CQC-registered
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates providers carrying on regulated activities in England. Its register records the legal provider, the locations from which regulated activities are carried on, and the activities attached to them.
What it doesn’t mean
It does not certify any individual practitioner, and a provider entry does not by itself show that every service at every address is within CQC scope. It also does not mean the service has been recently inspected; check the provider, exact location, activities and inspection date on the CQC profile.
How to verify
Search the clinic or provider name on cqc.org.uk. Check that the legal provider, exact treatment location and relevant regulated activity match what you are considering, then read the latest inspection information where available.
Related: Regulated activity, Registered manager
GMC-registered
The General Medical Council (GMC) maintains the statutory register of UK doctors. Anyone working as a doctor in the UK must hold GMC registration with a licence to practise.
What it doesn’t mean
Registration and a current licence to practise are separate statuses: a doctor can remain registered without a licence. Neither status certifies training in aesthetic procedures specifically, and cosmetic injectables are not a recognised GMC specialty.
How to verify
Search the doctor's name on gmc-uk.org → "Check a doctor's registration". The result shows registration status, licence to practise and any conditions or fitness-to-practise history.
Related: GDC-registered, NMC-registered, Save Face
GDC-registered
The General Dental Council (GDC) maintains the statutory register of UK dentists, dental nurses and other dental professionals. GDC registration is mandatory for anyone practising dentistry in the UK.
What it doesn’t mean
GDC registration confirms the person is registered for their dental role. It does not by itself establish competence, training, prescribing authority or indemnity for a particular aesthetic procedure.
How to verify
Search the practitioner's name on gdc-uk.org → "Search the registers". The result shows their registration status and category (dentist, hygienist, therapist, etc.).
Related: GMC-registered, Save Face
NMC-registered
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) maintains the statutory register of UK nurses and midwives. NMC registration is mandatory for anyone practising as a nurse in the UK.
What it doesn’t mean
Like GMC and GDC, NMC registration certifies the core profession — not aesthetic training specifically. A nurse performing injectables relies on their own additional training, often verified via the Save Face register.
How to verify
Search the nurse's name on nmc.org.uk → "Search the register".
Related: Save Face, JCCP
Save Face
Save Face is a voluntary register of non-surgical cosmetic practitioners accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Listing requires evidence of medical qualification, indemnity insurance, training and a safe clinical setting.
What it doesn’t mean
Save Face listing is voluntary — many qualified practitioners choose not to list. Absence from Save Face is not evidence of poor practice; presence is a positive additional signal on top of statutory registration.
How to verify
Search the clinic or practitioner name on saveface.co.uk.
Related: JCCP, GMC-registered
JCCP
The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners is a voluntary professional register for non-surgical cosmetic practitioners in the UK, set up in response to the Keogh Review on aesthetic safety.
What it doesn’t mean
Like Save Face, JCCP membership is voluntary. It signals adherence to the Council's standards on training and competence but is not a substitute for statutory registration with the GMC, GDC or NMC.
How to verify
Search the practitioner on jccp.org.uk → "Find a Practitioner".
Related: Save Face
Medical-grade
"Medical-grade" is a marketing phrase used to describe skincare, devices or supplements. It implies professional or higher-strength formulation.
What it doesn’t mean
Medical-grade is NOT a regulated term in the UK. There is no UK standard for "medical-grade skincare". A product or device may carry the phrase without meeting any specific clinical or manufacturing benchmark.
How to verify
Ask the clinic for the exact brand, model and year of the device or product, and look it up on the manufacturer's site for the technical specification.
Doctor-led
"Doctor-led" usually means a GMC-registered doctor supervises the clinic or its protocols. The doctor sets the clinical standards and is responsible for the medical aspects of treatments.
What it doesn’t mean
It does NOT mean the doctor will physically perform your procedure. Many doctor-led clinics deliver treatments via nurses, dentists or therapists. Always ask who specifically will treat you.
How to verify
Ask the clinic for the name of the supervising doctor and the name of the practitioner who will physically perform your procedure. Verify both on the relevant register (GMC, GDC, NMC).
Related: GMC-registered, CQC-registered
FDA-approved
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves medical devices, drugs and biologics for sale in the United States.
