New cosmetic surgery regulation board is “toothless”

The latest committee set up to regulate cosmetic surgery in the UK, the British Academy of Cosmetic Practice, has been branded “toothless” by one consultant cosmetic surgeon who believes that the UK still has one of the poorest controls of cosmetic surgery in the world. “Practically anyone can perform risky treatments (such as injectables) that should only be performed by qualified doctors,” says Dai Davies, consultant plastic surgeon, Plastic Surgery Partners.

The BACP’s objective is to protect safety in cosmetic surgery and medicine. It will require compliance with strict annual appraisal criteria under the principles of good medical practice including a validated log of clinical activity and patient satisfaction feedback. The idea is to create a register of practitioners deemed to have suitable qualifications, training and experience.

While the BACP, set up with the Healthcare Advisory Services (formerly the Independent Healthcare Forum) has the backing of bodies including the Royal Collage of Surgeons, the Independent Healthcare Advisory Service and the GMC, Davies believes that “this new academy isn’t going far enough and is only another vain attempt to regulate an industry that’s out of control”.

“Unfortunately, until the government decides to bring in legislation that will control the industry of cosmetic surgery and cosmetic medical aesthetics, this new academy will almost certainly prove to be toothless,” he adds. “It is undoubted good intentions being overridden by a failure to control the whole market.”