Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK in May 2019 had the theme #bebodykind and body image. Having body image concerns is a relatively common experience and is not a mental health problem itself; however, it can be a risk factor for mental health problems. Research has found that higher body dissatisfaction is associated with a poorer quality of life, psychological distress, and the risk of unhealthy eating behaviours and eating disorders.

Body image can be influenced by relationships with family and friends, how family and peers feel and speak about their bodies and appearance, exposure to images of idealised or unrealistic bodies through media or social media, and pressure to look a certain way or match an 'ideal' body type.

There is a unique responsibility on aesthetic professionals not to pressure or expose non-surgical treatments to people vulnerable to body image issues. Aesthetics professionals can ensure they screen and ID check patients attending clinic, and are well placed to screen for mental health conditions using well-recognised screens from general psychiatry and cosmetic medicine.

There is a role for aesthetic professionals to reasonably and responsibly play a part in a person's self-care that is linked to their body image, but this should be countered by careful consideration of duty of care, standards of training and education, when not to treat, psychological assessment, when to refer on, age appropriateness, and ensuring an evidence base supports clinical practice, along with managing patient expectations responsibly.