Cosmetic surgery review 'should lead to better regulation'

Cosmetic surgeons have welcomed the Department of Health's call for the industry to self-regulate, but hopes that it will lead to more stringent regulatory measures.

Chris Choo of the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) said a new self-regulatory scheme would be "an improvement on the current situation" but said he hoped the subsequent review process will "pave the way for the introduction of more stringent measures through statutory regulation if these are found to be necessary".

"Some 65 per cent of cosmetic treatments carried out in the United Kingdom are non-surgical, including Botulinum toxin injections, filler injections and surface treatments with pulsed light and lasers," Mr Choo revealed.

"Although surgical procedures are subject to stringent control through existing mechanisms covering surgeons and specialist hospital providers, there is no such regulation for non-surgical procedures," he explained.

Mr Coo added that BAPRAS supported the view that "patients undergoing cosmetic surgery procedures should have the highest level of protection through statutory regulation, in line with the report on the Regulation of Cosmetic Surgery of January 28th 2005".

The health minister, Lord Hunt, said that the government has not ruled out the introduction of statutory regulation, "should it become necessary in the future".

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