What it doesn’t mean
FDA approval is a U.S. authorisation. It has no legal weight in the UK and does not mean the device or drug is approved for use here. The relevant UK authorities are the MHRA (medicines and devices) and a UKCA / CE mark for devices.
How to verify
For UK devices, check the UKCA / CE mark on the device packaging or in the manufacturer's technical file. For medicines, search the MHRA register.
Related: CE marked / UKCA marked, MHRA
CE marked / UKCA marked
CE marking (European Conformity) and the post-Brexit UKCA marking certify that a device meets UK / EU safety, health and environmental requirements. Aesthetic devices like lasers, RF microneedling and IPL are typically Class IIa / IIb medical devices requiring such marking.
What it doesn’t mean
CE / UKCA marking does not guarantee clinical efficacy or a particular treatment outcome. It certifies that the device meets baseline safety standards for sale in the UK / EU, no more.
How to verify
Ask the clinic for the manufacturer name, model number and year of the device, then look up the technical specification on the manufacturer's site or the MHRA device database.
Related: FDA-approved, MHRA
MHRA
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is the UK regulator of medicines and medical devices. It maintains the public registers of authorised medicines and CE / UKCA-marked devices.
How to verify
For a specific product, search gov.uk/mhra. The agency publishes safety alerts, recalls and authorised-product registers.
Related: CE marked / UKCA marked, FDA-approved
Hyaluronic acid filler
A dermal filler made from synthetic hyaluronic acid (HA), a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in skin and joints. HA fillers are the most common type of cosmetic injectable in the UK.
What it doesn’t mean
Different HA brands and product lines have different cross-linking, density, longevity and viscosity. "Hyaluronic acid filler" alone tells you very little — Juvederm Volift, Restylane Lyft, Teosyal RHA-4 and Belotero Volume are all HA fillers with very different clinical properties.
How to verify
Ask the clinic for the exact brand and product line of the filler they intend to use, and request to see the unopened, sealed syringe at the start of the treatment.
Injectables: questions to ask
Botulinum toxin
A neurotoxin used in small, controlled doses to temporarily relax facial muscles, reducing dynamic wrinkles. In the UK, botulinum toxin is a Prescription-Only Medicine (POM). It is sold under several licensed brand names; doses and onset times differ between products, so units of one product are not interchangeable with units of another.
What it doesn’t mean
Different brands have different units and onset times — units of one brand and units of another are not interchangeable. The drug must be prescribed after an appropriate face-to-face assessment by an authorised independent prescriber, such as a doctor, dentist, pharmacist independent prescriber or nurse independent prescriber.
How to verify
Confirm the prescriber's name with the clinic and verify them on the relevant GMC, GDC, GPhC or NMC register before treatment.
Related: GMC-registered, GDC-registered, Hyaluronidase (filler dissolving)
Injectables: questions to ask
Skin booster
An injectable treatment using low-density hyaluronic acid (or similar hydrating compounds) spread across the skin in multiple small injections, aiming to improve hydration and texture rather than add volume or contour.
What it doesn’t mean
"Skin booster" is a marketing category, not a single product — brands and formulations vary widely (e.g. Profhilo, Skinvive, Restylane Skinboosters), with different mechanisms, longevity and injection techniques.
How to verify
Ask the clinic for the exact brand and product, the injection depth/technique used, and how many sessions are typically recommended for the result shown.
Related: Hyaluronic acid filler, Patch test
Injectables: questions to ask
Biostimulator (e.g. Profhilo, Sculptra)
Injectable products designed to stimulate the skin's own collagen and elastin production over time, rather than adding immediate volume. Common examples include poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra) and stabilised hyaluronic acid (Profhilo).
What it doesn’t mean
Results build gradually over weeks to months and are not visible immediately after treatment — a biostimulator is not a substitute for a dermal filler if immediate volume is what's wanted.
How to verify
Ask the clinic which specific product is being used, how many sessions the manufacturer recommends for the area being treated, and the prescriber's registration.
Related: Hyaluronic acid filler, GMC-registered
Injectables: questions to ask
Hyaluronidase (filler dissolving)
An enzyme injected to break down hyaluronic-acid filler — used both to correct or remove unwanted filler results and as an emergency treatment for vascular occlusion (a rare but serious filler complication).
