Ontario tightens cosmetic surgery rules

Because of the alarming increase in cases of botched plastic surgery procedures, the government of Ontario is tightening the rules of plastic surgery in the area.

Ontario’s governing body on medical profession, the Council of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, has cooked up several recommendations in order to tighten regulations implemented on cosmetic surgery procedures. The recommendations were directed on high-risk cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments since these are the ones that naturally high a high turnout in terms of botched plastic surgery.

One of the most important recommendations given by the governing body is assessing doctors especially those who are not qualified in performing high-risk procedures. The body stressed that this move will address the concerns about the growing number of unlicensed physicians performing cosmetic surgery procedures in Ontario.

Another recommendation is to provide the public with more information on the risks associated with cosmetic surgery. Some people think that getting cosmetic surgery is the same with getting their hair done. They take the procedures lightly as if these arr not major surgeries.

The thing is, while it is a requirement for plastic surgeons to follow the strict regulations and undergo the needed licensing, it seems it is not so with family doctors and general practitioners. The latter can just call themselves ‘cosmetic surgeons’ and perform similar procedures under loose guidelines.

It is somewhat unfair for plastic surgeons to spend five years of specialized training to become licensed while any type of doctor can just perform surgery.

The body conducted a survey among 548 doctors who are perform plastic surgery but are not considered to be plastic surgeons across the province. The college has found out that 16 of those doctors need further investigation. Also, twenty other doctors received a notice of suspension because they failed to respond to the mandatory survey.