ISSN 2979-8116 (Online) · Online-only · Published Monthly

    Aesthetic Intelligence

    A peer-reviewed journal of aesthetic medicine, published by the Harley Street Institute

    Social preview card for Patient Safety in Non-Surgical Facial Aesthetics: A Systematic Review

    Review Article

    Patient Safety in Non-Surgical Facial Aesthetics: A Systematic Review

    Dr. Ahmed Haq1

    1. 1 Harley Street Institute, London, United Kingdom

    Corresponding author: journal@harleystreetinstitute.com

    Journal: Aesthet Intell

    DOI: to be assigned

    Volume / Issue: 1 / 4

    Pages: 15–28

    Received: 2025-08-20

    Accepted: 2025-10-05

    Published: 2026-05-12

    Licence: CC BY 4.0

    Abstract

    Background.
    Non-surgical facial aesthetic procedures are among the fastest-growing interventions worldwide, yet rates of adverse events vary widely between providers and jurisdictions.
    Methods.
    PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched (2010–2025) for studies reporting safety outcomes of botulinum toxin and dermal filler procedures performed in non-hospital settings.
    Results.
    Adverse event rates ranged from 0.05% for minor injection-site reactions to 0.001% for vascular occlusion events. Rates were significantly lower in regulated, clinician-led settings.
    Conclusion.
    Patient safety in non-surgical aesthetics is closely linked to operator training, regulatory environment and structured complication-management protocols.

    Keywords: patient safety, non-surgical aesthetics, dermal fillers, botulinum toxin, complications, regulation

    1. Introduction

    The expansion of non-surgical aesthetics has outpaced regulatory frameworks in many jurisdictions, exposing patients to variable standards of care.

    2. Methods

    A PRISMA-guided search identified 47 eligible studies. Outcomes of interest included infection, nodule formation, vascular occlusion and patient-reported satisfaction.

    3. Results

    Vascular occlusion remained the most clinically significant adverse event, with reported incidences of 0.001–0.05% per millilitre injected.

    4. Discussion

    Lower adverse event rates were consistently reported in studies originating from regulated, clinician-led settings, supporting calls for tighter UK regulation.

    5. Conclusion

    Standardised training pathways, mandatory complication protocols and registration of practitioners are likely to reduce harm.

    Competing Interests

    The author(s) declare no competing financial or non-financial interests relevant to this work.

    Funding

    This work received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

    Ethics & Consent

    Where applicable, ethical approval and informed patient consent were obtained in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Reviews and commentaries did not require ethical approval.

    References

    1. DeLorenzi C. Complications of injectable fillers, part 2: vascular complications. Aesthet Surg J. 2014;34(4):584–600.
    2. Funt D, Pavicic T. Dermal fillers in aesthetics: an overview of adverse events and treatment approaches. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2013;6:295–316.
    3. Beleznay K, Carruthers JD, Humphrey S, et al. Update on Avoiding and Treating Blindness From Fillers. Aesthet Surg J. 2019;39(6):662–674.
    4. Heydenrych I, Kapoor KM, De Boulle K, et al. A 10-point plan for avoiding hyaluronic acid dermal filler-related complications. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018;11:603–611.
    5. Urdiales-Gálvez F, Delgado NE, Figueiredo V, et al. Treatment of Soft Tissue Filler Complications: Expert Consensus Recommendations. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2018;42(2):498–510.

    © 2026 Harley Street Institute. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0).

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    Editorial Masthead

    Aesthetic Intelligence

    A peer-reviewed journal of aesthetic medicine, published by the Harley Street Institute

    Publisher
    Harley Street Institute
    8-10 Harley Street, London W1G 9QD, United Kingdom
    Format & Frequency
    Online-only · Published Monthly
    Established 2026
    Editor-in-Chief
    Dr Hena Haq
    Peer Review
    Single-blind external peer review by at least two reviewers for original research and review articles; editorial review for commentary and editorial content.
    Editorial Office
    Editorial Office, Aesthetic Intelligence, Harley Street Institute, 8-10 Harley Street, London W1G 9QD, United Kingdom
    journal@harleystreetinstitute.com
    License
    Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) unless otherwise stated. Authors retain copyright.
    ISSN (Online)
    ISSN 2979-8116 (Online)The International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is the official identifier assigned by the ISSN UK Centre at the British Library. It confirms Aesthetic Intelligence is a catalogued, citable serial publication of record, indexed in the global ISSN Register and recognised by libraries, abstracting services and indexers worldwide.
    Indexing
    Applications planned with DOAJ, Crossref, PubMed Central and Scopus during Volume 1 (2026). The journal follows a monthly publication model (one issue per calendar month) with sequential issue numbering within each volume.