Government ‘not moving quickly enough’ on non-surgical cosmetic procedure risks

The government has been accused of ‘not moving quickly enough’ to introduce a licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures that would ensure they are carried out by a suitably trained and qualified healthcare professional.

In a new report this week, the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) also urged ministers to ban ‘high harm’ procedures, such as the liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL), after warnings of ‘wild west’ treatments in garden sheds and toilets.

The report follows an inquiry by the WEC into the safety of surgical cosmetic procedures, such as breast plants, and non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as fillers and liquid BBLs.

Last year, the government pledged to introduce new regulations that would mean only qualified healthcare professionals such as nurses will be able to perform ‘high-risk’ cosmetic procedures, such as BBLs, while stricter oversight of lower risk cosmetic treatments – including Botox, lip fillers and facial dermal fillers – will also be introduced through a new ‘local authority licensing system’.

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While the WEC said it welcomed proposals for a licensing scheme, it said ‘the government is not moving quickly enough in introducing such a system’.

‘At present, individuals without any formal training can carry out potentially harmful interventions, placing the public at risk,’ it said in its report.

It warned that a ‘lack of timely action is fostering complacency in self-regulation within the industry and is compromising patient safety’.

The committee suggested a licensing system for ‘green’ and ‘amber’ lower risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures, in which only those suitably qualified can perform them.

For example, green procedures would include semi-permanent make up, amber would include botulinum toxin injects, and red would include hair restoration surgery.

In addition, it said given that liquid BBLs and liquid breast augmentations have ‘been shown to pose a serious threat to patient safety’ they should be restricted to appropriately qualified medical professionals immediately.

‘Given the lack of appetite among medical professionals to carry out these procedures, this will act as a de facto ban in all but the most essential cases,’ it added.

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MP Sarah Owen, chair of WEC, urged the government to ‘accelerate regulatory action’ on non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

‘Currently, individuals without any formal training can carry out potentially very harmful interventions and often do so in unsafe environments. This “wild west” of procedures is placing the public at risk.’

Cosmetic tourism

The report also drew attention to the increasing issue of people requiring medical treatment after cosmetic surgery abroad, with MPs warning of patient safety risks and the ‘additional financial strain on the NHS’.

The committee urged the government to review the need for the NHS to systematically record data on complications from cosmetic procedures performed abroad as publishing such data could ‘better inform and educate the public about the risks involved’.

Earlier this year, academics at several Welsh universities suggested complications from medical tourism had cost the NHS up to £19,000 per patient to treat.

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Moreover, seven in 10 general practice nurses (GPNs) have reported seeing patients who had suffered health problems because of a surgical or cosmetic procedure carried out abroad, as highlighted in a survey by Nursing In Practice last year. Those across the profession suggested the issue is on the rise and stressed that nurses need to be supported to ‘manage the increasing burden’.

The Department of Health and Social Care was contacted for comment.