Cosmetic Surgery in the UK

The supply

When it comes to undergoing cosmetic surgery in the UK, the best initial advice is, ‘Buyer beware’. For while the UK cosmetic surgery industry is booming (a 31 percent increase in procedures carried out during 2006 on the year before), it’s not the robustly monitored vehicle many of its patients assume it to be.

This was revealed in July 2006 when the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) published a report into the current standards of cosmetic surgery in the UK. The report followed the first ever inspection of cosmetic surgery clinics in London. It specifically focused on small and medium-sized operations, many of which are not members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), the professional body representing the industry in the UK.

The results painted an unsettling picture of modern cosmetic surgery. Many of the 22 inspected clinics failed to carry out thorough checks on the qualifications and identity of their surgeons and were guilty of publishing misleading claims in their advertising literature (promising astonishing results in very short time spans, for example). Other common shortfalls were a failure to provide robust evidence of their clinical work or monitor performance and limited or poor patient follow-up and/or aftercare.

The demand

One of the reasons for the disparity in standards is the speed with which the UK has embraced cosmetic surgery. More procedures are carried out in the British Isles than anywhere else in Europe and it remains the largest growth area in private medical care within the UK. According to BAAPS more than 28,900 cosmetic procedures were carried out last year, with the sectors for men and the over-60s proving to be particularly popular (a year-on-year increase of over 10 percent within each).

The reasons for this are manifold. Certainly the value within our society on ‘youthful looks’ continues to increase, but that’s only part of the answer. Cosmetic surgery has been normalised in recent years, not only as a result of the huge explosion in makeover TV with its dramatic before and after shots, but also because cosmetic procedures are being openly discussed and therefore increasingly acceptable.

Not only that, but a further cultural shift has meant that some cosmetic procedures are increasingly being viewed as a ‘necessity’ (a quarter of the UK population have undergone some form of cosmetic dentistry, for example, most often teeth whitening). Popularity, however, does not necessarily equate to safety. There are pitfalls for would-be patients to be aware of.

The providers

Under current UK legislation, for example, anyone can set themselves up to perform cosmetic procedures – they don’t have to be medically qualified. And while practitioners have had to be listed on a specialist register since April 2002, individuals practising before that time were allowed to continue even if they did not have formal qualifications, making the need for care even greater. While there are a number of proposals currently under discussion to tighten up regulations, anyone currently considering going under the knife should always undertake basic research before taking the plunge.

Would-be patients need to be careful rather than unduly alarmed. There are any number of excellent cosmetic surgeons and clinics across the UK. Ensure that you take the right steps to finding one by contacting BAAPS for a list of surgeons with the appropriate qualifications in your area.