Medical or cosmetic? The challenges of differentiating between the two

The distinction between medical and cosmetic is important because it determines how practitioners should align themselves with the relevant regulation

In the previous issue of the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing, I introduced the new Clinical Advisory Group (CAG), an independent group formed by the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) to investigate and to make recommendations to the JCCP regarding matters that impact patient safety and professional practice in the cosmetic sector (Rankin, 2021). In that article, I discussed the safe and ethical supply of products in a changing regulatory environment. For this paper, I will highlight another project to which the CAG has dedicated its resources as an area of priority. Reviewing the fundamental nature of medical aesthetic treatments, with a view to defining their medical or cosmetic nature, has been a conceptual challenge. I hope to add some clarity to this work, addressing some possible areas of misunderstanding and highlighting areas for thought in reflective practice.