COSMETIC SURGERY
of cosmetic surgery as robust as possible, the RCS said it believes the Government should also give the GMC a new regulatory power to highlight to the public and employers which surgeons have been certified by the RCS to carry out cosmetic surgery. Mr Stephen Cannon, chair of the Cosmetic
Surgery Interspecialty Committee and vice president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “Cosmetic surgery is a booming industry, but the law currently allows any doctor – surgeon or otherwise – to perform
cosmetic surgery in the private sector. This can make it difficult for patients to identify an experienced, highly trained surgeon from someone who should not be practising. “To correct this, we will launch a new system of certification later this year which will help patients to find a certified surgeon, who has the appropriate training, experience and insurance to carry out a procedure – such as a tummy tuck or nose job. Giving the professional regulator, the GMC, the power to annotate its register of doctors, will
Healthcare profession takes strides to protect non-surgical cosmetic intervention patients
Five prominent healthcare groups have come together to improve safety for patients undergoing non-surgical cosmetic interventions. The groups have joined forces to form the Clinical Standards Authority for Non-Surgical Cosmetic Interventions (CSA) and the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) with support from the Department of Health (DH).
The two groups will work collaboratively to ensure patient safety in the specific area of non-surgical interventions, which includes dermal fillers, Botox injections and cosmetic laser therapies. This area is largely unregulated and although many of these treatments are carried out by doctors, nurses and dentists who are covered by their own professional codes of conduct, there are also a large number of treatments carried out by non-regulated practitioners.
The associations currently involved are: l The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS).
l The British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN).
l The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD).
l The British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS).
l The British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM).
These bodies will work together to protect patients by improving and enforcing clinical standards and training, and by maintaining a register of practitioners. The CSA and the JCCP have already started on these key tasks with the objective of fully launching in April 2017. Professor David Sines, CBE, has been appointed as the Interim Chair of the JCCP and his first task has been to bring together the key professional medical associations involved in delivering non-surgical services followed by other professional associations and stakeholders. Professor David Sines, Interim Chair of the JCCP, said: “In 2013 the Keogh
‘Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions’ found that the regulatory framework had not managed to keep up with the growing cosmetic intervention industry. Sections of the non-surgical cosmetic interventions industry remain largely unregulated, however healthcare professionals have made important strides in improving patient safety. The formation of the CSA and the JCCP is an important step forward.”
The need for improved training and oversight to be addressed by the groups is highlighted by an audit of dermatologists and plastic surgeons*,
which showed: l 58% of the dermatologists answering the survey had seen patients with complications from non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
l 54% of these complications were due to dermal filler injections. Of these, 33% had granuloma formation and 10% had allergic reactions. Granuloma formation is a chronic, debilitating foreign body reaction,
where chronic nodules develop which may require treatment with systemic immunosuppressive agents and recurrent surgical removal.
l 63% of respondents stated the complications were irreversible or chronic.
l 59% of respondents stated the complications had a highly negative impact on the patient’s quality of life.
l 49% of respondents felt there was either a missed diagnosis of skin disease, or inappropriate treatment of skin disease associated with the non-surgical cosmetic procedure (including skin cancer).
l The two main areas where complications arose were laser/light treatments (67%) and dermal fillers (54%).
*Audit of members of BAD, BAAPS and BAPRAS, 2012
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give our certification system extra teeth and regulatory backing.” The Professional Standards for Cosmetic
Surgery will underpin the new system of certification. By adhering to the RCS’s Professional Standards for Cosmetic Surgery, surgeons will ensure that the needs of individual patients are at the centre of the consultation discussion, and that they are fully informed about the potential risks and likely outcome of the procedure. The document recommends that:
What patients should ask
their doctor People thinking of having a cosmetic procedure are being urged to question their doctors before going ahead with treatment, in new advice issued by the GMC. As tough standards for doctors carrying out cosmetic practice come into force, the GMC has published a guide to help potential patients research and receive safe, high quality cosmetic care. The GMC says people considering a cosmetic procedure should keep in mind the following advice, based on the acrostic below: Consent – The doctor who will carry out your procedure must speak to you personally and get your consent. Openness - Your doctor must be open and honest about their skill, experience, fees and any conflicts of interests. Safety – Your procedure must take place in a safe and suitable environment. Marketing – Your doctor must market themselves responsibly and be clear about the risks involved. Experience – Your doctor should have experience of carrying out the procedure you’ve asked for, and be able to tell you what it involves and how long it takes. Time – Your doctor must give you enough time to make your decision. You should never feel pressured or rushed into having a procedure. Information – Your doctor must give you clear information, including details about aftercare and who to contact if you’re worried. Costs – Your doctor must explain the costs clearly, including details of any fees you need to pay for any potential additional procedures.
The advice, contained in full in the GMC’s leaflet What to expect of doctors who carry out cosmetic procedures, also explains what to do if people have any concerns or doubts about a cosmetic procedure, or if they experience any problems after work has been carried out.
OCTOBER 2016
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