What You Need to Know: Face-to-Face Consultations Now Mandatory for Anti-Wrinkle Injections

As of 1st June 2025, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requires all nurse and midwife prescribers to conduct in-person consultations before prescribing anti-wrinkle injections and other non-surgical cosmetic treatments.

nmc.org.uk

While this regulation aims to enhance patient safety, it's essential to understand its implications for both practitioners and clients.

1. Mandatory In-Person Consultations

Prescribers must now assess patients face-to-face before issuing prescriptions for anti-wrinkle treatments. This move addresses concerns about remote prescribing practices that lacked thorough patient evaluations.

2. Impact on Non-Prescribing Practitioners

Practitioners who do not hold prescribing qualifications must collaborate with qualified prescribers to comply with the new regulations. This collaboration ensures that each patient receives a proper in-person assessment before treatment.

3. Concerns About Training Standards

While the new regulation focuses on prescribing practices, it doesn't address the broader issue of inconsistent training standards in the aesthetics industry. Many practitioners enter the field with inadequate training, leading to potential risks for clients. Some academies are established by individuals with minimal experience, sometimes just months after their own training, resulting in a cycle of subpar education.

4. Potential Unintended Consequences

The new requirement might inadvertently push clients towards unregulated sources. If accessing a prescriber becomes cumbersome, some might seek treatments from non-compliant providers, increasing the risk of complications.

5. Call for Comprehensive Regulation

To truly enhance patient safety, the focus should shift towards regulating training academies. Implementing standardised curricula, mandatory accreditation, and oversight can ensure that practitioners receive comprehensive education. This approach would address the industry's foundational issues, promoting safer practices across the board.

In Summary

The NMC's mandate for in-person consultations is a step towards improving patient safety in the aesthetics industry. However, to effect meaningful change, it's essential to address the industry's foundational issues, particularly the need for standardised and regulated training for practitioners. By focusing on comprehensive education and oversight, we can foster a safer and more trustworthy environment for both practitioners and clients.

To book a FREE consultation click our book button on our home page.