What it doesn’t mean
Hyaluronidase only dissolves HA-based fillers — it has no effect on biostimulators, fat transfer, or permanent fillers. An allergy test is sometimes recommended before use for non-emergency dissolving.
How to verify
Ask any clinic offering HA filler whether hyaluronidase is kept on site and who is trained and authorised to administer it in an emergency.
Related: Hyaluronic acid filler, Botulinum toxin
Injectables: questions to ask
Chemical peel
A treatment that applies an acid solution (e.g. glycolic, salicylic, lactic, TCA) to the skin to remove damaged outer layers and encourage renewal. Peels range from light superficial peels to deep medical-grade peels.
What it doesn’t mean
The acid type and concentration — not the word "peel" alone — determine strength, downtime and risk. A "lunchtime peel" and a deep TCA peel are very different procedures with very different recovery times.
How to verify
Ask the clinic the exact acid and percentage used, the expected downtime for your skin type, and whether the strength used requires a prescriber.
Related: Medical-grade, Patch test
Skin treatments: questions to ask
Microneedling (incl. RF microneedling)
A treatment using fine needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating collagen production. Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling (e.g. Morpheus8) combines this with heat energy delivered through the needles for a tightening effect.
What it doesn’t mean
Standard microneedling and RF microneedling are different procedures with different devices, depths, downtime and risk profiles — "microneedling" alone does not tell you which one is being offered.
How to verify
Ask the clinic which exact device is used (and its needle depth/RF settings for your skin type), and whether the practitioner is trained on that specific device model.
Related: CE marked / UKCA marked, Patch test
Laser & energy devices: questions to ask
PRP (platelet-rich plasma)
A treatment that uses a concentrated sample of the patient's own blood platelets, separated by centrifuge, then injected (or applied with microneedling) to stimulate healing and collagen — used for skin rejuvenation and hair restoration ("vampire facial", PRP hair treatments).
What it doesn’t mean
Because it uses the patient's own blood, PRP is sometimes marketed as having "no risk of allergic reaction" — this does not mean the procedure itself (the injections, the equipment, the practitioner's training) carries no risk.
How to verify
Ask the clinic about the centrifuge equipment and kit used, how many sessions are typically needed, and the practitioner's training and registration for the injection itself.
Related: Hair transplant (FUE, FUT), Patch test
Hair restoration: questions to ask
Non-surgical facelift
An umbrella term for treatments that lift, tighten or contour the face without surgery — often combinations of HA filler, biostimulators (Sculptra, Profhilo), thread lifts, radiofrequency microneedling (Morpheus8) or focused ultrasound (Ultraformer, Sofwave, HIFU).
What it doesn’t mean
Despite the name, no non-surgical option produces the same lift, longevity or anatomical change as a surgical facelift. "Non-surgical" describes the absence of incisions, not equivalence to surgery.
How to verify
Ask the clinic which specific devices and products they propose, the expected duration of results, and whether the treatment plan combines multiple modalities.
Injectables: questions to ask
Thread lift
A procedure using dissolvable barbed sutures (commonly PDO, PLA or PCL polymers) inserted under the skin to lift sagging tissue and stimulate collagen.
What it doesn’t mean
Results from thread lifts are typically subtle and short-lived (6–18 months). They are not a replacement for surgical lifts. Quality and risk vary widely with the practitioner's training.
How to verify
Ask the practitioner about their thread-lift training certificate, the brand of threads they use, and their experience-level (number of cases per year).
Injectables: questions to ask
Hair transplant (FUE, FUT)
Surgical procedure to relocate hair follicles from a donor area to areas of thinning. FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) takes individual follicles; FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) takes a strip of scalp.
What it doesn’t mean
In England, hair transplantation is a regulated surgical activity: check that the provider and location are registered with the CQC and identify the GMC-registered doctor responsible for the procedure. Other UK nations have different regulators. Be cautious where the clinical roles of technicians and doctors are unclear.
How to verify
In England, verify the provider and location on the CQC register. Elsewhere in the UK, check the appropriate national healthcare regulator. In every nation, check the doctor's current GMC registration and licence, and ask which parts of the procedure they perform personally.
