Private Cosmetic Surgery Numbers Surge – Freeclaim Solicitors Advocate Better Regulation

Recent figures released by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) have shown a large increase in the amount of people undergoing cosmetic surgery. In the last 12 months there has been a 17% increase in cosmetic procedures.  Around 50,000 people are thought to have had some form of cosmetic surgery in 2013. The most popular procedure was breast implants, despite the earlier health scare surrounding the dangers of PIP implants. The most popular procedures for men were nose jobs.
 
With this in mind, there is a growing need for patients to be assured they are receiving treatment from a trained professional, in safe surroundings. Although cosmetic surgery is largely regulated in the UK, there is still more that could be done to protect patients from coming to harm. The reputation of the industry was shattered by the PIP implants scandal.

The Government has recently revealed a review that was hoped would increase regulation of the cosmetic industry. However, industry professionals have criticised the changes, saying they do not go far enough. The Government has failed to look at regulation for non surgical procedures such as botox, dermal fillers, lasers and fat reduction, which means many untrained professionals will still be allowed to carry out these procedures at the risk of their patient’s lives. With a reported 9 out of 10 procedures taking place now falling into the non-surgical category, there are lots of people who could be put at risk by untrained ‘cowboy’ therapists.

The Government have also rejected ideas to ban practices from offering discounts or offers on cosmetic treatments as an incentive to undergo procedures. This encourages people to make rash decisions in relation to cosmetic surgery, rather than making fully informed decisions on how the treatments may change their lives.
 
It is feared that as more people turn to cosmetic surgery as a ‘quick fix’, they will fall into having procedures done by these unregulated professionals, leading to an increase in people sustaining injury as a result of these procedures.
 
We are now seeing an increase in the number of injuries caused by both private surgical and non-surgical treatments. Every year there are too many victims of botched cosmetic surgery by clinics and therapists who cut corners on medical and nursing staff, inadequate training and poor aftercare.  Philip Coulthurst, a senior lawyer at Freeclaim Solicitors, believes the Government can do more to help regulate the industry, “Botched procedures can have serious consequences, significantly reducing quality of life and leaving many victims with not only physical but psychological scarring. I am astounded that the Government has failed to implement some of the key recommendations in Sir Bruce Keogh’s review which would have led to substantial improvements in patient safety.”
 
Freeclaim Solicitors have a specialist team of injury lawyers who can advise victims who have suffered injury after a private cosmetic surgery procedure. To find out more about cosmetic surgery claims, visit their website at http://www.freeclaim.co.uk or call 0800 612 7340 (open 24 hours a day).

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