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Nine out of ten surgeons vote 'no confidence' in government regulation scheme - 5 August 2010

‘Quality Assurance Mark’ a Waste of Taxpayers’ Money

The UK’s largest network of consultant plastic surgeons, SaferCosmeticSurgery (www.safercosmeticsurgery.co.uk), today revealed the results of a survey it initiated among fellow plastic surgeons which shows little to no support for a scheme launched by the Government to bring regulation to the injectables industry. The poll highlights that over nine out of ten (93%) surgeons do not support the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services’ (IHAS) Register of Injectable Cosmetic Providers (known as “TreatmentsYouCanTrust”), due to launch to the public this month and has already cost over £200,000 of public money. The scheme, created under the direction of the Department of Health, claims it will help the public avoid ‘cosmetic cowboys’ but has been branded a waste of taxpayers’ money by the country’s top surgeons.

According to SaferCosmeticSurgery founding member Charles Nduka, a consultant plastic surgeon and member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS); “Over two hundred members of the BAAPS were polled – all highly trained and experienced UK surgeons – and 93% said that did not support the scheme. In fact less than 4% stated they would join. The scheme offers little protection from inexperienced or poorly trained practitioners, so the public is still at risk from cosmetic cowboys.”

In their press releases, the IHAS urge providers to register as it will bring them ‘commercial advantage’, and their latest announcement this month claims that those who have joined ‘are already seeing the business benefits’.

Adam Searle, a consultant plastic surgeon, former President of the BAAPS and member of SaferCosmeticSurgery added: "It is utter madness that a scheme born out of a real need to regulate and control invasive cosmetic treatments should be part funded by providers, and then proceed to celebrate an increase in capture of 'business' for those who simply pay to join in. It's a muddle, and there should be no surprise that there is a reluctance from professional associations to support such a hypocritical approach."

According to Charles Nduka; “Those of us working in this profession every day can clearly see this voluntary register does not address the real problems. Providers of injectable treatments who have operated outside of the Care Quality Commission registration thus far can not be trusted to self-regulate. Providers who are already operating within accepted guidelines, qualifications and facilities aren’t the ones causing the problems. This is one of the reasons behind the launch of SaferCosmeticSurgery and our mission to provide a trusted resource so that people can make informed decisions on treatments and providers.”

Concerned with the increasing number of complications and dissatisfied patients they were seeing as a result of inexperienced practitioners or cheap deals abroad, the team behind SaferCosmeticSurgery banded together an elite group of independent consultant surgeons especially selected on the most stringent criteria. Not only is membership of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) a requirement but - unlike any other commercial provider – eligibility also hinges on a minimum of 15 years’ experience since medical school. The logic being that, although no surgery can be entirely without risk, together they would be able to offer patients the safest options available by the most experienced hands. Of note the SaferCosmeticSurgery surgeons:

Have established local private practices and will be available to you for years to come

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