With Valentine's Day coming up, many of you will be searching for that perfect gift for your partners. Jewellery, chocolates, flowers and mini breaks are all up there among the most common gifts. But there has also been a surge in people booking and paying for non-surgical aesthetic treatments (AKA tweakments) for their loved ones. But is this ever really ok?
Botox for Valentine's Day?
There are several things you should really consider before booking an aesthetic treatment for the special person in your life...
Who is the treatment really for?
The first thing to think about is whether the recipient actually wants a treatment or whether you are suggesting they should. If it's because you think they should, think carefully before you book, because you could cause some serious and unnecessary hurt. We all have imperfections, and most of the time, we are our own worst critics. But no one wants to hear other people's criticisms. Especially from the people we love most. So, really think about why you are booking the appointment, and if your partner has never mentioned seeing a practitioner, just don’t do it. Even if you feel like you have the best of intentions.
Does your partner suffer with body dysmorphia?
If your partner has dropped hints about wanting to get an aesthetic treatment, or has directly asked for one, have a think about why they want it. Do they really need it? What kind of treatment do they want? Is it something that's going to just enhance what they already have or brighten their skin, or are they looking for something that will alter their appearance? If the latter is the case, you might want to think about whether or not they are suffering from body dysmorphia.
The NHS describes body dysmorphia (AKA body dysmorphic disorder - or BDD) as “a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance”. If your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband or wife obsesses over a particular body part, compares themselves constantly to others, spends a lot of time looking in mirrors or, conversely, completely avoids looking at themselves or picks at their skin in an attempt to ‘smooth’ it, think very carefully before booking them in for that tweakment.
A medically qualified, fully trained aesthetic practitioner should always do a full consultation and will assess whether a tweakment is the right one for a client, taking into consideration any underlying reasons they shouldn't have it. If a practitioner senses that they are suffering with body dysmorphia, they won't go ahead with the treatment, and it's recommended that they don't go elsewhere to get it done.
Don’t confuse tweakments with beauty treatments
Because non-surgical aesthetic treatments are now so commonplace, many people mistake them for being the same as a manicure or facial but, despite the fact that they can improve wellbeing, they are still treatments that should be done by a medically qualified practitioner - not a beautician. Remember that injectables can be dangerous in the hands of someone who is not medically trained so, if you're set on giving an aesthetic treatment as a gift, do your research and book in with someone who really knows what they're doing and understands how to solve any issues if they do happen.
So, before you book fillers, Botox or any sort of skin treatment for your Valentine, be sure that A) they actually do want it, B) they are in the right state of mind, and C) that you choose a medically qualified practitioner who will be able to safely treat your partner. You can do this here on Glowday!
