Stakeholders in Nigeria's rapidly expanding aesthetic medicine industry have urged for enhanced regulation, greater collaboration, and ongoing professional development as the sector grows and helps curb foreign exchange losses from medical tourism.
Call for Regulation at Abuja Event
The appeals were made during the second edition of Masters of Beauty in Abuja, organized by Unno Health Group for professionals across West Africa. The event gathered dermatologists, aesthetic physicians, plastic surgeons, nurses, and other practitioners in the field.
Dr Hilda Titiloye, Founder and CEO of Unno Health Group, highlighted that the lack of clear boundaries among different practitioner levels poses risks to patients. She emphasized the need for defined roles and collaboration across specialties.
"What the plastic surgeon does is different from what another practitioner can do. Everyone must stay within their scope while working together so that the patient, who is the primary beneficiary, is protected and receives value," she stated.
Economic Impact and Medical Tourism
Dr Titiloye also underscored the sector's economic significance, noting that improved local capacity in aesthetic medicine is starting to reverse outbound medical tourism. "A lot of procedures Nigerians used to travel abroad for are now being done locally. This helps retain foreign exchange and creates employment opportunities across different skill levels, from vocational workers to highly trained medical professionals," she explained.
She mentioned that the event aimed to build a structured ecosystem for aesthetic medicine in the region, integrating service delivery, manufacturing, and education. The group is working to foster a professional community that can collectively advocate for standards and policies to "sanitize" the industry and ensure patient safety.
"We are trying to build a community of beauty professionals in the medical space where people can learn from each other and promote continuous professional development. At the same time, we want to form a strong voice that can push for laws and structures that will guide the practice now and in the future," she added.
Warning Against Commercialization
Dr Mohammed Danmallam, CEO of NigerMed Skincare Clinic, warned that the rapid commercialization of the industry, driven largely by social media trends, risks undermining its medical foundation. He stressed that aesthetic medicine must remain grounded in clinical science, ethics, and patient safety, rather than profit or popularity.
