Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.
- Adverse drug reaction
- An unwanted or harmful reaction experienced after a medicine is given at a normal dose.
- Anaphylaxis
- A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction needing immediate emergency treatment.
- Asepsis
- Working in a way that keeps an area free of germs so a procedure does not cause infection.
- Bank staff
- Staff who are on a list to be called in to cover shifts as and when they are needed, rather than working fixed hours.
- Biostimulatory filler
- An injectable product that works by prompting the skin to make more of its own collagen over time, rather than simply adding volume.
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
- A mental health condition in which a person is preoccupied with perceived flaws in their appearance that others often cannot see.
- Botulinum toxin
- A prescription-only medicine, often known by brand names, that is injected to relax muscles and soften lines.
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- The independent regulator of health and social care services in England.
- Chemical peel
- A treatment that applies a chemical solution to the skin to remove the outer layers and improve its appearance.
- Cold chain
- Keeping vaccines and certain medicines within a safe temperature range from delivery to use.
- Competence
- Having the knowledge, skill, judgement and behaviour needed to carry out a specific task safely and well.
- Complication
- An unwanted problem caused by a treatment, such as infection, tissue damage or a blocked blood vessel.
- Continuing professional development (CPD)
- Ongoing learning and training that keeps a professional's knowledge and skills up to date.
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
- The law for safely managing chemicals and other hazardous substances at work.
- Cooling-off period
- A set waiting time given to a patient between consultation and treatment so they can reflect before committing.
- Data Protection Act 2018
- The UK law that sits alongside the UK GDPR and governs how personal information must be handled.
- Dermal filler
- An injectable gel, often based on hyaluronic acid, used to add volume or smooth lines in the skin.
- Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS)
- A workplace assessment in which an assessor watches a practitioner carry out a procedure and judges whether it is done competently.
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- A criminal-records check showing whether a person is suitable to work with patients or vulnerable people.
- Documented Assurance Review
- A structured, written review the clinic carries out when there is evidence that a practitioner may not be meeting the required standard.
- Energy-based device
- Equipment that uses light, heat, sound or radio waves (such as a laser) to treat the skin.
- Fitness to practise
- Whether a professional has the skills, knowledge, health and character to do their job safely and to the standards of their regulator.
- Fitzpatrick scale
- A widely used scale that classifies skin types by how they respond to sun exposure, used to plan safe treatment.
- General Dental Council (GDC)
- The body that registers and regulates dental professionals in the UK.
- General Medical Council (GMC)
- The body that registers and regulates doctors in the UK.
- General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- The body that registers and regulates pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Great Britain.
- Health and Care Act 2022
- A UK law that, among other things, gives the power to set up a licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England.
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- The body that registers and regulates a range of health and care professionals in the UK.
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- The main UK law setting out employers' duties to protect the health and safety of staff and others.
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
- The regulations that set out the fundamental standards providers must meet to be registered with the Care Quality Commission.
- High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
- A treatment that uses focused sound waves to heat tissue beneath the skin to tighten or lift it.
- Hyaluronic acid
- A natural substance found in the skin that is also used in many dermal fillers to add volume and moisture.
- Hyaluronidase
- An enzyme injected to dissolve hyaluronic acid filler, used urgently if a filler blocks a blood vessel.
- Indemnity insurance
- Insurance that covers a practitioner against claims for harm or loss arising from their professional work.
- Independent prescriber
- A qualified professional, such as a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist, who is authorised to prescribe medicines in their own right.
- Infection prevention and control (IPC)
- The measures used to stop infection spreading between patients, staff and visitors.
- Informed consent
- Agreement to treatment given freely after the risks, benefits and alternatives have been clearly explained.
- Intense pulsed light (IPL)
- A skin treatment that uses broad-spectrum light pulses to target concerns such as pigmentation or unwanted hair.
- Laser Protection Adviser
- A suitably qualified expert who advises a clinic on the safe use of lasers and intense pulsed light equipment.
- Level 7 qualification
- An advanced qualification at master's-degree level, often used as a benchmark for training in injectable treatments.
- Local Rules
- A clinic's own written safety procedures for using lasers or intense pulsed light equipment, kept and followed on site.
- Locum
- A practitioner who works temporarily to cover for another, for example during absence or to meet extra demand.
- Medicines Act 1968
- A UK law that governs the manufacture, supply and use of medicines.
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- The UK body that regulates medicines and medical devices and monitors their safety.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- The law that protects and supports people who may be unable to make particular decisions for themselves.
- Mesotherapy
- A treatment in which small amounts of substances are injected into the skin to improve its condition or appearance.
- Microneedling
- A treatment that uses tiny needles to make controlled micro-injuries in the skin, prompting it to repair and renew.
- Near miss
- An event that could have caused harm but did not, by chance or because it was caught in time.
- Necrosis
- The death of body tissue, which can occur if its blood supply is cut off.
- Nominated Individual
- The senior person responsible to the regulator for supervising how a service is provided.
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- The body that registers and regulates nurses and midwives in the UK.
- Ofqual
- The body that regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England.
- Patch test
- A small trial application of a product or treatment to a limited area of skin to check for a reaction before fuller use.
- Polynucleotides
- Injectable substances derived from purified DNA fragments, used to improve skin quality and stimulate repair.
- Prescription-only medicine (POM)
- A medicine that may lawfully be supplied only on the instruction of an appropriate prescriber.
- Ptosis
- Drooping of the upper eyelid, which can occur as a side effect of botulinum toxin treatment.
- Radiofrequency
- A treatment that uses radio-wave energy to heat the deeper layers of the skin to tighten or remodel it.
- Registered Manager
- The person registered with the regulator as responsible for the day-to-day running of a service.
- Regulated activity
- A type of care or treatment the law requires a provider to register with the regulator to deliver.
- Remote prescribing
- Prescribing a medicine without seeing the patient in person, which is not permitted for injectable cosmetic medicines such as botulinum toxin.
- Revalidation
- The regular process by which a registered professional confirms to their regulator that they remain fit to practise.
- Risk assessment
- A structured check identifying what could cause harm and what is being done to prevent it.
- Safeguarding
- Protecting people's health, wellbeing and rights and keeping them safe from abuse, harm or neglect.
- Scope of practice
- The range of procedures and patients a practitioner is trained, competent and authorised to deal with.
- Skin booster
- An injectable treatment that hydrates and improves the quality of the skin rather than adding volume or shape.
- Sterile field
- An area kept completely free of germs around a procedure site to prevent infection.
- Thread lift
- A procedure that uses dissolvable threads inserted under the skin to lift and support sagging tissue.
- UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
- The UK's main data-protection law governing how personal information is collected and used.
- Vascular occlusion
- A blockage of a blood vessel, which during filler treatment is a medical emergency that can lead to tissue death or blindness.
- Well-led
- One of the regulator's five key questions, asking whether a service has strong leadership, governance and a culture of improvement.
- Yellow Card scheme
- The UK system for reporting suspected side effects of medicines and problems with medical devices to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.