Botched Filler or Botox? Your Complaint Options
Updated 18 October 2026
If a cosmetic treatment has gone wrong, get medical advice first if you have pain, swelling or changes to your vision. Then think about the complaint.
1. Complain to the clinic
Write to the clinic with dates, photos and what you want: a review, corrective treatment, a refund or an apology. Keep copies of everything.
2. Use the clinic's independent scheme
Many clinics belong to a complaint scheme. Check which one before you start, because they cover different things. The Cosmetic Redress Scheme does not deal with dissatisfaction with results or injury. HSCAMP does consider complaints about results, for patients whose clinic is an HSCAMP member.
3. Registers and regulators
- JCCP and Save Face run voluntary registers and accept concerns about registered practitioners.
- If a doctor, nurse, dentist or pharmacist treated you, you can raise a fitness to practise concern with the GMC, NMC, GDC or GPhC. They cannot award compensation.
- In Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland can assess complaints about registered independent clinics.
Questions
Can I get my money back for bad filler?
Sometimes. A clinic may offer a refund, corrective treatment or a goodwill payment as part of resolving a complaint. Compensation for injury is a legal claim.
Sources
- Cosmetic Redress Scheme: what it can resolve
- JCCP: raising a concern
- Save Face: raise a concern
- GMC: raising a concern
This page is general information, not legal advice.