Related: CQC-registered, GMC-registered
Hair restoration: questions to ask
Pharmacy-led / nurse-led clinic
Clinics where the lead prescriber is a pharmacist independent prescriber or a nurse independent prescriber, rather than a doctor.
What it doesn’t mean
A pharmacist or nurse independent prescriber can prescribe Prescription-Only Medicines (POMs) such as botulinum toxin within their competence. UK professional-regulator guidance does not permit remote prescribing of cosmetic injectables without an appropriate face-to-face assessment.
How to verify
Ask which prescriber will see you face-to-face for the consultation and check their registration on the General Pharmaceutical Council (pharmacist) or NMC (nurse) register.
Related: NMC-registered, Botulinum toxin
Patch test
A small test application of a product (typically dye, anaesthetic cream or a cosmetic ingredient) to check for an allergic reaction before the full treatment.
What it doesn’t mean
A patch test does not eliminate the possibility of a reaction during the actual treatment — it reduces the likelihood. Many cosmetic injectables (botulinum toxin, hyaluronic-acid filler) do not require a patch test.
How to verify
Ask the clinic which products on your treatment plan require a patch test and whether yours has been completed and read before the procedure.
Consultation fee
A separate charge for the initial face-to-face assessment before a procedure. UK clinics handle this differently — some apply a fee that is then deducted from the treatment cost; others offer free consultations.
What it doesn’t mean
A free consultation is not a disadvantage in itself. But if it is delivered by a non-medical "concierge" rather than the practitioner who will perform the procedure, that is worth knowing.
How to verify
Ask explicitly: who will conduct the consultation, do they hold prescribing authority, and is the fee redeemable against the treatment cost?
Regulated activity
"Regulated activities" are categories of healthcare defined in the Health and Social Care Act 2008, e.g. "Surgical procedures", "Treatment of disease, disorder or injury". A clinic must register with the CQC for each regulated activity it provides.
How to verify
On the clinic's CQC profile page, the "Regulated activities" section lists which categories are registered. Some popular cosmetic procedures (most non-surgical injectables) currently fall outside the regulated-activity scope.
Related: CQC-registered
Registered manager
Where CQC registration law requires one, the registered manager is the named individual responsible for managing the regulated activity. Some providers are exempt from appointing one, so absence of a manager name is not by itself evidence of non-compliance.
How to verify
Listed on the clinic's CQC profile page under "People". Verify the registered manager's own registration (GMC, GDC, NMC) on their professional register if applicable.
Related: CQC-registered
Indemnity insurance
Professional liability insurance that covers a practitioner against claims of negligence. UK statutory regulators (GMC, GDC, NMC) require their registrants to hold adequate indemnity cover.
How to verify
Ask the clinic for written confirmation of the practitioner's indemnity provider and policy adequacy for the specific procedure you are booking.
Cooling-off period
For many distance and off-premises service contracts, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 provide a 14-day cancellation period. Exceptions apply, and starting a service early at the consumer’s express request can affect the amount refundable.
What it doesn’t mean
The cooling-off period applies to distance and off-premises contracts (e.g. signing up online). For in-person bookings made on the clinic's premises, the statutory cooling-off does not automatically apply, although the clinic's own cancellation policy still does.
How to verify
Read the clinic's written cancellation policy before booking. Ask them to confirm whether the 14-day cooling-off applies to your specific booking.
Before / after photos
Photographs showing a patient before and after a treatment, used to demonstrate possible outcomes.
What it doesn’t mean
Before/after photos are not standardised. Lighting, angle, makeup, post-processing and patient selection can all change the apparent result. ASA guidance restricts misleading cosmetic surgery imagery.
How to verify
Ask the clinic for unedited photos of the same patient under matched lighting, taken at different time points; ask how many photos they have for the specific procedure you're considering.
ASA
The Advertising Standards Authority is the UK regulator of advertising. The ASA enforces the CAP Code, which includes specific rules on cosmetic procedures, before/after imagery and prescription-only medicines.
How to verify
Search the clinic name on asa.org.uk to see any past ASA adjudications against their advertising.