The UK’s growing cosmetic surgery industry has come under fire for using ‘hard selling tactics’ and illegal advertising to entice prospective patients in. There are also allegations that patient safety is being neglected in the push for profits.

Which? And The Observer conducted an investigation into the cosmetic surgery industry an investigation which led to the head of the industry admitting that bad practice was rife.

There are many different problems highlighted some of these included unqualified staff injecting patients with Botox; not giving prospective patients enough time to mull over their cosmetic surgery decision; not training their staff well enough so if the patient has an allergic reaction, the staff may not know how to handle the situation.

The problem is so serious that the Metropolitan Police are investigating several cases including one where a woman was passing herself off as a Doctor and prescribing Botox to patients despite not being registered with the General Medical Council.

The UK has seen a massive growth in the cosmetic surgery industry with numbers soaring over the past few years in 2001, around 202,000 treatments were carried out; In 2005, the number had risen to around 700,000. Around 85% of treatments are non-invasive treatments such as Botox or chemical peels, with the remaining 15% being invasive surgery such as liposuction, breast implants or face lifts.

The rise in cosmetic surgery has bred cowboy clinicians people who have lack the necessary qualifications but are keen to tap in on this burgeoning industry. Many of these cowboys advertise two-for-offers or encourage patients to have multiple surgeries some they may not have considered before or need. The surgery tends to end up being for the surgery’s benefit, rather than the patients.