Botox treatments sold via clothing catalogue

A UK clothing catalogue, Grattan, offers customers a range of non-surgical procedures such as Botox from Transform Cosmetic Surgery. As expected, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons issued a warning that making such treatments “off-the-shelf” could undermine the seriousness of the procedures.

However, Transform Cosmetic Surgery defends its stance, saying the prior to the sales, consumers received a consultation and were fully informed before undergoing any procedure.

Aside from Botox, the Grattan catalogue also offers lip enhancement and skin peels and even allows customers to pay in installments.

Again, plastic surgery societies are concerned about this trend. Plastic surgeons criticized a competition in the catalogue to have a cosmetic makeover on the Channel 4 TV programme 10 Years Younger. The program involves treatments such as lip enhancement, teeth whitening, and more complex procedures such as laser eye surgery.

British plastic surgeons reason out that it is essential for the public to understand that aesthetic procedures are not commodities to buy off-the-shelf and cannot later be exchanged for a different size or style. They also remind the consumers that there are risks and complications associated with non-surgical procedures, no matter how rare they may be. Thus, there is a need for patients to undergo proper consultation to make an informed decision.

Transform also released statements to defend their side. Pat Dunion, operations director, said that they have over 30 years of experience in providing cosmetic surgery, thus, their expertise should not be questioned.

“Transform is regulated and audited by the Healthcare Commission and all our skilled and experienced non-surgical practitioners across our 22 clinics are either a qualified doctor, surgeon or a registered general nurse.

"The partnership with Grattan is an effective means of widening the non-surgical market.

"The clinical decision process for Grattan customers is the same as for all our non-surgical patients.

"Regardless of how they heard of Transform, all are fully informed about the procedures before they consent to proceed.