11 beauty treatments you really should be leaving to a doctor

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We’re getting better and better at doing things to our faces – from freezing them to plumping them to smoothing them out. Our society’s obsession with a youthful complexion is a multi-million dollar cash cow.

It’s normal for women to want to stay looking better for longer. Whether it’s through facials, chemical peels, muscle relaxants, lasers or fillers, we’ll decide what level of invasiveness we feel comfortable with, and cherry-pick the provider based on what seems reputable.

The problem is, there are a lot of cowboys out there pretending to be reputable; making a quick buck out of these in-demand (and let’s face it – expensive) beauty treatments. And they’re brandishing their needles like guns, with little thought for the people they’re meant to be treating.

The consequences can be horrific, from third degree burns, to facial paralysis. The fact is, some beauty treatments need to be left to the people with medical degrees – not to that day spa you found on Groupon.

You should never, ever be nervous about asking for someone’s qualifications and experience. And if something seems fishy, it probably is.

Word of mouth is the best way to find a really trustworthy doctor – so if you hear a friend talking about the great work she got, hit her up for a recommendation.

Here’s a list of beauty treatments that you should leave in the hands of a certified doctor or a registered nurse:

1. Botox

“Only an authorised practitioner may direct a registered nurse to administer Botox to a patient,” says Holly Limet from The Clinic, a respected Sydney skincare clinic.

According to Holly, “A registered nurse may administer these injectables, but only if a doctor provides direction. This should be in writing and specify the medicine and dose to be given, the route and site of administration, how many times and when it may be repeated.”

And if your Botox administration isn’t preceded by a full medical history, and a script getting written, run. It may not even be Botox.

2. Fillers

Collagen, Juvederm, Hydrafill and Restylane are just a few of the fillers out there that promise to smooth your skin or fill out your pout. Every single one of them is a prescription drug.

Basically, if a chemical is going to be injected into your face, do not leave it in the hands of a beauty therapist who tells you they have 70% off fillers while they wax your brows.

3. Spectra Laser (Tattoo Removal)

You regret getting the Tweetie Bird tattoo. You’ll regret it more if your Tweetie Bird tattoo ends up looking like Munch’s ‘The Scream’. AAAAAAHHHH!

4. Laser Resurfacing

“Medical grade lasers and radiofrequency technologies such as Fraxel Re:store Dual and Thermage CPT should only be operated by a Doctor or Registered Nurse,” says Holly.

“This technology is incredibly advanced and requires a high level of skill and thorough understanding of the impact of the treatment, subsequent wound care and correct follow up within a controlled clinical environment.”

5. IPL or Laser Hair Removal

Got a Groupon for Unlimited Laser Hair Removal for $50? Score! Right?

Maybe you should think twice before getting your bits zapped. “The purchasing of these technologies does not require a medical physician overseeing treatment,” says Holly.

“However in our experience, the number of adverse events from other clinics via these technologies tends to highlight the number of poorly trained beauty therapists and para medical aestheticians offering these treatments, [they are] often at heavily discounted prices, sold to vulnerable, unsuspecting and uninformed clients,” Holly reveals.

Lasers are lasers – you probably want someone who knows what they’re doing on hand, just in case something goes wrong.

6. Chemical Peels

We were first introduced to the chemical peel when Samantha from Sex and the City arrived at Carrie’s book launch with veil and several layers of skin missing.

These days, minor skin peels which affect only the top layer of skin can be performed by beauty therapists, but anything any deeper should be administered by a doctor or nurse.

7. Removing Spider Veins

Sclerotherapy works by needling spider veins until they burst, then disappear. Even visualising this is more excruciating than watching Saw 5, so make sure the treatment doesn’t end up a horror story by leaving it to a doctor.

8. Hyperhidrosis

Do you get very sweaty? Hyperhidrosis works by injecting your overactive sweat glands into submission. Doctors and nurses know where your sweat glands are – leave it to them.

9. Vampire Facials

“Platelet Rich Plasma” therapy is also commonly referred to as “Vampire Facial” or “True Blood Therapy”. During the treatment, your own blood is extracted and placed back in your face through an ‘enrichment’ process.

When re-injected into your face, your new-and-improved claret will activate stem cells, boost collagen and accelerate tissue repair, so you can boast Kirsten Stewart skin in no time.

Do you really want some random injecting blood into your face? No. Leave it to the profs.

 10. Acupuncture

Face. Needles. Nerve endings. Nuff said. Leave it to a qualified acupuncturist.

11. Skin Needling

Needling is all about causing thousands of tiny micro-punctures in your skin. Your skin’s natural post-traumatic response is to start over production of collagen and elastin to heal the damage, so your skin will appear more youthful after several treatments.

Though many beauty therapists provide these treatments, this one is also best left to a registered nurse. Because skin having a post-traumatic response sounds scary, and you want a nurse around for that sort of thing.

The law states that the “Prescribing and administration of medicines is controlled by the Poisons Act 1964 and the Poisons Regulations 1965. Only a registered health practitioner authorised to prescribe prescription medicines can authorise the administration of Botox or Juvederm.”

Though the law covers these particular treatments, groundbreaking beauty treatments are always popping up. Use your discretion when selecting your practitioner. And be wary of bargain basement prices. These treatments are expensive for a reason.  It is your face we’re talking about, after all.

Have you had any beauty treatment disasters?