Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.
- Adrenaline 1:1000
- The strength of injectable adrenaline kept ready to treat a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
- Aftercare
- The advice and follow-up support given to a client after a treatment to aid recovery and spot any problems.
- Anaphylaxis
- A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction needing immediate emergency treatment.
- Aseptic non-touch technique
- A careful method of carrying out a procedure so that the parts that must stay sterile are never touched, reducing the risk of infection.
- Aspiration
- Drawing back on the syringe before injecting to check the needle is not in a blood vessel.
- Basic life support (BLS)
- Emergency first aid, including chest compressions and rescue breaths, used to keep someone alive until further help arrives.
- Blood-borne virus (BBV)
- An infection such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV that can be passed on through blood.
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
- A mental health condition in which a person worries excessively about perceived flaws in their appearance.
- Botulinum toxin
- A prescription-only medicine, sold under brand names such as Botox, that relaxes muscles and is injected for cosmetic or medical reasons.
- Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021
- The law making it a criminal offence to give botulinum toxin or fillers for cosmetic reasons to anyone under 18 in England.
- Bruxism
- Involuntary grinding or clenching of the teeth, which can be treated with botulinum toxin.
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- The independent regulator of health and social care services in England.
- Cellulitis
- A bacterial infection of the skin and the tissue beneath it, causing redness, swelling and pain.
- Chlorhexidine
- An antiseptic used to clean the skin before an injection to reduce the risk of infection.
- Cold chain
- Keeping vaccines and certain medicines within a safe temperature range from delivery to use.
- 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 period of time between consultation and treatment that lets a client reflect before deciding to go ahead.
- Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority (CPSA)
- A body that sets recognised clinical standards for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
- Diplopia
- Double vision, which can occur if botulinum toxin spreads to the muscles that move the eye.
- Dose map
- A record showing exactly where on the face and at what dose each injection of botulinum toxin was given.
- Duty of candour
- The legal duty to be open and honest with a person and their family when something goes wrong with their care.
- Dysphagia
- Difficulty swallowing, which can occur if botulinum toxin spreads beyond the intended muscles.
- Excipient
- An inactive ingredient, such as human albumin, included alongside the active medicine in a product.
- Fundamental standards
- The minimum standards of safety and quality below which care must never fall.
- General Dental Council (GDC)
- The body that registers and regulates dentists and 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 professionals in Great Britain.
- General practitioner (GP)
- A doctor who provides general medical care in the community and is usually a patient's first point of contact.
- Glabellar lines
- The vertical frown lines between the eyebrows, a common area treated with botulinum toxin.
- Grey market
- The buying or selling of genuine products through channels that are not officially authorised, which can risk supplying unsafe or unverified stock.
- Health and Care Act 2022
- A law reforming the health and care system in England, including powers to set up a licensing scheme for cosmetic procedures.
- Health and Safety (Sharps Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013
- The law requiring healthcare employers to prevent and manage injuries from needles and other sharp instruments.
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- The main law setting out employers' duties to protect the health and safety of staff and others affected by their work.
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
- The regulations setting out the fundamental standards that providers of regulated care must meet.
- Hepatitis B
- A blood-borne virus that infects the liver and which clinical staff are usually immunised against.
- Human albumin
- A protein from human blood used as a stabilising ingredient in some botulinum toxin products.
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012
- The main law governing how medicines are licensed, supplied, prescribed and sold in the UK.
- Hyperhidrosis
- Excessive sweating, a medical condition that can be treated with botulinum toxin.
- Indemnity (professional indemnity)
- Insurance cover that protects a practitioner and compensates clients if something goes wrong with treatment.
- Independent prescriber
- A qualified health professional legally allowed to assess patients and prescribe medicines on their own responsibility.
- Infection prevention and control (IPC)
- The measures used to stop infection spreading between patients, staff and visitors.
- Inoculation injury
- An injury, such as a needlestick, that could expose a person to infected blood or bodily fluids.
- Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP)
- A voluntary register of practitioners who meet recognised standards for non-surgical cosmetic treatments.
- Mental capacity
- Whether a person can understand and make a particular decision for themselves at the time it needs to be made.
- Near miss
- An event that could have caused harm but did not, by chance or because it was caught in time.
- 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.
- Off-label use
- Using a licensed medicine for a purpose, dose or group of people not covered by its official licence.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Items such as gloves, aprons and masks worn to protect against harm or infection.
- 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 if botulinum toxin spreads to nearby muscles.
- Reconstitution
- Mixing a powdered medicine with a liquid to make it ready for injection.
- 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.
- Residual risk
- The level of risk that remains once existing control measures are taken into account.
- Risk assessment
- A structured check identifying what could cause harm and what is being done to prevent it.
- Risk matrix
- A grid that scores how likely a harm is against how serious it would be, to rank risks for action.
- Risk register
- A record listing identified risks, their ratings and the actions being taken to manage them.
- Safeguarding
- Protecting people's health, wellbeing and rights and keeping them safe from abuse, harm or neglect.
- Sharps
- Needles, blades and other items that can cut or puncture the skin.
- Single assessment framework
- The structure the regulator uses to judge a service, built around quality statements and five key questions (safe, effective, caring, responsive, well-led).
- Standard operating procedure
- A written, step-by-step instruction for carrying out a routine task consistently and safely.
- Statement of Purpose
- A required document describing who a service is, what it does and where, shared with the regulator.
- UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
- The UK's main data-protection law governing how personal information is collected and used.
- Vascular occlusion
- Blockage of a blood vessel, a serious complication that can cut off blood supply to tissue.