Cosmetic surgery – Time for new regulation?

Thank you to Curtis Law Solicitors for this guest post.

Cosmetic surgery and procedures have featured heavily in the media over the past months, with a vast increase of clinical negligence claims hitting the headlines.

More than six months ago, the Keogh review into cosmetic surgery developed a list of recommendations intended to improve the current industry in a hope to avoid what they described as a ‘crisis waiting to happen’.

The use of what are called ‘injectables’ including botox, dermal fillers and tanning agents, are barely regulated within the industry and are estimated to account for 90% of treatments and 75% of the industry’s turnover (Source:Mintel).

The treatments, described earlier this year by Sir Keogh as having “no more protection and redress than someone buying a ball point pen or a toothbrush”, allow almost anyone to administer these procedures with little or no training. Facial procedures can be completed at shopping centres, gyms and even parties at home.

Professionals have called for greater regulations to protect those choosing to use these services, but has this had any impact?

Advertising practices in the industry were called ‘highly misleading’ and little has been done to change this. Clinics are still found to be offering perks and package deals such as reducing pricing for referrals and offering surgery as a competition prize, despite Keogh recommending that these ‘socially irresponsible’ advertisements be banned.

“Dermal fillers, facial peels and toning fall into the non surgical procedures category. This also applies to laser hair, mole and varicose vein removal. It means that these techniques can be performed by non-medically qualified people at all types of venue. Because of this procedures are generally not as safe as they could be and are quite often uninsured. The majority of people using these services are unaware of this and not warned by the provider” Jerard Knott, Head of Clinical Negligence said.

“The treatments can lead to significant injury and complication when they go wrong, and the unqualified provider is only able to call the emergency services meaning that the immediate treatment required is not available,” he added.

“Greater regulation can only be a positive move” Jerard concluded.

A successful procedure has the ability to drastically improve a person’s self esteem, but the health complications resulting from botched procedures can ultimately put someone’s life at risk. If you’ve suffered cosmetic surgery negligence or are suffering pain or discomfort following a procedure and are looking to make a claim, contact Jerard Knott free on 0800 0087450.