The General Medical Council (GMC) has issued new guidance on the use of botox which should help to minimise the number of medical problems resulting from so-called 'botox parties'.
The General Medical Council (GMC) has issued new guidance on the use of botox which should help to minimise the number of medical problems resulting from so-called 'botox parties'.
The council has amended its 'Good Practice in Prescribing Medicines' guidance to address concerns about the inappropriate supply and administration of botox, particularly when this is done in the absence of a doctor.
Previously, doctors have been allowed to issue group prescriptions for botox, enabling a nurse to give the treatment to a number of people without them seeing a doctor.
However, a GMC spokesman told the Daily Telegraph that prescriptions for non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as botox must now be "patient specific".
"The doctor must know the patient's medical history or have for example seen a photo of the patient," he explained.
"This is because the treatment is delivered by injection and the doctor needs to be able to assess where (for example on the face) the injection is needed and where it should not be administered."
Consumers are advised to always visit a reputable private clinic when receiving botox injections and should never have botox at parties where alcohol is being consumed.
Select a suggestion below...