Experts seek growth, regulation of aesthetic medicine in Nigeria

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s aesthetic medicine industry have called for stronger regulation, professional collaboration and sustained investment to support the sector’s growth. The call was made at the second edition of Masters of Beauty, organised by Unno Health Group, which brought together medical and beauty professionals from across West Africa. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of […]

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s aesthetic medicine industry have called for stronger regulation, professional collaboration and sustained investment to support the sector’s growth.

The call was made at the second edition of Masters of Beauty, organised by Unno Health Group, which brought together medical and beauty professionals from across West Africa.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the group, Hilda Titiloye, said the event was designed to build a structured ecosystem for aesthetic medicine through service delivery, manufacturing and education.

She explained that the conference aimed to create a community of practitioners across different specialties, including aesthetic physicians, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, nurses and dentists.

“We are trying to build a community, learn together and foster a culture of continuous professional development,” she said.

Titiloye added that the event also marked the launch of the Unno Institute, a training arm focused on postgraduate education for medical professionals in aesthetic medicine.

According to her, stakeholders are seeking to develop a unified voice that can advocate for clearer regulations and professional standards in the sector.

“There are hierarchies of practice. Everyone has a role, and we need a system where practitioners stay within their competence and work together to protect patients,” she said.

She noted that the industry is already contributing to the economy by creating jobs and reducing the number of Nigerians travelling abroad for cosmetic procedures.

“A lot of procedures people used to travel for are now being done locally. The industry also creates employment across different levels, from medically trained professionals to vocational workers,” she added.

In his address, Chief Executive Officer of NigerMed Skincare Clinic, Mohammed Danmallam, warned against the growing commercialisation of the sector at the expense of medical ethics.

He said the influence of social media and marketing trends was reshaping patient expectations and clinical practice.

“Procedures are increasingly marketed like commodities, and clinics compete on visibility rather than outcomes. We must ask whether aesthetics is being prioritised over medicine,” he said.

Danmallam stressed that aesthetic medicine remains a medical discipline rooted in science, ethics and patient safety, and should only be practised by qualified professionals.

He also raised concerns about the entry of untrained practitioners into the field, noting that complications can arise even in routine procedures.

“The value of proper training, regulation and continuous education cannot be overemphasised,” he said.

On regulation, Perpetua Ibekwe said Nigeria currently lacks a dedicated regulatory body for aesthetic medicine, leaving oversight fragmented across several agencies.

She explained that existing structures include professional councils, agencies regulating consumables and health facilities, as well as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

“The implication is that you have different categories of practitioners operating in the same space without a unified framework to define boundaries,” she said.

Ibekwe added that while a dedicated board could help improve standards, enforcement and personal accountability remain critical.

“For someone to offer services they are not qualified for is a criminal offence. Regulation can help, but it is not the only solution,” she said.

Founder of AfroMed International, George Chabtini, described Nigeria’s aesthetic medicine market as rapidly expanding, with the number of clinics increasing significantly in recent years.

“Three years ago, there were about 300 to 400 clinics. Today, we are approaching 1,000. The growth is strong, and the next few years will be important for the sector,” he said.

He, however, called for improved regulation and greater consumer awareness to sustain the growth.

Consultant dermatologist, Gboyega Olarinoye, said the sector must also develop solutions tailored to African populations rather than relying solely on foreign models.

“We need to define beauty within our own context and develop approaches that reflect our realities. This will improve outcomes and make services more accessible,” he said.

Olarinoye added that strengthening local capacity would further reduce medical tourism and improve patient confidence in domestic services.

Overall, stakeholders agreed that while Nigeria’s aesthetic medicine industry holds significant potential, its growth will depend on stronger regulation, adherence to medical standards and continued investment in training and education.