually offer aesthetic procedures in the UK, has been slow to arrive. That means that just because a clinic, salon or individual is listed on a treatment booking app, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s all the due diligence you need to do before clicking ‘book now’.

In fact, an app’s ‘verified’ status typically only means that the business exists and takes bookings  – it does not mean the practitioner is accredited, insured, or operating within professional guidelines.

And, if your practitioner isn’t properly trained, you could be putting your health at serious risk. That’s true even if a treatment provider has glowing reviews…

What do the experts say?

The main way to keep yourself safe when it comes to aesthetics is to do your research – and not be swayed into making slapdash decisions due to the ease with which you can sometimes book treatments online. In fact, if it feels super easy, that’s potentially a red flag.

“Our advice to consumers wanting injectables is to ensure you chose a clinic with medical oversight where the practitioner is not only able to safely administer the injectable itself but the clinic is legally able to manage any complications that may arise,” says Lesley Blair MBE, CEO and Chair of BABTAC. “While polynucleotide injections may appear to be a less invasive injectable, they do still penetrate the top layer of the dermis and so we strongly suggest you do your homework as outlined in our own TIME checklist, a safety initiative we introduced at Westminster and Holyrood Parliament.”

How to keep yourself safe 

The T.I.M.E checklist

Wherever you are booking your aesthetic tweakments, BABTAC’s regulatory checklist is something to always keep in mind. It’s an easy way to remember to ask about four key measures of safety: Training, Insurance, Monitoring, and Evidence.

Specifically, don’t say yes to a treatment (even if you are already in the chair) without ensuring the practitioner can provide evidence of fit for purpose qualifications, proof that they have the correct hygiene protocols in place, records of excellent safety, and certified client testimonials.

Feeling not quite sure about any of it? It’s worth walking away.

Research beyond the app

To avoid arriving at the clinic and having second thoughts, don’t just see a treatment on the apps and rely on star ratings, glossy images or the fact they have an appointment in half an hour! Instead, make sure you’d know who is actually going to be doing your treatment and use services such as Save Face to check training, insurance, and clinic standards in advance for suitably trained practitioners. You can search the GMC, NMC, GDC or HCPC registers in the UK to verify medical professionals too.

Look for references to memberships of key organisations too, such as of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) or Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP). These can be a lot clearer than vague certificates on a clinic’s wall.

Put yourself first

It can be easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to find the ‘very best’ practitioner but remember to focus on yourself as much as them!

“I always want to see people talking about ‘skin like mine’ so I know the practitioner knows how to treat my skin colour and my main concern,” says the skin and laser expert Debbie Thomas. “For example, if you have a darker skin tone look for a practitioner that regularly treats darker skins, or an acne savy pair of hands if that’s your concern. With this in mind, these online booking platforms can be an easy space to find suitable practitioners then to narrow down further through the reviews.”

Check the clinical environment

Injectable treatments should not be carried out in a living room or beauty salon back room, so if someone is having a manicure or hair treatment next to you, that’s not a good sign. If you are booking on a treatment app, you can check the list of other procedures being offered to see whether the clinic you’ve selected is really a clinical environment. Also ask for their relevant insurance – a legitimate practitioner will always be covered for the treatments they are offering in a certain space.

Avoid suspiciously low prices 

Price comparison checks via treatment apps may help you research your options if you do have less money to spend, but if it seems too good to be true – especially with the advertisement of ‘great offers’ – it probably is. Aesthetic treatments will cost more than your standard facials and massages because they are, after all, medical procedures.

Insist on a consultation

One of the ‘perks’ of using treatment booking apps for something like massages is that you can be enjoying your treatment in minutes, but that should never be the case with aesthetic treatments like injectables. You should always have a consultation with your practitioner before any treatment is conducted, with the option of cooling off periods. Never rush into it.

The final word 

Treatment apps can be so useful for booking beauty services, but when it comes to aesthetics, always prioritise qualifications, accreditation and clinical standards over convenience. It’s really not worth prioritising speed over safety.

Want to search for an aesthetic practitioner near you that those in the industry trust? Head to our practitioner map.