Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.
- Aesthetic treatment
- A non-surgical cosmetic procedure, such as injectable wrinkle treatment or dermal filler, intended to change a person's appearance.
- Anticoagulant
- A medicine that thins the blood and slows clotting, which can increase bruising or bleeding during a procedure.
- Best interests
- A decision made for someone who cannot decide for themselves, choosing the option that is best for them.
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
- A mental health condition in which a person is preoccupied with a perceived flaw in their appearance that others may not notice.
- Botulinum toxin
- A prescription medicine injected to relax muscles and soften lines in the face, commonly used in aesthetic treatments.
- Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021
- The law that makes it a criminal offence in England to give botulinum toxin or cosmetic fillers to anyone under 18 for cosmetic reasons.
- Capacity (mental capacity)
- Whether a person can understand and make a particular decision for themselves at the time it needs to be made.
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- The independent regulator of health and social care services in England.
- Chairside workflow
- The practical, step-by-step set of actions a clinician carries out with the patient during an appointment.
- Cooling-off period
- A set time to reflect between the consultation and a first treatment, so the patient can decide without sales pressure.
- Dermal filler
- A gel-like substance injected under the skin to smooth lines or add volume to the face.
- Duty of candour
- The legal duty to be open and honest with a person and their family when something goes wrong with their care.
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
- The regulations setting the fundamental standards that registered health and care providers in England must meet.
- Informed consent
- Agreement to treatment given freely after the risks, benefits and alternatives have been clearly explained.
- Material risk
- A risk important enough that a reasonable patient, or this particular patient, would want to know about it before agreeing to treatment.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- The law that protects and supports people who may be unable to make particular decisions for themselves.
- Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] UKSC 11
- A Supreme Court case that set the legal standard requiring clinicians to disclose the risks a patient would consider significant.
- Patient information leaflet (PIL)
- The written information about a treatment given to a patient to read and keep.
- Prescriber
- A healthcare professional legally allowed to decide on and order a prescription-only medicine for a patient.
- Prescription-only medicine (POM)
- A medicine that may lawfully be supplied only on the instruction of an appropriate prescriber.
- Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR)
- The law governing electronic marketing and how organisations may contact people by phone, email or text.
- Psychosocial
- Relating to a person's mind, emotions and social circumstances, rather than their physical health alone.
- 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.
- 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.
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- A written, step-by-step instruction setting out how a specific task must be carried out consistently.