‘Ban non-medics from giving Botox’ headline from BBC News HealthPublished on 20th May 2013
Recently the team of Sir Bruce Keogh (Medical Director of the NHS) have drawn up new European standards that will only allow doctors, prescribing nurses and dentists to administer cosmetic injectables such as Botox (Botulimum toxin) and dermal fillers. Currently, there a no formal qualifications required, which has led to an increased number of patients experiencing adverse side-effects and poor-quality treatments, such as celebrity Lesley Ash, who coined the unfortunate term “trout pout” after her lip-filler procedure went wrong.
There are so-called “Botox parties,” or even seen your local beautician offering cosmetic filler services, which currently makes getting rid of lines and wrinkles as easy as trying out a new lipstick.
Only trained doctors, nurses and dentists should provide non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as Botox, say surgeons.
Currently people such as beauticians with no medical training can administer anti-wrinkle Botox injections, even though it is a potent neurotoxin.
The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) wants to put an end to “Botox parties” and rogue traders.
The government has been assessing whether tougher laws are needed.
Lawless
NHS medical director, Sir Bruce Keogh, has been conducting a review into the cosmetic industry and will report back to government in March.
“”We have serious concerns that not all those who offer cosmetic procedures are adequately qualified, or that patients are getting accurate information prior to treatment”
The RCS in England wants a clampdown, and has set out a list of standards for the industry.
RCS president Prof Norman Williams said: “While the colleges and professional organisations involved in cosmetic practice are neither regulators nor legislators, the profession has a responsibility to provide standards to which we would expect our members to work.
“We have serious concerns that not all those who offer cosmetic procedures are adequately qualified, or that patients are getting accurate information prior to treatment. We hope these standards will feed into the ongoing review of the industry led by the NHS medical director, Sir Bruce Keogh, and improve quality of care for patients going forward.”
The RCS makes several recommendations, including a proviso that anyone planning to have a cosmetic procedure should have a thorough psychological assessment beforehand.
Anti-wrinkle injections
- There are various procedures designed to make the skin look younger without having to go under the knife
- Botox is an injection of a toxin which, at small doses, relaxes facial muscles to make wrinkles and lines less obvious
- Dermal fillers are injected to plump up the skin and flatten wrinkles
- If you’re considering a procedure, find out what it involves, what the risks are and how much it costs
- Ask about the qualifications and experience of the person who will be giving it to you
Only those who have medically recognised qualifications and training and should carry out cosmetic procedures, such as breast surgery, liposuction and Botox treatment, and in a registered clinic with resuscitation equipment on hand in the event of an emergency, it recommends.
Practitioners have a duty to manage a patient’s expectations of how they will feel after treatment, the RCS says.
They should not imply that patients will feel “better” or “look nicer”, for example, and should instead use unambiguous language like “bigger” or “smaller” to describe what that patient is trying to change, it says.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), which represents about a third of plastic surgeons in Britain, would also welcome stricter controls.
BAAPS says all of its accredited surgeons are fully trained, vetted and qualified to carry out cosmetic procedures. But it cannot vouch for the rest working in the private sector.
Because of the lack of regulation, it is difficult to gauge the scale of the issue. Most cosmetic procedures are carried out privately, rather than on the NHS.
Estimates suggest that in 2011, there were 669,711 surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures carried out in the UK. BAAPS own figures show 43,172 surgical procedures were carried out by BAAPS members in 2011.
According to the Independent Healthcare Advisory Service (IHAS), about 200,000 anti-wrinkle injections, which includes Botox and dermal fillers, are carried out in the UK each year.
The IHAS runs a voluntary register of injectable-cosmetic providers aimed to help consumers find a skilled and trusted clinician.
A recent poll by ComRes of 1,762 people found many considered the cost of surgery more important than the qualifications of the people doing it or how they would be looked after.
Two-thirds of those questioned considered cost as a factor when deciding whether or not to have cosmetic surgery. Half said they would take the qualifications of their doctor into consideration and less than half would consider the quality of their aftercare when reaching a decision.
A Department of Health representative said: “The report from the Royal College of Surgery is timely as NHS medical director, Sir Bruce Keogh, is currently carrying out a review into regulation of cosmetic interventions, including cosmetic surgery.
“The review will be published in March. Its recommendations will be evidence-based, with the safety of the patient at the forefront.”
At Liverpool Cosmetic Clinic, our practitioners are all General Medical Council registered doctors and Consultant Plastic Surgeons, to assure you of the highest calibre of treatment.
Call Melissa today for further advice on any treatment which you are considering: 07793 738456
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