Industry Research Shows Rising Number Of Problems Related To Products

Lawyers representing people who have suffered serious side-effects after injections of dermal fillers have called on authorities to take action over the regulation of all cosmetic devices, after research by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) revealed a rise in complications related to the products.

According to the study, the number of surgeons seeing problems with permanent fillers was found to have doubled in the past three years, with issues related to temporary products also tripling.

Overall, 69 per cent of surgeons saw cases related to problems with temporary fillers, with 28 per cent also revealed that between one and three patients required surgery to correct damage caused by the products.

An overwhelming number of BAAPS members (98%) stated that fillers should be treated as a medicine when they go through the approval process and said that current regulations were inadequate.

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist medical law and patients’ rights team represent a number of people who have suffered serious complications with dermal fillers and other cosmetic procedures. 

Mandy Luckman, a Medical Law Partner at Irwin Mitchell and specialist in cosmetic surgery claims, said: “We have seen a huge number of people come to us in relation to problems relating to the actual treatment and use of fillers, as well as the products themselves.

“Shockingly however, the concerns surrounding the products are nothing new as two years ago concerns were raised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in relation to the filler product Novabel and adverse reactions which it caused in some patients.

“Dermal fillers are not formally classed as a medical device, which means they do not have to meet the standards which are in place and govern over products. It is simply unacceptable to us that implantable medical devices are not subject to higher regulatory obligations, particularly considered the impact that problems with such products can have on patients.”

Mandy added that this issue feeds into the overall issue of cosmetic surgery regulation as a whole, explaining: “A major review is currently underway into safety standards in the industry. It is vital that consumers are made fully aware of the potential risks of what most people think is a harmless procedure.

“We remain hopeful that this work will lead to a significant shift in regulation across the area of cosmetic surgery, which in turn should guarantee that patient safety comes first and also that victims of complications are able to gain support for the problems they have faced.”

“It is also important that anyone who is planning to undergo a cosmetic procedure makes sure that they are aware of the person who is going to carry out the procedure, what their experience is and any potential risks and side effects.  If in doubt, seek a second opinion from a surgeon.”

If you've suffered due to negligent cosmetic surgery you might be entitled to claim compensation. See our Cosmetic Surgery Claims or Dermal Filler Claims page for more information.