Clinic Saves Face with new accreditation

An Exeter clinic is one of the first in the UK to be officially accredited as safe and qualified to carry out non-surgical cosmetic treatments like dermal fillers.

Legally, anyone in the UK can carry out these kinds of treatments and the industry has come under huge pressure to provide protection for patients from cowboy practitioners. Save Face is the first organisation in the UK to provide a register of accredited practitioners – all of whom have been visited and assessed for professionalism, qualifications and safety to give patients peace of mind when booking treatments.

Radiance MediSpa, which is based in Exeter, Devon, is the first clinic in Exeter and Devon to have the accreditation from Save Face limited. The clinic offer treatments such as facial aesthetics, including anti-wrinkle treatment and dermal fillers.

Dr Ros Debenham who carries out the treatments and is owner of Radiance MediSpa, and who regularly presents at aesthetic conferences said: “Save Face is filling a huge gap in the non-invasive cosmetic treatment market. The industry is filled with thousands of clinics that offer these services, many of whom do not have a medical background. It is incredibly important for this industry to be regulated as consumers need to know who they can trust.

“The Save Face accreditation is a way of regulating the industry and protecting both the patient and the practitioner. It is a way of distinguishing ourselves as professional, qualified, safe and caring. It helps us to distance ourselves from the cowboys and proves that we are a safe pair of hands if you decide to have a treatment. The process to becoming accredited is very thorough and the fact that they visit the practitioner is imperative.”

Brett Collins, Director of Save Face, said: “Our assessments measure qualifications and adherence to best practice standards, as well as the safety of premises, against a robust set of standards. We have patients at the heart of everything we do. If they decide they want a treatment, they can now find someone safe, caring and professional, like Dr Ros, in their local area to carry it out for them.”

The non-surgical cosmetic treatment market is currently worth £2.3 billion to the British economy and is set to increase to £3.6 billion by 2015. Save Face is based in South Wales and is run by directors Ashton Honeyball and Brett Collins, and clinical directors and experienced practitioners Emma Davies and Marie Dolan.

The Save Face register is only open to registered doctors, dentists and nurses who can demonstrate that they are insured and have received certified training. All premises are inspected. Practitioners must operate to best practice standards and have policies and procedures that demonstrate this. Save Face works with practitioners to help develop policies and improve standards across the industry.

Save Face also offers patients independent and unbiased information on non-surgical cosmetic treatments on its website www.saveface.co.uk.