"In much of the world, dermal fillers are treated as prescriptive medicine"

Unlike Botox, which requires a qualified medical professional to administer, current regulations in Ireland do not require practitioners to be nurses or doctors to inject dermal fillers.

The Department of Health has announced it is reviewing potential new regulations for the industry, with input from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). 

The move comes amid rising concerns about the safety and standards of cosmetic procedures in the country.

Dr. Patrick Treacy, founder of the Ailesbury Clinic in Dublin, argues that Ireland’s current approach to dermal fillers is outdated compared to other countries. 

"In much of the world, dermal fillers are treated as prescriptive medicine," he explained. 

“Here, they are not even considered medicine; they’re treated like a device—which is ridiculous. 

“These substances should be prescribable so that only people with the legal authority to prescribe them can inject them.”

Dr. Treacy pointed out that most European countries already have stricter standards in place. 

“If you look up most European countries, they have very high standards,” he noted. 

“In Portugal and Spain, for example, only doctors are allowed to administer dermal fillers, and it’s a criminal offence if anyone else does.”

He expressed concern that Ireland is too closely aligned with Britain, which he describes as having “the lowest standards in the world” for cosmetic procedures. 

“It’s almost like the Wild West there,” he said, warning that those lax standards are influencing practices in Ireland.

As the popularity of cosmetic procedures continues to rise, advocates like Dr. Treacy are urging the government to establish clearer and stricter guidelines to protect public safety and ensure high standards in the industry.

READ MORE:

• This is why you shouldn't wash your hair in hot water
• Dermatologist explains how to actually get rid of dark under eye circles
• Expert reveals why you should add Vitamin C into your skincare routine