14/03/2026
I'm sharing this partly because I want to educate — but mostly because I’m frustrated.I’m frustrated with how little understanding there still is about how prescribers are meant to work in aesthetics.
I’m frustrated by people “doing their own research,” yet still missing what’s actually required of prescribers.Every prescriber in the UK works to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s framework for prescribing. That’s non-negotiable. On top of that, each profession has its own governing body — for nurses and midwives it’s the NMC, for doctors the GMC, and for pharmacists their own regulatory council. These bodies set very clear rules around prescribing practices, consent, cooling-off periods, and when remote prescribing is (or isn’t) appropriate.In June 2025, the NMC tightened their stance from “remote prescribing is rarely ever appropriate” to a clear “you should not be prescribing remotely in aesthetics.”
This was not arbitrary — it was because aesthetic products are frequently misused: overdiluted, shared, or stored in ways that breach safety standards.So to be absolutely clear — every aesthetic client must have a face-to-face consultation with their prescriber before treatment. That prescription is valid only for that treatment, not the next one in three months’ time. If your client’s treatment wears off, they need another face-to-face and a new prescription.
The misinformation is still very real, and as this particular message shows, it’s coming from the very top — from training providers themselves. Some are still advising practitioners to double up prescriptions to “cover two treatments.” This is completely unacceptable and goes against regulatory guidance.
This isn’t a medic vs non-medic issue. It’s a training and ethics issue. Getting it right has to start at the very beginning — with proper education and compliance.
I’ve offered to support the training provider involved because I genuinely want to see higher standards across the industry. But I’m honestly at the end of my tether with people misunderstanding what good, legal, and ethical prescribing looks like.
We all want the same thing here: safe, evidence-informed, and ethical aesthetic practice. Let’s start respecting the frameworks that make that possible.
