However, the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services (IHAS) have recently warned consumers against buying discounted cosmetic procedures, such as Botox treatments, from special offer sites like Groupon and Living Social, as a majority of these offers are unsafe and sometimes illegal.

This warning comes days after the popular discount site, Groupon, underwent a serious investigation from the advertising standards agency (ASA) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) into the cosmetic offers on their site.

Reports from the IHAS, discuss how the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) strongly state that the advertisement or promotion of Botox to members of the public is illegal, as it is a prescription only medication. A large majority of the Botox treatments advertised on these discount sites are by qualified beauticians and not medical professionals. The Medicines Act 1973 states that Botox can only be prescribed and administered by qualified doctors, dentists or registered nurses.

Botox Training Director, Gareth Williams, of Cosmetica Training, has expressed his concern about these discounted Botox treatments:'The ASA is right that Botox is a prescription only medication and for safety reasons must only be administered by a medical professional who has assessed the patient appropriately. Looking for cheap or discounted Botox is not the answer.'

Cosmetica Training are specialists in providing Botox training courses to medical professionals, such as dentists doctors and nurses, but also offer Botox treatments at their UK Aesthetics Training Centre. Gareth added: 'There are many complications which can occur during a Botox injection treatment, poor standards can lead to permanent or serious physical damage to the recipient. Women are endangering their health at the idea of getting a cheap deal.'

Another concerning factor in the Botox dilemma is that sites such as Groupon and Living Social push customers to commit, and pay, for treatments before undergoing a professional clinical assessment. 

The growing concern of people irresponsibly supplying cheap Botox treatments is an issue that needs to be tackled.  There is a growing view that discount sites, such as Groupon, are preying on the insecurities of aging women and are pushing them to purchase what is considered illegal products, through count-down timers.

For more information on Botox training for medical professionals visit Cosmetica Training.