Plastic surgeons have spoken out about the dangers of ‘medi-spas’ who promote anti-ageing treatments saying that some patients may risk becoming disfigured for life.

Before embarking on any form of wrinkle treatment, patients should check they are being attended to by a qualified expert according the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. As cosmetic surgery is becoming incredibly popular, a spate of medi-spas has sprung up. Traditionally, spas offer non-invasive treatments such as massage, facials and hair removal, but they are also starting to offer other procedures such as botox and laser treatment.

Many of these spas do not use trained professionals therefore patients run the risk of the treatment going wrong. It is important for patients to recognise that non-surgical does not mean non-medical, and it does not mean the procedure is safe. Botox and other such treatments should not be taken lightly and the same amount of preparation and research should go into finding a botox professional you can trust, as you would if you were preparing for more invasive surgery. Botox applied incorrectly can cause the face to droop, or the wrong part of the face to become paralysed; there is also the risk of excessive bruising.

Some medi-spas are also offering dermal fillers where a filler is injected into the lips to plump up the skin, reduce wrinkles, and hopefully attain that perfect pout. If done incorrectly, the lips can be over filled resulting in the dreaded ‘trout pout’. Even worse, the arteries in the lips may be permanently damaged, the lips may permanently be swollen, or there may be a severe allergic reaction.

That’s not to say that all medi-spas are bad – some are highly reputable and offer great service and treatments. It is important to check the credentials of the person performing the treatment and ensure that you are fully aware of potential risks before going ahead with the treatment. This way, you can ensure that you minimse the risk of long-term side effects and you are more likely to end up with a positive result from your treatment.