Patient safety is non-negotiable. This was the message delivered by Dr. Romain Léger, aesthetic physician on our team, in the À Bon Entendeur (RTS) program dedicated to the dangers of illegal hyaluronic acid injections. The report highlights a concerning trend in French-speaking Switzerland, where injections are performed by individuals with no medical training whatsoever.
Watch the report on the RTS website: Hyaluronic Acid, the Danger of Illegal Injections (ABE)
What the ABE Report Reveals
The findings presented in the program are severe. In 2024, cantonal authorities inspected 57 clinics, medical offices, and beauty institutes. More than one in two providers was performing hyaluronic acid injections without the required qualifications, therefore illegally.
Swiss law is unambiguous: only a physician is authorized to inject hyaluronic acid. Despite this, networks of unlicensed injectors are developing. They rely on pseudo-training courses lasting just a few days, operate in beauty institutes or private locations, and attract clients with prices significantly lower than those of a medical practice.
Why an Improperly Performed Injection Is Dangerous
Hyaluronic acid is a safe product when handled by a trained physician. In the wrong hands, the same procedure can have serious and sometimes irreversible consequences.
Severe Medical Complications
Specialists document difficult-to-treat infections, tissue necrosis, permanent asymmetries, and vascular occlusions that can lead to blindness. In some cases, the product migrates and causes a potentially fatal embolism.
Unapproved Products
The report also highlights the risk associated with injected substances. Some patients believe they are receiving hyaluronic acid when they are actually administered a permanent product not approved by Swissmedic. One victim, convinced she was receiving a standard treatment, developed a severe infection and is now undergoing a lengthy reconstructive surgery process. In France, a death linked to an illegal injection was reported in 2026.
Dr. Romain Léger’s Perspective
Interviewed by ABE, Dr. Romain Léger emphasizes a practical difficulty: these cases remain largely unreported. When a physician receives a patient who has suffered from a botched injection, they often hesitate to put her in a difficult position by questioning her about where the procedure was performed. As a result, the true extent of the phenomenon is likely underestimated, and illegal practices are rarely sanctioned.
For our physician, the priority remains the same: to inform the public and emphasize that an aesthetic injection is a medical procedure, not a trivial beauty treatment.
Recognizing Proper Medical Care
Before any injection, several indicators can ensure you are in competent hands.
A licensed physician: verify the practitioner’s credentials and registration. At Laclinic, injections are performed exclusively by physicians trained in aesthetic medicine.
Traceable products: the physician must use products approved by Swissmedic and be able to indicate the brand and batch number.
A proper consultation: a preliminary interview assesses your needs, medical history, and risks before any decision is made.
Complication management: a medical practice has the means to respond in case of a problem, which is not the case with a beauty institute.
Aesthetic Medicine and Beauty Institute: Do Not Confuse
The confusion maintained by certain practitioners directly harms patients. A beauty institute offers surface treatments such as skin cleansing, hair removal, or massage. It has neither the training nor the authorization to penetrate the skin barrier with a needle. Aesthetic medicine is the domain of a physician who makes a diagnosis, selects a product suited to your anatomy, and assumes responsibility for monitoring the outcome.
This distinction is not theoretical. When an injection goes wrong, only a medical environment allows for rapid intervention, for example by injecting the enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid in case of vascular occlusion. A few hours can be enough to prevent necrosis or vision impairment. An aesthetician performing illegal injections does not have access to this emergency treatment.
Why These Practices Are Developing
Demand for injections has exploded due to social media and the normalization of aesthetic procedures. This pressure drives some individuals to seek the lowest price, without realizing that the procedure remains medical. In response, unqualified practitioners take advantage of this demand and the apparent simplicity of the procedure to offer injections outside the legal framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hyaluronic Acid Dangerous?
No, when injected by a trained physician using an approved product. The danger comes from illegal injections performed by unqualified individuals, as demonstrated in the ABE report.
Who Is Authorized to Inject in Switzerland?
Only a physician is authorized to perform hyaluronic acid injections. An aesthetician or beauty institute does not have this authorization.
How Can I Verify That My Practitioner Is Qualified?
Ask for their medical credentials, inquire about their training in aesthetic medicine, and ensure that the products used are approved by Swissmedic.
Make an appointment at Laclinic
At Laclinic in Montreux, every hyaluronic acid injection is performed by an aesthetic physician in a strict medical setting. If you are considering treatment or have concerns following an injection performed elsewhere, our team is available for a consultation to assess your situation in complete safety.
