Would you trust a dentist to do facial procedures?

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I’m just getting really anxious now. I have a neighbour friend whose a dentist but also dabbles in aesthetics (no idea really what that means but I think Botox, fillers etc). His social media page is always full of people saying thank you etc. and he’s fab etc. and praising him for the work he’s done on their face.

I hate looking at pictures of myself so I decided last week to contact him and book a consultation. I’ve transferred a deposit already (£50) and my appointment is next week. Am I being really silly by going? I’ve never had any work done to my face and honestly I don’t even know what I expect hence the consultation. Please tell me am I being silly by going to a dentist or do most dentists now specialise in facial things too?

Personally I’d much rather go to someone who does aesthetics full time, rather than a dentist who just ‘dabbles’ in it. I appreciate that they have excellent facial anatomy training but there’s more to it than that, it takes experience to get the balance right for Botox in order to avoid the awful frozen face/droopy look that so many women are wandering around with these days.

I go to an ex-maxillofacial surgeon who now does Botox full time. He is absolutely excellent, would never go to anyone else. Those ‘nurse aestheticians’ terrify me - how can you allow someone who has done a few days of a Botox course to make a quick buck near your face?!

why? they are not a charity?

Why should they be expected to give away their time for free or next to nothing?

We are not a communist country, they run their private business as they see fit. Most dentists I know are actually heavily involved in charity work, but that's entirely their decision.

Er , no they aren't 😂

Better a medical professional than some 19 year old who did a 1 week course somewhere.
My friend was a dentist for 20 years and recently sold her practice and in between doing a bit of locum sedation she does Botox and fillers too.
I have no intention of having anything done but tif I did it would be her rather than a beautician

A good practitioner should be able to discuss this with you.
But - the wrinkles around your eyes - are these “smile lines” if so, Botox can help. Of under the eyes (bags) they might suggest tear trough filler (but I’d be wary of that).

Generally Botox will be done on forehead, frown line and around the eyes (hence when they say “three areas”. The results for Botox aren’t instant - takes a couple of weeks and you often go back for a “top up” (which should be free).

Filler is instant and more for “filling in” lines - I’ve had it around my mouth for example as have some smokers lines. You can also fill out cheeks etc with filler.

Honestly don’t panic - you will be fine

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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?

Exactly this .

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!

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.

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.

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.