Clinic attacked over botox loyalty card

Botox is increasing in popularity

A UK cosmetic surgery clinic has come under fire for launching a botox injection loyalty card.

The Harley Medical Group describes the scheme which entitles customers to a free treatment after four visits as "the only card worth flashing this season".

But a leading plastic surgeon has branded it "irresponsible".

Professor David Sharp, council member and former president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, said the clinic was "encouraging a habit which is not necessarily healthy or beneficial".

Relationship building

He told BBC News Online: "I hope they shoot themselves in the foot with this."

Offering a loyalty card risked "debasing" cosmetic surgery, he added, and "stopped people taking it seriously".

He said he spent a lot of time in his practice persuading people not to have botox injections, because they were "not without risks".

"They don't last and it is something which needs constantly repeating.

"You can also over-correct and once you start on this are you likely to want to have it repeated time and again and that is very expensive."

The Harley Medical Group said the loyalty card has been launched to thank its customers and reward them for their loyalty.

"Loyalty cards are generally used for this purpose - as a relationship building exercise and not to drive increased purchasing", it added.

Mark anniversary

Botox is a powerful poison which has the ability to paralyse muscle.

It is injected into facial muscles in tiny amounts, relaxing them, which can improve the appearance of wrinkles.

Its popularity has soared in recent years, with celebrities such as Liz Hurley and Cliff Richard admitting they have had injections to improve their appearance.

The Harley group, which runs 10 private clinics in the UK and Ireland, said demand for botox injections had increased by 2,000% in the past five years.

It decided to launch a loyalty card to mark its 20th anniversary.

The card will allow clients a selection of non-surgical procedures up to the value of £300.

Other treatments on offer include collagen injection, perlane, which the company says is "perfect for lip plumping" and scherotherapy, "for eliminating unsightly thread veins".