Hard-sell cosmetic surgery clinics revealed

It is undeniable that cosmetic surgery has extremely become popular thanks to the continued patronage of celebrities and middle-class women. And now that a great number of men are embracing both the invasive and non-invasive aspects of the cosmetic surgery industry, there's no other way to go but up.

However, in Britain, the cosmetic surgery industry is experiencing quite a disturbance to its otherwise smooth flow. The industry has been criticized for using illegal advertisements and employing hard-sell tactics that seem to imply that everyone is out there for profit and not for patient welfare.

An investigation by The Observer and a large consumer organization Which? reveals that bad practice is rampant in the cosmetic surgery industry.

The investigation indicated that there are some plastic surgery clinics that violate the law by allowing their unqualified staff to administer Botox treatments. Others are hurrying patients to get the surgery without giving them ample time to decide on their own. Some are also putting the patients’ live at risk because of their incapability to deal with patients that are allergic to the injections.

The evidence gathered by Which? features 20 examples of alleged bad practices done by firms that exhibited at the recent Body Beautiful trade fair in London. Even the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services is quite alarmed with the findings. Sally Taber, Independent’s director gave this reaction:

'Which? has given me a lot of examples. I'm pretty horrified about them. I was horrified to receive this letter. But I wasn't surprised, because we knew there was bad practice going on.'

Douglas McGeorge, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, initiated an attack on the industry saying that there were too many ‘cowboy clinicians’ who give people Botox injections and dermal fillers to gain profit. These cowboy clinicians also carry out image-enhancing surgical procedures even though they are not qualified to do so.

McGeorge asked the assistance of the Healthcare Commission to police the cosmetic surgery industry in order to promote its standards and protect the consumers.