Hi All,
This post has come from watching a rather interesting video on the Guardians website, that got me thinking about the umber of people that undergo cosmetic surgery each year. Firstly, I have no problem with the concept of body modification, I have tattoos and this could be considered a form of cosmetic rejuvenation. What concerns me is the amount of people across the globe who practice without being a member of a governing body. Now, I am also not just talking about breast augmentation or a tummy tuck, this can be procedures as small as botox which can be equally as damaging.
What has the PIP implant catastrophe done to change the laws
I am sure we all remember the PIP downfall last year, where up to 400,000 women were at risk of having their implants burst or degrade. This lead to a national outcry that caused not only many women to have to have there implants removed, but many were left without the option of corrective surgery. What began as an uplifting surgery to make us all feel better, ended in an absolute nightmare. The fact that many women were unable to regain there confidence is what angers me the most and has recently been part of a nation wide review that looked into the health and safety issues surrounding our cosmetic surgery licencees and practices. this review was met with very strong support and rightly so.
In general there are certain points that need to be addressed.
For starters, financial inducements really do need to be reconsidered especially when talking about time limited deals. I, for one, don’t agree with the buy one get one free idea when it comes to cosmetic surgery. This is our bodies we are talking about, not a supermarket trip. This not only puts pressure on patients to make the difficult choice to have more than 1 procedure, but it also suggests that every procedure should be considered. If you don’t need a nose job, you shouldn’t be forced into it by financial incentives. The emphasis on price is definitely one area that needs to be looked at, quality should ultimately come first and the price second, this shouldn’t be the deciding factor.
Secondly, the outcomes of the procedures need to be made clear to the patients also. This should include images of the outcomes, such as bruising and going through any risks that are associated with the procedures is very important and should be included in some form of guidance pack. This would at least, help patients to make a more well rounded informed decision. This can and hopefully will lead to patients then meeting with the actual surgeon that will perform the operation. This is the common practice in the US, so why not here?
Finally, it is absurd to me, that cosmetic surgery is sold in a similar manner to a mobile phone. You go in, meet a sales representative and then agree to go under the knife. If you are anesthetized, the risks associated with this are allergic reactions to the drugs and even death – is it worth it if you have never met the surgical team – I personally wouldn’t agree to it!
Ultimately, cosmetic surgery is a private decision, a personal one and should be made by you and you alone. If you are given all the information, you have met the surgeon and seen the recovery areas then great, if not then I would walk away!
