Failure to swiftly outlaw untrained practitioners from offering dangerous cosmetic interventions such as liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs) is “prolonging a significant risk to patient safety“, MPs have warned.
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) previously received testimony that procedures “involving scalpels and vast quantities of anaesthetic” were being carried out in residential living rooms and commercial salons.
Seven months after issuing an initial report calling for an immediate high-street ban on high-risk operations, the parliamentary committee confirmed it is still waiting for a response from the Government.
In a fresh update, MPs reiterated demands to restrict the most hazardous procedures without delay.
They insisted that all cosmetic surgery providers must hold specialist training and suitable board certification, while asking the Government to establish a timeline for wider industry reform.
Christine Jardine, WEC interim chairwoman, said: “WEC’s report warned back in February that procedures that are deemed high risk such as liquid BBLs and liquid breast augmentations, which have already been shown to pose a serious threat to patient safety, should be banned immediately.
“However, the committee is yet to receive the Government’s response almost seven months on.
“MPs are deeply disappointed by this significant delay. It leaves important recommendations unaddressed and patients’ safety at significant risk.”
It comes after the WEC heard from Ashton Collins, co-founder of Save Face, the register for safe medical aesthetic practitioners, and Nora Nugent, cosmetic surgeon and president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
Ms Collins told MPs the risks to patients “have now escalated to a point where I don’t think anybody could have imagined”, with unqualified practitioners “performing plastic surgery procedures involving scalpels and vast quantities of anaesthetic in people’s living rooms and in dingy salons on the high street”.
She said Save Face has helped more than 1,200 women to date who have had complications with either liquid BBLs or liquid breast augmentation.
More than half developed sepsis and were admitted to hospital, while a further 40% needed “extensive corrective surgery” or ongoing district nurse care.
Ms Jardine added: “It is clear that high-risk procedures are still being carried out and that they are being delivered by unqualified practitioners and in unsafe settings.
“This delay in government action in this area is prolonging a significant risk to patient safety.
“Today’s report reiterates WEC’s recommendations that the Government should place restrictions on the highest-risk cosmetic procedures immediately and that all practitioners performing invasive surgical cosmetic procedures should be required to have specialist training and hold appropriate board certification in the procedures they undertake.
“The Government should also set out a timetable for wider reform of the sector.
“Our recommendations have been echoed by leading professional bodies.
“While it is positive to hear a licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures will be introduced within this Parliament, this issue requires much faster regulatory progress, particularly in high-harm areas, and the Government is not moving quickly enough.”
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