Cosmetic surgery - Non surgical cosmetic procedures

Non-surgical cosmetic procedure clinics

WHICH? the UK consumer magazine ran an invesigation into clinics offering non-surgical cosmetic procedures in 2004. They found that although the cosmetic treatments can be quick, they can still go wrong and rather worryingly there was a lack of safety checks. They even came across illegal adverts and a doctor who was under investigation for serious professional misconduct.

The reporters felt that half of the consultations they had were poor. They criticised the claims made by a doctor at one cosmetic clinic in London who said "'Almost anything you want, I can do it, and that's a guarantee... it's fact, not fiction". It was later discovered that this doctor is being investigated for misconduct following a series of complaints from patients.

At another clinic one of the reporters was left waiting 50 minutes before being charged £100 for a five minute discussion. She was told: 'Botox® is a quick, painless, simple injection. You don't need a consultation.' Whereas Botox® is a prescription-only drug that can have pretty drastic side effects.

Even when the consultation one doctor tried to sell the reporter cosmetic treatments she did not actually ask for. In addition to £480 for four chemical peels she was advised to spend £250 on Botox injections and £450 on dermal fillers.

Most of the practitioners didn't fully explain the risks or side effects or overlooked them completely, and some even gave incorrect information.

At one clinic the researcher who requested a chemical peel was told: "You only need to use sun block when it's hot, but you'll be starting in the winter so you'll be fine." Sun block should be used every day to prevent damage from UV rays, which are present all year round.

Practitioners should also take a thorough medical history to find out whether the treatment is suitable. For example,if you're taking light-sensitising medications, you should avoid lasers.

Choosing a clinic
The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) in England regulates and inspects private health services, including clinics offering cosmetic surgery or laser treatments. These clinics must meet national minimum safety standards. However clinics offering non-surgical treatments such as Botox injections, dermal fillers and chemical peels currently do not need to register with the NCSC. This means that these clinics go completely unregulated and there are no inspections of care standards or staff's qualifications. Currently there is no regulation of clinics in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales but new regulations for specialist clinics in Scotland mean they must employ a doctor.

The lack of regulation means it's important to choose carefully. Make appointments with a few clinics, find out about quality standards and checks made on staff, and ask to see the complaints procedure.

The Right Practitioner
The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors has a register of members to help you find a suitably trained and experienced doctors. The Royal College of Nursing is set to publish minimum professional standards for nurses performing cosmetic treatments, and there are moves to develop a specialist qualification for aesthetic nurses. The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (Babtac), the professional body for beauty therapists, vets its members' qualifications, so look for valid Babtac certification if you use a beauty therapist. You can also contact Babtac to find out whether somebody is qualified. If you're being treated by a doctor or nurse, check that they are registered with the General Medical Council or the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The Treatment
Read as much as you can about the treatment you're interested in. For example, visit the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors or the Consulting Room websites (see further information). Think about the results you want, whether you can afford any time off work needed to recover, what your budget is, and whether you're prepared to travel for treatment. If there's anything you're not sure about, prepare questions to ask the clinic later.

Your Consultation
Make sure you ask plenty of questions about the treatment, how it works, how to prepare for it, any pain, risks or side effects, what results to expect and how long they will last, and what will happen if treatment goes wrong. Other example questions to ask your cosmetic practioner can be viewed here

Questions to ask your cosmetic practioner

Be wary of patient co-ordinators at clinics. They are usually not medically trained and may not be able to fully explain the cosmetic treatments or answer your quations. Finally never be pressured into having the treatment immediately.

If Something goes Wrong
If you're not happy with the results, complain to the practitioner or the clinic. If their response isn't satisfactory, contact the GMC if the procedure was carried out by a doctor, or the Nursing and Midwifery Council if it was performed by a nurse.

If the treatment has caused you personal injury, you could seek advice from the charity Action Against Medical Accidents, or from a specialist solicitor. If you want to make a complaint about a clinic that offers laser treatment or cosmetic surgery, contact the NCSC. To complain about misleading adverts, contact the Advertising Standards Authority or the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

The full Which? report can be read here
Which report on cosmetic surgery