Treatment Disclaimer

Aesthetic medicine improves how people feel about themselves, but every procedure carries risk. This Disclaimer explains, before you book, the general and treatment specific risks involved at Derma Sense, how we set expectations about results, and the responsibilities you accept when you proceed with treatment. It sits alongside our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, and is supplemented by the treatment specific consent form you sign in clinic.

01Medical disclaimer

Derma Sense provides aesthetic and cosmetic services performed by qualified practitioners and, where prescription only medicines are involved, by appropriately registered prescribers. Nothing on this website or in our printed materials constitutes a diagnosis, a prescription, or personalised medical advice. Decisions about your treatment are made at consultation, in person, on the basis of a full medical history and physical assessment.

02General risks, side effects, and complications

All aesthetic and cosmetic procedures carry inherent risks. Possible side effects and complications include, but are not limited to:

• Redness, warmth, swelling, bruising, tenderness, itching;
• Minor bleeding, scabbing, crusting, dryness, peeling;
• Pain or discomfort during and after the treatment;
• Temporary or permanent changes in skin pigmentation (hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation);
• Temporary or permanent scarring, keloid formation, or textural change;
• Infection (bacterial, viral, or fungal), including reactivation of cold sores (herpes simplex);
• Allergic, hypersensitivity, or idiosyncratic reactions, including, very rarely, anaphylaxis;
• Asymmetry, uneven results, or aesthetic outcomes that do not meet your expectations;
• Delayed healing, granuloma formation, nodules, or lumps;
• Nerve irritation, altered sensation, numbness, or, rarely, nerve damage;
• Emotional or psychological reactions to the treatment process or to results.

This list is non exhaustive. Other, rarer complications may occur that are not foreseeable in any individual case.

03Injectables

Botulinum Toxin, hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, lip enhancement, skin boosters, polynucleotides, Profhilo, mesotherapy, exosomes, fat dissolving injections, and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) carry treatment specific risks including:

• Bruising, swelling, tenderness, lumps, nodules, and asymmetry;
• Product migration, palpability, or visibility under the skin (the Tyndall effect with hyaluronic acid fillers);
• Vascular occlusion (compression or blockage of a blood vessel), which can, very rarely, lead to skin necrosis, scarring, visual disturbance, or, in extremely rare cases, blindness or stroke when injecting in or near facial danger zones;
• Hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to the product or anaesthetic;
• Infection, biofilm formation, or delayed onset inflammatory reactions weeks or months after treatment;
• Granulomas and the potential need for dissolving (hyaluronidase) or other corrective procedures;
• Ptosis (drooping) of the eyelid or brow, dry eye, asymmetric smile, or temporary muscle weakness with Botulinum Toxin;
• Headache, flu like symptoms, or transient fatigue;
• Results being temporary and requiring repeat treatments to maintain.

04Energy based treatments

Laser hair removal, IPL, laser skin treatments, radiofrequency microneedling, and HIFU treatments carry treatment specific risks including:

• Burns, blistering, crusting, and prolonged redness;
• Hyper or hypopigmentation, particularly in darker skin types or recently tanned skin;
• Paradoxical hair growth (hair becoming thicker or more numerous), especially on the face and neck;
• Eye injury if eye protection is not worn at all times during treatment;
• Scarring (rare) and skin texture change;
• Triggering of cold sores, folliculitis, or skin infections;
• Photosensitive reactions from medications, supplements, or skincare products.

05Chemical peels, microneedling, dermaplaning, HydraFacial

• Stinging, burning, redness, peeling, flaking, dryness, and breakouts;
• Hyper or hypopigmentation, particularly with deeper peels or in darker skin types;
• Scarring, infection, and reactivation of cold sores;
• Sensitivity to sun for several weeks. Broad spectrum SPF 30+ daily is mandatory.

06Scalp micropigmentation, permanent makeup, microblading, cosmetic tattooing

• Colour shift, fading, or migration over time;
• Asymmetry and the need for top up sessions;
• Allergic reactions to pigments (which can occur years after treatment);
• Interference with future MRI scans (rare);
• Healed results that differ from the initial appearance immediately after treatment.

