Has anyone else been ripped off by aestheticians?

[Chezgb]

I'm not overly appearance conscious, but due to having dental reconstruction, which was delayed by covid, my face started to droop on one side,almost giving a stroke like appearance. In addition I never did wear make up as I find it heavy and irritating. Therefore,I decided to have a few filler injections and botox. My original aesthetician was great, but she moved abroad. So, I found a local lady who worked from home. I paid for a few treatments up front which I normally do for budgeting reasons. However, just after I paid a lump sum, she decided to up her prices by one third!!! Therefore she asked for more money.
After this, I migrated to another aesthetician more local to where I moved. I explained what had happened and she assured me of transparency. However, I soon realised that she was charging for 2 doses of filler, only using one dose,asking me to come back for a follow up and then said rest wasn't needed so she threw away. I now know that she was charging for 2 doses while only buying in 1. I had paid for other treatments such as eyebrows and lashes and I paid up front. She then started accusing me of not paying, even after I had payment confirmation. She then cancelled my appointments and has kept over £300 of my money.
That's 2 rip offs in 2 months!!!
I'm wondering if these people are cashing in on people's, shall we say, confidence issues.
I'm now going back to make up and microneedling.
Has anyone else had this problem?

I researched them for months & found a nurse, amazing reputation & would always advise more "natural" looks.

Paid over £800 to have minimum changes. And at my 2 weeks botox review she said it was frozen enough- i could still easily move my brows/forehead.

It’s the Wild West, I only go to proper places.

I have.
Friend of family member and she worked out of my hairdresser salon, certificates all over the walls.
Lovely woman.
I had a few treatments, she failed to mention that some of these treatments needed to be done three times, so I paid three times more than what I budgeted for each treatment.
Cost me a bloody fortune.
Told me about how she only uses top quality botox, fully licensed to buy it etc.
Hairdresser takes in a parcel for her which had been left outside in the rain, it was full of botox from China

Seems like this is defo on increase and buying in cheap product. Thing is a lot of these places have good reviews, so maybe they are picking and choosing who to rip off. I couldn't sleep at night if I was ripping someone off.

https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2025-09-30/investigations-launched-in-crackdown-on-unlicensed-botox-products
I am really concerned about irregular practicing of this.
where are these hairdressers get their supplies? why would you trust someone who does some hair and nails as well and works on a converted garage. Strange.
see an experienced and qualified doctor or dentist who has done advanced training on facial aesthetics, who knows how to fix something if a procedure doesn’t quite go to plan, who has training in managing medical emergencies and is licensed to prescribe.

you will find that these individuals are properly regulated and insured, will have regular inspections, will have good records, audits and quality assurance procedures and policies in place. They might be more expensive but will be ethical and accountable.

I mean this is the issue with beauticians etc injecting; they aren’t really accountable where as if you had an issue with a Doctor you could do something about it!

Find a doctor, nurse or dentist who openly shares their GMC/GNC/GDC number with you. That way if they act unscrupulously you can report them to their ethics board.