Who Can Perform Medical Aesthetic Treatments? What You Need to Know as a Patient

Why is a medical aesthetic procedure a medical procedure?

Injections such as fillers, botulinum toxin (commonly called “botox”), PRP and mesotherapy, as well as some laser and radiofrequency treatments, are interventions into or under the skin using medicines or medical devices. Even if these procedures are short, they require medical knowledge of facial anatomy, blood vessels and nerves, drug interactions and possible complications.

Although rare, problems such as blockage of a blood vessel, infection, burns, scarring or a severe allergic reaction can develop. In such a situation, it is important that the person who performed the procedure is a doctor and that the setting is a healthcare facility, so that a diagnosis can be made and treatment given quickly.

The general principle: a doctor and a licensed healthcare facility

International dermatology and health authorities recommend that aesthetic procedures involving injections be carried out under the responsibility of a licensed doctor and in a medical setting. In Turkey, these matters are regulated by the Ministry of Health; the procedure must be performed by a doctor in a licensed healthcare facility.

Regulations can change over time. This article describes the general principle, not a specific regulatory provision. If you would like to know the current rule for a specific procedure, you can ask the doctor or facility that will perform it.

Who does what? Differences between professional groups

Whatever kind of doctor it is, what matters is that the doctor performing the procedure is trained and experienced in that procedure and can manage a complication.

What is the beautician's role, and what should they not do?

Beauticians and beauty therapists play an important role in non-medical cosmetic services such as facial cleansing, moisturising care, some superficial care treatments and make-up. These services can support the general appearance and care of the skin.

However, injections such as fillers, botulinum toxin, PRP and mesotherapy, and procedures requiring medical devices, are not within a beautician's remit. It is advisable to avoid injections offered in beauty salons, hairdressers or at home.

How can you check the practitioner?

As a patient, you may want to find out who will perform the procedure and verify this. The following steps can guide you:

1. Ask for the full name and title of the person who will perform the procedure; ask clearly, “Are you a doctor or a specialist, and in which field?”
2. See that doctor before the procedure; if one person is planned to do the examination and another the procedure, find this out.
3. Ask whether the facility is a licensed healthcare facility.
4. Ask about the doctor's training and experience with this procedure.
5. If you are unsure, you can consult the provincial health directorate or the relevant medical chamber.
6. Ask to see the box, label and lot number of the product to be used.

Warning signs to look out for

• The practitioner avoids giving their name or title
• The injection is given outside a healthcare facility, such as at home, a hairdresser, a beauty salon or a hotel room
• Appointments are given via social media messages and the procedure is done without an examination
• The product box and label are not shown
• No written consent is obtained and the risks are not explained
• Phrases such as “there is no risk at all” or “suitable for everyone”, or pressure on you to decide

Certificates and experience: what to look for

Title and authorisation are the basic requirement for the procedure to be carried out within a legal and safe framework; however, they are not enough on their own. It is also useful to ask how often the doctor performs that procedure, how they manage possible complications and what kind of follow-up they plan for you.

The number of social media followers, attractive images or before-and-after photos do not show a practitioner's competence. Such images may be selected or edited.

If you cannot reach your doctor, go to the nearest emergency department. Unless your doctor advises it, do not massage the area or apply heat or ice.

This article is for general information only. When choosing the right procedure and practitioner for you, an examination and a doctor's assessment are essential.