More Needs To Be Done In The UK To Protect Patient Safety

MP Ann Clywd has called for better regulation of cosmetic surgery as last week the Government faced criticism for not including legislation in the Queen's Speech to protect patients undergoing cosmetic surgery.

The MP told the Commons she had received a letter from a woman who had undergone cosmetic surgery to remove fat from her legs – but was made to stay awake during the procedure so her legs were not uneven.

MPs were told the botched liposculpture procedure, which involves removing fat and using it elsewhere to sculpt the body, took place in a London clinic and appeared to be conducted in a dental chair by a doctor who was not surgically trained.

The Cynon Valley MP said not enough had changed within the cosmetic surgery industry since the mid-1990s.

She urged greater regulation to prevent thousands of people throughout the UK are being exploited by private sector clinics and "cowboy surgeons".

Ms Clwyd said most of the mistakes are rectified by the NHS, with no other area of medicine being "such an unregulated mess".

Ms Clwyd explained: "I had a letter the other day from somebody who said, 'I think the operating table was a dental chair', describing her experience of liposculpture in a London clinic. 'They asked me to turn over on to my stomach but the chair was the wrong shape and it was very difficult. At some stage during the operation I woke up. I was in tremendous pain and began screaming. They were still taking fat from my legs. The doctor told me afterwards that he had to continue with me awake or my legs would have been uneven'."

Ms Clwyd said it turned out the "so-called cosmetic surgeon was a general practitioner" who had performed a surgical operation without surgical training and administered a general anaesthetic without an anaesthetist.

She added: "I also read recently about a writer - she's been left with blurred vision from botched laser eye surgery at a private clinic.

 "After a five-year battle, she has finally received GBP250,000 compensation but has permanent scarring of her eyes.

"Such incidents are sadly only too common.

"The pressure on women, now also on men, is considerable. Most of us want to change something about ourselves.

"Huge pressure is put on women in particular to change their looks. Private sector clinics offer a multitude of cosmetic procedures to achieve the perfect shape and a wrinkle-free face.

"Too old, too thin, too fat, never just right - that's the message."

If you have been affected by negligent cosmetic surgery you might be entitled to claim compensation. See our Cosmetic Surgery Compensation page for more information.

Expert Opinion

We would welcome any review into the regulation of the beauty and cosmetic industry to ensure that people who choose to undergo any treatment or procedure are in safe hands. <br/> <br/>“For a number of years we have been calling for government intervention and greater regulation of the cosmetic industry to ensure patient safety, after seeing an increasing number of potential claims involving practitioners that are not medically qualified and exposing patients to harm. <br/> <br/>“We regularly receive enquiries from individuals that have sustained significant damage, which on occasions is permanent, following fillers and Botox procedures and there seems to be a pattern that they have not been warned of the risks to their health.” <br/> Mandy Luckman - Partner