Would you trust a dentist to do facial procedures?

Dentists know their way around the face better than most doctors -unless facial specialists themselves. They understand the nerve pathways, muscle structure and joint movement. It takes 7 years in the UK to become a fully qualified dentist and they are well qualified to undertake Botox etc. - much better than beauty consultants

So how do those practitioners who don’t work with a doctor manage to go around the law? I guess that’s what I was really asking. How can Sharon-the-hairdresser run a room in her salon without someone signing off on prescription?

It needs a prescription yes, but yes administered without supervision by those often with minimal training (I've had mates (I'm a dr) been asked to do private scripts for random practitioners to use and told them not to touch the idea with a barge pole unless involved in their care its way too risky from a litigation pov)

Would I trust a medical professional with extensive and comprehensive knowledge of facial anatomy; nerves, muscles, and movement over Tracy from beauty college?
I think you can guess my answer.

My preference would always be for a doctor who specialised in cosmetic work on the face. They will have devoted their entire career to that work and will have significantly more experience than another professional who does it as a side line. That said, if I trusted a person to mess with my teeth, where a mishap would be permanent rather than a temporary or reversible issue that most injectable problems amount to, then I probably would. Their knowledge should protect against serious health related errors, but the results may not be as good as a specialist doctor.

My dentist does mine, he's a wizard with teeth and facial aesthetics.

Think about how much more familiar with all the facial nerves they have to be, they have actual clinical and medical training. They're also usually very good at injecting stuff with as little pain as possible (mine is anyway!)

I'd rather a dentist than some hairdresser who's clinical qualifications may well consist of watching a few YouTube videos.

Absolutely - I have a friend who is a dentist and runs a side business in aesthetics. She’s fully qualified, deals with facial injections on a daily basis as a dentist and has also experience in maxillo-facial surgery which was part of her initial training. It’s a no brainer from my perspective!

Exactly this .

Maybe I am confused but I thought they passed the legislation some years ago. I certainly have to see a doctor to be prescribed Botox every 12 months where I go even though they don't inject it themselves.
As far as I am aware, Botox still needs to be prescribed. And without medical supervision, are the practitioners actually insured to perform a treatment after a few day's course?

If I was going to have Botox and fillers I'd chose a dentist over a beautician.
I know an ex police officer who is now offering Botox , what can they know about anatomy etc!

My dentist does my Botox and she is so amazing I have also just signed up for skin boosters with her. A dentist friend of hers who is an aesthetics trainer went on one of those weekend courses beauticians go on out of curiosity to see how thorough it was and was absolutely horrified by how poor it was.

What? Don't even need medical qualifications to botox in the UK, often few days beauty course

My friends wife is a retired midwife. She works 1 day in a Botox clinic prescribing it so all the young ladies with minimal training can inject it into peoples faces.

As dr myself I'd a million times trust a dentist injecting my face over someone with a beauty diploma and minimal training vs a dentist with a 5y degree focusing on facial anatomy/nerves etc etc

What you really need is a maxillary facial SURGEON but I hey are busy putting faces etc back together for whatever reason.

Dentist - 5 years of studies as a minimum, "beauty therapist" - can be a single day workshop for £££, et voila, you are free to inject people's faces with nifty diploma to hang on your wall.

Yes, the government should be encouraging them to do some NHS work by raising the amount of subsidies they receive for NHS patients.
Dentistry is a private business with high overheads. Most can't afford to do NHS work under the current contract conditions.

In the UK this is simply untrue. Anyone can injext botox. It can only be prescribed by a medical professional.

I wouldn't trust a dentist to do a surgical procedure but aesthetic treatment is perfectly fine. In fact only qualified doctors, nurses, and dentists are allowed to inject botox. I am really not sure how others legally manage to get away with doing it.

this is private work- its not detracting from whatever NHS services they may also offer.

Hmmm, let me see, Dentist - fully trained medical professional, versus Sharronn - who did a week online course in 'aesthetics' and has a certificate printed off her inkjet printer.
Tough call.

Given the scandalous lack of regulation of aesthetics in this country where Sandra from Basildon Hair and Beauty can be let loose on your face after sitting through a short course, I'd much rather go to a dentist. I welcome a time where aesthetics is properly regulated and only allowed from certain plastic / max fax surgeons.