Mother warns of 'botched' £150 under-eye filler that cost £700 to fix
UKPulse Health Desk
A mother-of-two has warned others to research aesthetic treatments after a £150 under-eye filler procedure left her in pain and cost over £700 to correct. Her warning comes as a poll found many believe all aesthetic practitioners are regulated by law.
- Joanne Bauer spent over £700 to correct a £150 under-eye filler treatment.
- A poll found 46% of UK adults surveyed believed all aesthetic practitioners were regulated by law.
- The non-surgical aesthetics industry in the UK is largely unregulated, with many procedures legally performable without medical qualifications.
A mother-of-two has urged others to conduct careful research before undergoing aesthetic treatments, after a "botched" under-eye filler procedure left her in pain and affected her confidence for weeks.
Joanne Bauer, 48, said she chose a £150 treatment found on social media after being quoted around £495 elsewhere. She later had to spend more than £700 to have the filler corrected.
Her experience highlights concerns about the largely unregulated non-surgical aesthetics industry in the UK. A poll commissioned by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) found that 46% of 1,000 UK adults surveyed believed all aesthetic practitioners were regulated by law. In England, many non-surgical procedures can legally be performed by individuals without medical qualifications.
The government promised to develop a licensing system for England last year, but it has not yet been introduced. A House of Commons committee urged ministers in February 2026 to accelerate the work on the planned system, which would cover procedures like Botox and facial fillers.
Why this matters: Gaps in the regulation of health and wellbeing services may put consumers at risk, according to the chairwoman of the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.
What this means for you: If you are considering non-surgical cosmetic treatments, it is advised to check qualifications, products, aftercare, and complaints procedures before booking. You can also check if a practitioner belongs to a register carrying the Professional Standards Authority's quality mark, though registration may reduce rather than eliminate the risk of harm.