Somerset Nurse Warns of Dangers in Growing Cosmetic Treatment Market
North Somerset Council urges caution as complaints rise over unregulated aesthetic procedures
Last updated 13th Sep 2025
Charlotte Elizabeth, a qualified nurse and owner of a Somerset-based aesthetics practice, is warning the public about the risks of unsafe cosmetic treatments.
“I treat clients nearly every week who have had poor or dangerous results elsewhere” she says. “It’s not just about bad results – these are situations that could seriously harm someone’s health.”
She recalls a particularly alarming case of a woman who visited her three days after a lip filler treatment. “She was experiencing a vascular occlusion, where an artery gets blocked and tissue starts to die. Her original practitioner dismissed it as a bruise and then blocked her on social media and phone. She was completely alone and terrified. Thankfully, I was able to treat her and save her lips.”
Charlotte says the problem is widespread, with untrained practitioners calling themselves “advanced” and even training others after only a few months of practice. “Clients are often rushed through treatments, given forms they don’t understand, and left without proper aftercare. Some are pressured into additional treatments they didn’t ask for. It’s exploitation, and it’s dangerous.”
She welcomes the council’s recent focus on the issue. North Somerset Council has stepped up inspections and issued prohibition notices where safety standards are not met. In one case, a single practitioner received 22 health and safety notices, stopping them from performing certain procedures until they could demonstrate compliance.
Councillor James Clayton, Cabinet Member for Safety in the Community, said: “Invasive treatments such as injections and thread lifts can pose serious health risks if not carried out safely. While many practitioners are responsible, the current lack of regulation is putting people at risk. It’s important to take sensible precautions and ask the right questions first.”
Residents are encouraged to report any concerns about local clinics or practitioners to the council or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).