The first academic-driven survey to understand the UK public’s experience of Botox – including side effects and what happens when things go wrong – has been launched by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
The use of botulinum toxin (Botox) has exploded in recent years, with an estimated 900,000 Botox injections carried out annually in the UK, primarily as a way of removing wrinkles.
The survey aims to provide valuable insights into patient satisfaction and procedure quality, data on short and long-term complications, information about treatment providers and their protocols, and gauge the UK public’s opinion of current regulation within the industry.
Side effects of Botox can include headaches; droopy eyelids; crooked eyebrows; infection, pain, swelling and bruising at the site of the injection; a crooked smile; and watery or dry eyes.
However, as non-surgical treatments such as Botox can be administered by non-medical professionals, it is possible that the true range and scale of complications may be underreported.
The survey is being led by Professor Lee Smith of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), in collaboration with Dr Roshan Ravindran of Greater Manchester-based KLNIK. Together, they will also conduct three large-scale systematic reviews and meta-analyses to investigate physical, mental, and aesthetic outcomes from Botox procedures.
It is hoped that the academic reviews, alongside the findings of the public survey, will help to inform and strengthen regulation around Botox treatments in the UK.
Lee Smith, Professor of Public Health at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: “Non-surgical aesthetic procedures have become more and more common, driven by rising consumer demand and the wider accessibility of treatments.
“However, regulation has failed to adapt, potentially resulting in people suffering complications due to treatments being performed by practitioners with minimal qualifications, or qualified prescribers with limited experience.
“Over recent years there has been a significant rise in the use of Botox injections, specifically, but we lack comprehensive data about the public’s experiences of Botox use, adverse events following procedures, and what redress the public have when things go wrong.
“This nationwide survey aims to bridge this knowledge gap, improve public awareness and provide evidence to help shape better regulation of Botox use in the UK.”
Dr Roshan Ravindran of KLNIK said: “We see countless patients suffering because there’s a lack of proper oversight and training in the industry. By gathering these first-hand accounts, we can arm regulators and the public with the knowledge they need to demand stronger rules and safer standards.”
