26 Jun The Importance Of Psychological Screening For Non-Surgical Treatments

A recent survey carried out by The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology revealed that over 60% of respondents believed that the cosmetics industry is regulated; it is not. Although the government plans to introduce a licence for non-surgical treatments, legislation has not yet been passed. In October 2021, we welcomed the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act, which makes it a criminal offence to administer injectables to those under the age of 18, however, the UK’s lack of regulation still leaves many people vulnerable.

Patient safety is paramount at The Lovely Clinic. Our practitioners are highly trained, skilled and experienced and our clinic meets the highest hygiene standards. Before receiving treatment, you will be required to undergo a consultation, during which we carry out psychological screening. Read on to find out why.

Image Conscious Conditions

In January 2023, the UK had 57.1 million active social media users, meaning over 80% of the population regularly views or posts images online. Edited or filtered photos can skew your perception of natural beauty and contribute to feelings of insecurity. Appearance is intrinsically linked to self-worth and comparing yourself to others can be a contributing factor to lowered self-esteem. Seeking cosmetic enhancement to align your look with other people’s touched-up selfies leads to unrealistic expectations and may negatively affect your mental well-being. Our practitioners will discuss your reason for undergoing treatment and are trained to identify feelings of inadequacy, as well as symptoms of more extreme health conditions, including body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), depression and eating disorders.

BDD: an anxiety disorder related to body image whereby a person develops a disabling preoccupation with perceived flaws in their appearance that can’t be seen by others.

Depression: a persistent feeling of sadness that negatively affects how you feel think and act.

Anorexia Nervosa: an eating disorder characterised by extremely low body weight, fear of gaining weight and distorted perception of the body.

Bulimia Nervosa: an eating disorder involving a cycle of binge eating and compensatory behaviours, such as vomiting, use of laxatives or periods of fasting.

BDD And Non-Surgical Treatments

While only 1-2% of the population are thought to experience BDD, 15-20% of sufferers seek non-surgical treatments to correct their perceived flaws. Studies have found that symptoms of the condition can worsen post-procedure as preoccupations shift to other areas of the body. Muscle-Relaxing Injections to smooth away forehead wrinkles may highlight lines around the eyes, for example. With one concern replacing another, the patient is never truly satisfied. It is common for people with BDD to report dissatisfaction with their non-surgical treatments and threaten their practitioners with legal action. Despite this, they may continue to seek out aesthetic procedures, believing that their next treatment will work.

The Role Of Psychological Screening

A simple psychological screening questionnaire allows our team to filter BDD symptoms and other image-conscious concerns. We want you to receive outstanding results from your non-surgical treatments and leave our clinic with your desired look. If we believe for any reason that undergoing an aesthetic procedure may negatively affect your mental health, we will raise this concern with you. If our screening process reveals potential symptoms of an underlying condition, we recommend seeking help from a health professional.

Questionnaires can be a great tool for identifying medical conditions, but discussions during consultations are also incredibly valuable. All questions relate to your treatment and are not intended to be overly personal. If your practitioner suspects that you are undergoing treatment for the wrong reason, be that a reaction to a significant life change, pressure from a partner, or an unrealistic expectation of aesthetic results, we may suggest cancelling your appointment or reviewing the situation at a later date. At The Lovely Clinic, your health comes first and it always will.

Booking Non-Surgical Treatments

The Lovely Clinic offers a wide range of aesthetic treatments, catering for all skin types and concerns. Whether you’re looking to slow down the ageing process, hydrate your complexion or lose weight, we have many solutions that can be uniquely tailored to suit you. To explore our gold-standard treatments or book in for a consultation, call 020 3695 5400 or complete our online contact form.