Thinking of introducing Botox or dermal fillers into your dental practice? Before you do, it’s important to understand whether your existing Practice Insurance will cover these additional services.

It is no secret that, over the last 10 years, the demand for facial aesthetics has boomed exponentially. Non-surgical procedures such as Botox and dermal fillers have become popular thanks to their non-invasive nature and quick recovery times. The Department of Health and Social Care has estimated that 900,000 Botox injections are carried out in the UK each year.1 Since facial aesthetics and dentistry can be closely linked, some practice owners are making the decision to introduce facial aesthetics into their practices to broaden their services and patient base.

As leading providers of Practice Insurance for healthcare organisations and dental practices, our specialist insurance advisers are often asked whether these services are covered under their Practice Insurance. This article explores how expanding your services to include facial aesthetics as part of your regular practice activities may affect your Practice Insurance.

 

Does my Practice Insurance cover facial aesthetics?

If you already hold Practice Insurance, you may be familiar with your duty to provide a fair presentation of your risks when providing information for a quotation. Most insurers will require the policyholder to inform them when they anticipate a change in business activities. Even if simply training a practitioner in facial aesthetics or hiring one may seem like a minor business decision, an insurer may view your risk, or likelihood of a claim, differently.

As cover requirements differ from practice to practice, there is no guarantee that your Practice Insurance alone will cover a change in business activities. However, you must always inform your insurer or insurance broker, who can offer advice and help you obtain appropriate insurance.

 

 

Why would facial aesthetics affect Practice Insurance?

Insurers calculate the premium for your Practice Insurance based on your risk and likelihood of a claim. Although popular, facial aesthetics are still relatively new in comparison with the history of dentistry, and their growth has been accompanied by complications. According to a government-released publication, in June 2025, “28 people in the north-east of England were left with potentially fatal botulism after having anti-wrinkle injections”.1

Not only are these procedures themselves potentially risky, but they can also have a knock-on effect elsewhere in your practice that you may not realise.

For specifics, here are a few more examples of how facial aesthetics could directly affect your Practice Insurance:

 

Increased footfall

It may be a promising sign of a practice’s success if it experiences increased footfall following the introduction of a new service. However, practice managers and owners may sometimes overlook the fact that an increase in footfall may add to the likelihood of a Public Liability claim.

 

Additional staff

Some dental practice owners may choose to integrate facial aesthetic services into their practice by hiring additional practitioners. Employers’ Liability Insurance is a legal requirement in the UK, and you may need to adjust your cover levels to reflect a change in the number of staff.2

 

Drugs storage

Practices that store drugs may present a greater theft risk to insurers and may also be subject to stricter regulations around storage.

 

Increased turnover

If your dental practice ever had to unexpectedly claim on its Business Interruption cover, claim payments would be determined by the practice’s annual turnover. Providing an up-to-date annual turnover estimate that reflects any changes in business activities can help prevent financial losses in the event of a Business Interruption claim.

 

Inadequate indemnity

Having appropriate Medical Malpractice Insurance, or Medical Indemnity Insurance, is a typical requirement from industry regulators such as the GDC.3 If you are found not to have the appropriate indemnity for your activities, your insurer may decline Practice Insurance claims as well. GDC indemnity guidance can be found here. (https://www.gdc-uk.org/registration/your-registration/indemnity)

 

Let your insurance provider know

It is down to your insurer to decide whether they are happy to continue your Practice Insurance cover with the addition of aesthetic services. Some insurers require more information before agreeing to terms, some may increase premium to reflect an increase in risk, and some may deem the additional services too risky altogether.

As specialist insurance brokers, we are able to advocate for our clients and help arrange the most appropriate insurance cover for your practice’s unique requirements. Speak to a member of our team for your no-obligation Practice Insurance quotation or to discuss changes to your current Lloyd & Whyte Practice Insurance policy today.

 

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Call us on 01823 250700

 

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