The GMC (General Medical Council) has announced that it will move to prohibit the “remote prescribing” of BOTOX® which allows doctors to provide prescriptions over the phone or internet for patients that they have never even met.

The news has been welcomed by those that have campaigned to tighten up botox practice in the cosmetic treatments industry.

The GMC’s statement follows a BBC investigation which highlighted the practice using under-cover filming; featuring a Harley Street Doctor who is paid by nurses to prescribe botox for them to inject without him actually meeting their patients. The doctor even commented that he has given over fifty thousand prescriptions for patients over the phone/internet.

New GMC guidance comes into force 23rd July stating that prescription of any cosmetic injectable product (including botox) without a physical examination of the patient is prohibited. Doctors who continue to prescribe remotely could risk losing their GMC registration.

The guidance specifically stipulates:

“You must undertake a physical examination of patients before prescribing non-surgical cosmetic medicinal products such as Botox, Dysport or Vistabel or other injectable cosmetic medicines. You must not therefore prescribe these medicines by telephone, fax, video-link, or online.”

Niall Dickson, Chief Executive of the GMC, explained:

“These are not trivial interventions and there are good reasons why products such as Botox are prescription only. We are clear that doctors should assess any patient in person before issuing a prescription of this kind.”

Doctor-Led Botox Treatment

This news is unlikely to dampen demand for botox, which has for some time been the world’s most popular non-surgical treatment and offers patients a much smoother, line-free skin. However, the new rules will put an end to those nurse practitioners who deliver botox with remote prescriptions.

In fact, there are many good doctors carrying out botox injections themselves in full accordance with the law and industry guidelines.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics ONLY use GMC registered doctors for botox and fillers at their London and Bristol clinics. Medical Director, Dr Ross Perry, ensures high levels of skill and special training in the latest botox methods.

At Cosmedics, patients all have a face to face consultation with the Doctor prior to treatment. This consultation is without obligation, providing a forum for discussion of treatment. As appropriate, the doctor will then personally prescribe and inject Botox – there is no element of injectable cosmetic treatments that is not handled directly by the doctor.

The injections are carried out with special tiny needles that pierce the skin so delicately that it is almost without pain. Injections are completed in special HD LED lighting to ensure that Cosmedics’ Doctors can see any underlying blood vessels and thereby so minimise the small risk of bruising.

Botox London, Bristol

To learn more about Botox injections, why not arrange a private consultation with one of Cosmedics’ highly trained doctors.

Call 020 7386 0464 for an appointment or email info@cosmedics.co.uk for further information.