Getting beauty and aesthetic treatments abroad: what to check before you book

Quick answer: Before you book a beauty or aesthetic treatment abroad, check the practitioner's licence with that country's official regulator, ask which products they use and whether they are approved there, and plan aftercare and follow up for when you are home. Leave time before flying, swimming or sunbathing, check your travel insurance covers the treatment, and make sure you understand the consent form and aftercare in your own language. Skip black henna, which often contains PPD and can cause serious skin reactions.

Picture it. A fresh set of lashes before a week by the pool, a manicure for a special dinner, or a skin treatment from a clinic a friend raved about. Treatments on holiday can be a real highlight, and some people travel specifically to visit a practitioner they admire.

Many countries have truly excellent professionals, often trained to very high standards. The difference between a lovely experience and a stressful one usually comes down to a little planning: knowing who you are booking, what they are using, and what happens if you need help once you have flown home.

This guide covers holiday beauty treatments and non surgical aesthetics, with a simple checklist you can use anywhere in the world.

Why more people are booking treatments abroad

Travelling for treatment is growing fast. Office for National Statistics estimates reported by LBC show 523,000 trips from the UK for medical treatment in 2024, up from 431,000 in 2023. The CDC says millions of US residents travel abroad for medical care each year, with dental work the most common reason.

Most research on problems after treatment abroad looks at surgery rather than beauty or non surgical aesthetics. A 2026 review in BMJ Open found 655 patients treated by the NHS for complications after surgery abroad between 2011 and 2024, 265 of them after cosmetic surgery. Of the 371 patients whose complications were described in detail, at least 53% had moderate to severe complications. Earlier, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reported a 44% rise in 2021 in patients needing help after cosmetic surgery abroad.

Non surgical and beauty treatments carry far lower risks than surgery, but the lessons are the same. Check credentials, understand the product, and plan your aftercare before you go.

Holiday treatments: henna, lashes, nails and brows

Henna and black henna

Natural henna stains skin a brown, orange brown or reddish brown colour. Anything sold as black henna has something added, and according to the US Food and Drug Administration, that is often a hair dye ingredient called PPD. It is not permitted in cosmetics applied to the skin, and there is no way to predict who will react.

The effect can last long after the holiday. A European study that patch tested 2,739 people found PPD allergy in 3.2% of those who had had a black henna tattoo, compared with 0.6% of those who had not. After a black henna tattoo, the NHS advises avoiding hair dyes containing PPD. If you love the look of henna, ask for natural henna, check the colour it leaves, and choose a professional who can tell you exactly what is in it.

Lashes, nails and brows

These treatments are popular on holiday and easy to enjoy safely. Ask whether a patch test is needed, look for clean tools, new files and a tidy workstation, and ask what products are used. Think about timing too: heat, chlorine and salt water can affect how long lash extensions and gel polish last, so ask for aftercare tips that suit your trip. For anything longer lasting, such as microblading, remember that you will usually need a top up appointment, so it is often easier to book this at home.

Injectables and other aesthetic treatments

Anti wrinkle injections, fillers, peels, microneedling and laser all need extra thought when you are away from home. Many injectables are prescription only medicines, so ask who the prescriber is and whether they will see you before treatment. Ask for the product name and batch details in writing, because any professional who helps you later will need them.

Follow up matters as much as the treatment itself. Results from injectables can take a couple of weeks to settle, and many practitioners like to review you at that point. If you will be home by then, agree before you book how a review will work and who you would contact with a concern. The UK government's Travel Aware campaign advises arranging aftercare at home in advance, and notes that the NHS does not cover cosmetic procedures.

How to check credentials in another country

Travel Aware suggests checking a practitioner's registration through the host country's official government sources. In Dubai, for example, the Dubai Health Authority offers a licence verification service. Ask for a registration number and look it up yourself, check that the clinic or salon displays its licence, and confirm that the person you consult with is the person who will treat you.

The same campaign lists a few signs to slow down and ask more questions: promises of guaranteed results, paid influencer endorsements, pressure to decide quickly, and package deals that bundle treatment with a holiday. The CDC also points out that accreditation is a good sign but does not guarantee a good outcome, so it is worth asking about experience with your exact treatment.

Your checklist before you book

• Credentials: a licence or registration you have checked with the official regulator, and training for that specific treatment.
• Products: the product name, whether it is approved in that country, and batch details in writing.
• Aftercare: written instructions you understand, and a number to call if you have questions.
• Follow up: a plan for a review, either during your stay or with a professional at home.
• Travel timing: enough time between treatment and flying, swimming or sunbathing.
• Insurance: Travel Aware notes that standard travel insurance is often invalidated by planned treatment abroad, so check your policy or look for specialist cover.
• Language: a consultation, consent form and records in a language you understand. The CDC suggests asking for records in English, or your own language, to share with professionals at home.

Timing: give yourself a buffer

Book treatments early in your trip rather than the day before you fly home. That leaves time for any review and for questions to be answered face to face. The CDC shares advice from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to wait 7 to 10 days before flying after laser or cosmetic procedures on the face, eyelids or nose, and suggests avoiding swimming, sunbathing and alcohol while you recover. Your practitioner will give you advice for your specific treatment, so ask before you book your flights.

For beauty treatments, a simple rule works well: have anything that affects your skin, such as waxing or a peel, well before beach days, and leave lashes, brows and nails until a day or two before you want to show them off.

FAQs

Is it safe to get anti wrinkle injections abroad?

It can be, with a qualified, registered practitioner and a genuine, approved product. Check their registration with the local regulator, make sure a prescriber assesses you, and plan your follow up before you book.

Is black henna safe?

Black henna often contains PPD, which can cause serious skin reactions and lasting allergy. Natural henna is brown to reddish brown. If you are offered black henna, it is best to say no.

Does travel insurance cover treatments abroad?

Often not. Planned treatment can invalidate standard travel insurance, so read your policy and look for specialist cover if you are travelling for treatment.

How long after a treatment can I fly?

It depends on the treatment. For laser or cosmetic procedures on the face, the CDC shares advice to wait 7 to 10 days. For most beauty treatments, such as nails or lashes, there is no wait, but ask your practitioner.

What if something goes wrong after I get home?

Contact the practitioner who treated you, share photos and your product details, and seek medical help if you are worried about your health. Take your records with you so any professional at home can help quickly.

Find trusted professionals, at home and away

The Hair and Beauty Directory lists verified professionals in 15 countries, each with qualifications and insurance checked. Find a verified professional near you, whether that is close to home or where you are travelling, and read our treatment guides to know what to expect before you book.