The Essential Policies & Procedures You Need When Starting Out in Aesthetics (A Quick Beginner’s Guide)
- Felicity McGuire
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Starting out as a newly qualified aesthetics practitioner in the UK, whether you’re a nurse, doctor, dentist, pharmacist, paramedic or midwife, often comes with one big realisation:
There's a lot more to being an injector than injecting!
Suddenly, you’re expected to understand:
● Medical aesthetics compliance
● Legal requirements for running a medical aesthetics business
● Medical aesthetics insurance requirements
● Clinic documentation
● Waste disposal
● Clinical standards
These aren’t always covered in your medical aesthetics foundation training.
So naturally, most new practitioners find themselves asking:
“What policies do I need for an aesthetics clinic?”
“Do I need CQC registration for Botox?”
“What forms do I need for toxin and filler?”
“How should I dispose of sharps from a home clinic?”
“Do I need clinical waste collection if I work from home?”
If you’ve asked any of these, then you’re not alone.
This confusion is incredibly common, and comes up a lot within the Happy Injectors Club membership WhatsApp group.
Why Policies & Procedures Matter (More Than You Think)
Even if you’re working from a home clinic or a rented room in a salon, you’re still delivering medical treatment, not a beauty service.
That means your environment and the way you operate should reflect medical standards.
Having strong policies and clear procedures:
● Protects you legally
● Supports your clinical decision-making
● Prevents avoidable mistakes
● Prepares you for complications
● Builds patient trust from day one
● Keeps you aligned with your professional regulator
And perhaps most importantly, it gives you confidence.
Confidence that you’re practising safely.
Confidence that you’re doing things “properly.”
Confidence that you’re setting up a solid foundation for long-term success.
Many injectors underestimate this part, only to come back months later feeling overwhelmed and wishing they had sorted it earlier.
The Key Policies Every New Injector Should Consider
These aren’t just “nice to have”, they form the backbone of a safe, organised and compliant medical aesthetics practice.
1. Hygiene & Infection Control
Your policy should outline how you maintain a clean, clinical environment. This covers disinfection, PPE, spill management and general hygiene expectations.
2. Sharps & Clinical Waste Disposal
Whether you work from home or a salon, disposal must follow medical waste law. That includes the right type of sharps bins, tiger bags, waste contracts, and record keeping.
3. Complaints Policy
A clear process that shows you take concerns seriously. Insurers often ask for this before approving claims.
4. Booking & Cancellation Policy
Essential for managing your diary, reducing no-shows, and ensuring boundaries from day one.
5. Risk Assessments & Emergency Protocols
Complications happen, even with perfect technique. You need written protocols for anaphylaxis, needle stick injuries, fainting, vascular occlusion, and general clinic safety.
6. Safe Storage of Medicines
Especially important if you store POMs (like botulinum toxin or hyaluronidase). This includes locked storage, temperature control, and expiry checks.
These policies form the foundations of safe practice
Without them, you’re essentially operating blind.
With them, you have:
● Structure
● Clarity
● Organisation
● Safety
● Confidence
You don’t need to learn everything at once.
You just need to start with the essentials and build from there.
Want to Go Deeper?
Part One of our Essential Guide takes these topics further and explains:
● What you legally must have
● What insurers expect of you
● How to set up your clinic space properly
● What forms you need for consultation, consent and aftercare
● How to approach safe disposal and record-keeping
● What new injectors commonly overlook (and how to avoid it)
It’s practical, reassuring, and written specifically for newly trained clinicians who want to feel prepared, not panicked.
It’s a gentle, supportive introduction to the part of aesthetics nobody explains clearly enough.
Want Even More Support? Become a Super Happy Member!
Members also receive:
Part Two, covering business, pricing, client attraction, confidence & common FAQ
Real examples of policies to use as reference
Compliance checklists & templates
A supportive community of clinicians who ask questions, share experiences, and learn together
If you’re setting up your aesthetics practice and want to feel calm, supported and confident, you’re in the right place.
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