07Fat dissolving injections

• Significant swelling, bruising, tenderness, and firmness lasting several weeks;
• Skin irregularity or contour deformity;
• Unexpected loss of volume that may not be reversible.

08No guarantee of results

Aesthetic medicine is not an exact science. Outcomes are influenced by individual anatomy, skin type, age, lifestyle, healing response, hormones, medication, and adherence to aftercare. The Clinic does not guarantee:

• Any specific aesthetic outcome;
• Symmetry, colour retention, longevity, fading, or healed appearance;
• The level of personal satisfaction with the result;
• That the result will match any photograph, image, or example shown during consultation.

Further sessions, top ups, or corrections may be required to achieve or maintain a desired result and these will normally be charged at the Clinic's prevailing rates. Nothing in this clause excludes the Clinic's obligation under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to perform services with reasonable care and skill.

09Contraindications

We may decline or postpone treatment where, in our professional judgement, the treatment is not suitable. Typical contraindications (non exhaustive and treatment specific) include:

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• Active skin infection, broken skin, or eczema or psoriasis in the treatment area;
• Bleeding disorders or use of anticoagulant medication;
• Known allergy to any product to be used;
• Autoimmune conditions affecting skin or wound healing;
• Recent cosmetic surgery or injectable treatment in the same area;
• Active cold sores (for procedures near the lips);
• Isotretinoin (Accutane) use within the previous 6 months for certain treatments;
• Uncontrolled diabetes, epilepsy, or active malignancy;
• Recent sun exposure, fake tan, or photosensitising medication (for energy based treatments);
• A history of keloid scarring;
• Any other condition that the practitioner reasonably considers to present an unacceptable risk.

10Model treatments

Model Treatments are performed by a trainee under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, at a reduced or zero fee, as part of a structured training programme.

11Aftercare obligations

You agree to follow all pre care and aftercare instructions we provide, verbally and in writing. Failure to comply with aftercare may:

• Increase the risk of infection, scarring, pigment loss, poor healing, or other complications;
• Reduce the quality or longevity of the result;
• Void any complimentary correction or touch up policy that would otherwise apply.

12Complaints procedure

We take complaints seriously and aim to resolve concerns promptly and constructively.

1. Raise the concern. Email customerservice@dermasense.co.uk within 14 days of becoming aware of the issue, with your name, the date of treatment, the practitioner involved, and a clear description of your concern.
2. Acknowledgement. We will acknowledge your complaint within 5 working days and aim to provide a substantive response within 20 working days. If more time is needed, we will tell you why.
3. Review. We may invite you to a review consultation, request photographs, and consult the treating practitioner and (where applicable) the prescriber.
4. External escalation. If the issue remains unresolved, you may escalate to the relevant regulator, including Save Face, the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the General Medical Council (GMC), the General Dental Council (GDC), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the Local Authority Environmental Health team, or the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for data protection concerns.

Nothing in this clause prevents you from seeking independent legal advice or pursuing a claim through the courts.

13Limitation of liability

Nothing in this Disclaimer excludes or limits the Clinic's liability for:

• Death or personal injury caused by our negligence (Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, section 2(1));
• Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
• Any breach of the terms implied by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 that cannot lawfully be excluded;
• Any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under English law.

Subject to the above, the Clinic is not liable for indirect, consequential, or special loss, or for adverse outcomes attributable to:

• Your failure to follow pre care or aftercare instructions;
• Undisclosed or misrepresented medical information;
• Pre existing medical conditions, anatomical variations, or individual healing responses;
• Your use of unsuitable products or treatments by third parties before or after our Treatment;
• Any matter outside the Clinic's reasonable control.

The Clinic maintains professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

14Website content disclaimer

Content on dermasense.co.uk, including before and after photographs, written treatment descriptions, expected downtime, and pricing, is provided for general information. Individual results vary. Images of past clients are published only with their consent under our photography consent policy and are not promises that you will achieve the same result. Prices are subject to change. The price applicable to your booking is the price in force on the day you pay your deposit.

15Full consent & disclaimer document

The complete 31 clause client consent, disclaimer, and treatment agreement that you will sign before treatment is available for download below. We recommend reading it in advance so you can ask questions at your consultation.

Download Client Consent & Disclaimer (PDF, 950 KB)