NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh recently announced the UK’s cosmetic surgery industry will face tighter regulations. This is excellent news as until now the industry has been largely ungoverned – a reality only brought to the attention of ministers by the PIP breast implants scandal.
But until these new regulations are in place, you must take care not to be caught out by the cowboys who claim to have the necessary skill and expertise, but are in fact unregistered and unqualified. These ‘practitioners’ are responsible for a number of botched procedures every year, leaving patients with terrible physical and emotional problems.
To ensure you avoid this, you should bear in mind the following six tips when looking for a plastic surgeon:
1. Look for credentials: All qualified surgeons in the UK will be registered with the General Medical Council. They should also belong to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons or to the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. As long as your surgeon features on one of these lists, you know he or she is fit to practice.
2. You get what you pay for: Cosmetic surgery and procedures often involve inserting foreign objects and potentially harmful substances into your body. Because of the dangers involved, it is not something you should economise on. It is better to spend a little extra and be in safe hands than save a few pennies and face disastrous results.
3. Beware the money grabbers: Those offering cosmetic surgery and procedures have a duty of care towards you. A patient should be given all information regarding risks and complications, after which he or she should be given time to consider their options. Where surgery is involved, a week cooling off period after the initial consultation is mandatory. If a company tries to push you into making a decision or immediately asks for a payment, they do not have your best interests at heart.
4. Stay at home: More and more people are opting to have cut-price plastic surgery performed abroad. But this may be a false economy. Many other countries will not have the necessary health and safety regulations in place, putting you in greater danger. Furthermore, what if something goes wrong when you are back in the UK, but you are unable to fly out to see your surgeon? The appropriate follow-up is essential and without it things can quickly turn into a horror story.
5. Real life experiences: Real life testimonials are a great confirmation of a surgeon’s expertise. So if your friends or family have had a positive experience, look into their recommendation. Alternatively, ask the clinic if there are any past patients you can speak to, as this will give you a good insight into a surgeon’s success.
6. Insurance: Ensure that your surgeon has insurance in place, just in case something does go wrong.
Have you had a bad plastic surgery experience?
If you have been unfortunate enough to suffer a botched cosmetic surgery procedure, you need to find out what options are available to you. For more information contact us at Glynns today.
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