BCAM 2022 Annual Clinical Review

For over ten years the members of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine have been providing data in relation to their aesthetic clinical practice via its Annual Clinical Review. This data provides the College with up to date information on the clinical practices of its members which allows the College to tailor its decisions to best suit the needs of BCAM members and improve patients safety

This data is shared with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to provide insights that inform and help to better cooperate with policies- and decision makers. Annual Clinical Survey is the UK’s only audit of treatments carried out by doctors and dentists practising aesthetic medicine carried out on such a large scale.

The 2022 audit shows that botulinum toxin procedures were again the most frequently conducted treatment by our members (97%) with more than 315,000 individual procedures conducted by 331 individual BCAM Members.

The top five treatments most frequently performed by BCAM members, according to the audit were:

• Toxin injections (97%)
• HA dermal fillers (94%)
• Chemical Peels (56.2%)
• Mesotherapy/Collagen stimulators (62% double compared to the previous audit)
• Laser/IPL (35%)

This is the third year that we have specifically collected data in relation to complications that our members have treated which have arisen from other practitioners, rather than their own practice. 82% of members admitted treating patients with complications following treatment performed by another practitioners. Members reported 3,323 complications from other practitioners (5-fold increase vs 660 in last survey), and most (60%) of the complications come from treatments performed by non-healthcare professionals. The rest is attributed to other aesthetic medicine doctors, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, and podiatrists.

• 46% due to dermal fillers
• 32% due to botulinum toxin
• 10% lasers and other energy-based devices
• 10% threads

This data demonstrates that the greatest number of complications arise from treatments conducted by non-physician practitioners. The treatments that result in the most complications continues to be dermal filler treatments, which confirms how dangerous dermal fillers can be in the wrong hands.  Notably complications following treatments carried out by non-health care practitioners are more severe and often require specialised treatments.

BCAM Trustee Dr Aggie Zatonska, who coordinated the Annual Clinical Review on behalf of the College, said: “BCAM will continue to use members’ data and surveys to influence its future planning and we look forward to working collaboratively with stakeholders in 2023 to further improve patient safety and campaign for better regulation”.

Notes for Editors:

For further details, please contact the BCAM Professional Services Team info@bcam.ac.uk. 

The British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) is the UK’s leading representative body for doctors and dentists practising aesthetic medicine. The charity aims to promote safe, effective and ethical treatment for patients and clinicians through leadership, education, support and professional development.

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