A medical aesthetics clinic in Leeds, Face Perfect Clinic Ltd, has been placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection in November and December 2025. The CQC rated the clinic as “inadequate” in the areas of safety, effectiveness, and leadership, while rating caring and responsiveness as “good.” The findings raise concerns about patient safety protocols, particularly regarding risk management and communication with primary care physicians.
The CQC’s report, published on , highlighted deficiencies in how the clinic manages risks when patients transition between different care settings. Specifically, inspectors found no documented evidence of consistent communication between clinic staff and patients’ general practitioners (GPs) regarding care plans. This lack of information sharing could potentially lead to misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment by other healthcare providers unfamiliar with the clinic’s interventions.
Further compounding these concerns, clinical records were frequently found to be incomplete or lacking essential information necessary for effective patient care. Detailed and accurate patient records are crucial for ensuring continuity of care and minimizing medical errors. The absence of this information creates a significant risk for patients, particularly those with complex medical histories or undergoing multiple treatments.
Despite these critical failings, the CQC noted that the clinic maintained appropriate infection prevention and control measures. While Here’s a positive aspect of the clinic’s operations, it does not mitigate the more serious risks associated with inadequate risk management and communication protocols.
Face Perfect Clinic, registered with the CQC in 2023, offered treatments for a range of conditions at the time of the inspection, including excessive sweating, bruxism (teeth grinding), acne, hormone replacement therapy, and medical weight management. However, clinic leaders have since informed the CQC that they will no longer be offering hormone replacement or weight management services. This suggests a potential response to the CQC’s findings, perhaps indicating that these services were areas of particular concern.
The inspection report also revealed shortcomings in the clinic’s systems for identifying, acting on, and learning from incidents. Policies were not always clear or detailed enough to provide prescribers with safe guidance. This lack of robust incident reporting and analysis hinders the clinic’s ability to proactively identify and address potential safety issues.
In response to the CQC’s findings, a spokesperson for Face Perfect Clinic stated that the clinic has already taken “immediate steps to strengthen our clinical oversight and governance processes.” These steps include reviewing and updating prescribing policies, introducing clearer incident reporting and learning systems, and improving clinical documentation. The spokesperson also added that the clinic is “formalising communication pathways with patients’ GPs where appropriate.”
The clinic is now working closely with the CQC under the special measures framework, demonstrating a commitment to making “rapid and sustained improvements.” The special measures designation means the clinic will be subject to close monitoring by the CQC to ensure that the necessary changes are implemented effectively. The CQC will likely conduct further inspections to assess progress and verify that patient safety is being prioritized.
The CQC’s action underscores the increasing scrutiny of medical aesthetics clinics, which have seen a surge in popularity in recent years. While these clinics can offer valuable services, they must adhere to the same rigorous standards of safety and quality as other healthcare providers. Effective communication between aesthetic clinics and patients’ GPs is particularly important, as it ensures that patients receive coordinated and comprehensive care. The lack of such communication, as highlighted in the CQC’s report, represents a significant gap in patient safety protocols.
The situation at Face Perfect Clinic serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough due diligence for patients considering aesthetic treatments. Patients should inquire about the clinic’s CQC rating, its policies for risk management and communication with GPs, and the qualifications of its practitioners. A proactive approach to patient safety can help minimize the risks associated with these procedures.
