Several cosmetic clinics in Brabant perform procedures while their staff is not trained for this, or is not even allowed to do so by law. About twenty clinics do not have their affairs in order, or cannot demonstrate this. Among them is also a well-known name: reality star Roy Donders is not a doctor, but still places fillers himself in his clinic at home, as Omroep Brabant discovered. The professional association is concerned.
Omroep Brabant investigated dozens of cosmetic clinics in Brabant. We looked at those that are best found via Google and social media, and checked whether they have the right papers to work safely. That often turned out not to be the case.
What are the rules?
If you have completed medical training and are listed as a doctor in the BIG register, you are authorized to perform fillers or other injections. Without BIG registration this is punishable: you are then working illegally.
The professional association also speaks of ‘competent’: after a two-year training course and if you meet all kinds of requirements, you can call yourself a cosmetic doctor. If this is not the case and things go wrong, the disciplinary judge can intervene.
Only a first name
We found three clinics that operate without BIG registration, therefore illegally. One of them is Roy Donders’ clinic. Until recently, he worked with a doctor, but now performs the procedures himself.
In addition, there are clinics that are ‘not competent’: of the thirty best-known clinics, thirteen do not have the correct credentials. One of them even creates confusion about this by using the logo of the professional association as a ‘quality mark’ on its own website. Nine clinics only mention a first name on their site and do not respond to questions.
Ethical side
“Scandalous and dangerous,” Marguerite van Randwijck of the Dutch Association of Cosmetic Medicine (NVCG) calls it. She lists what can go wrong: “You can inject into a blood vessel, tissue can die. And in case of an allergic reaction you have to know what to do. Infections or fluid accumulation near the eyes may also occur. The risks are enormous.”
There is also an ethical side. For example, at many clinics, including Donders, the admission interview is by telephone. Van Randwijck: “A good consultation by telephone is impossible. How can you judge someone’s skin and lips like that?” Also important: psychological health. “Sometimes people do not benefit from a cosmetic treatment, but they need other help.”
Supervision
Does it often go wrong? The Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ) reports that 54 reports were made nationally in 2022, and by mid-2023 there had already been 49.
The inspectorate also reports that it will not take immediate action against the clinics that we discovered operate without BIG registration. To do this, a report must first be made via the special reporting point.
‘Team professionals’
It is often unclear which clinic is ‘good’ and which is not. Kliniek Lanette from Tilburg calls itself ‘The No. 1 cosmetic clinic in Brabant’, but performs fillers without BIG registration. At the De Huidspecialisten clinic in Valkenswaard, a ‘team of cosmetic professionals’ provides injections against cellulite, but there appears to be no BIG registration.
Van Randwijck: “Anyone can view the BIG register, but the question is whether people even know about it.” The NVCG therefore launched the cosmedici.nl site, which lists all recognized doctors. The clinic that wrongly uses the NCVG logo as a ‘quality mark’ has been taken to task.
Comments
De Skinspecialisten does not answer the question of why they work without BIG registration. The site has been adjusted after questions from Omroep Brabant. Lanette Clinics did not respond to questions.
Roy Donders stated that he was not aware of the laws and regulations and was under the impression that injecting yourself was allowed: “Otherwise I wouldn’t do it.” He reacts shocked to questions from Omroep Brabant and indicates that he will take immediate action. He is in contact with the company that gave him the course.
Omroep Brabant investigates abuses in the world of cosmetic procedures. Do you have a tip? Mail the research editors, or tip us 100% anonymously and securely via Publeaks.