Bizarre ban is revealed as part of clever hair and beauty PR campaign

A COSMETIC nurse from Scotland has been headhunted to teach plastic surgeons from around the world how to properly carry out facial injections.

But her plans to give live demos have been put on ice because the training takes place in Sweden – where ironically nurses are BANNED from giving such injections.

Now Jackie Partridge, who founded and runs Dermal Clinic in Edinburgh, will have to give her needle placement training via pre-recorded video, despite being one of the world’s most renowned experts.

Mistakes with injecting facial fillers can cause blindness, facial paralysis and disfigurement as a result of skin death and Jackie has campaigned relentlessly for more stringent regulation.

That saw her being handpicked to form a four-strong panel with three of the world’s top plastic and reconstructive surgeons, with the intention that they will instruct hundreds of surgeons, doctors, dentists and nurses from around the world at a series of events.

However, half of those sessions will be in Sweden, where the bizarre twist means she will not be able to give live demonstrations.

She said: “Ironically, in Sweden, I have to give injection training by video, because their laws are so strict. Unless there is a doctor to take full, clinical responsibility, then nurses can’t give such injections.

“Compare that to this country, where we have dermal fillers injected by anyone whether they are beauticians or builders. These fillers can cause blindness, facial paralysis and skin death.

“In my opinion that makes them much more dangerous than the likes of Botox, yet you need to have a medical qualification to administer Botox, while anyone can pump a filler into your face.

“I believe the ideal position would be somewhere in between the law in Sweden and Scotland, as long as someone sufficiently medically qualified is doing treatments and is also qualified to inject the antidote. Patient safety must come first.”

Jackie’s encyclopaedic knowledge of facial treatments caught the eye of global pharmaceutical giant, Galderma, which employs 5500 people and works in 70 countries researching and developing medical treatments for skin conditions including cancer, psoriasis, acne and rosacea. It also has a thriving aesthetic division.

Now Galderma, which is owned by Nestle, has recruited her to work as part of a four-strong expert panel, which also includes a respected Swedish dermatologist, a high-profile Canadian ocular plastic surgeon and a renowned plastic surgeon from Hong Kong.

While preparing a dedicated training programme to be launched in 2018, they have already undertaken a number of trial events for medical professionals involved in cosmetic surgery and cosmetic treatments. Those trial panel sessions were chaired by TV’s Dr Christian Jessen, presenter of Embarrassing Bodies.

Jackie said: “Dr Christian is a lovely guy and great to work with. He has practiced some aesthetic treatments in a small way, but as a GP his biggest area of interest and background is in the psychology of body dysmorphia and the psychology behind aesthetic treatment and medicine.”

The new panel has already presented at two major conferences in Leeds and London, each time to around 300 medical professionals. Jackie added: “It involves presenting to my peers so it’s pretty daunting.

“When it comes to face augmentation, there are different fillers that can be used for different parts of the face and to achieve different results. The people who are watching this are usually surgeons, doctors, dentists and nurses. Obviously, face augmentation is not the only way to help you look younger. For example, Lasting Impression Medical Spa offers advanced treatments that use the latest in aesthetic medical technology, including laser and radiofrequency treatments for skin resurfacing and skin tightening.

“I also tend to do a live injection of a treatment on camera. Usually I’m just off stage, being filmed, but still taking questions, while the delegates are watching on big screens in the main conference area.”

In late October, Jackie will further hone her presentation skills at a conference in Belfast – including a live injection – for 50 doctors, dentists and nurses. Once the four-strong panel starts its work in earnest in 2018, Jackie will have a packed schedule of events in both London and Sweden with plans to reach thousands of professionals worldwide.

Jackie’s credentials and campaigning for better patient safety saw her headhunted to help usher in new Scottish Government-led regulations in 2016. Those require all private clinics to register with Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

Dermal Clinic was the first to register and will celebrate its 10^th anniversary this November. Over a decade it has established a loyal clientele, particularly professional women aged 30-50 who juggle families and careers, often in Edinburgh’s financial sector.

Since being founded by Jackie and husband Jarrod in 2007, Dermal Clinic has continued to go from strength to strength, recording double digit growth every year. It now employs 10 people and offers state of the art cosmetic treatments from its clinic in Church Hill Place, Edinburgh.

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