Ban cosmetic surgery adverts, say plastic surgeons

By Charlotte Beugge

An all-out ban on advertising is needed for cosmetic surgery and surgeons operating in this market should be subject to checks every year.

These are the opinions of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps) following the recent scandal of the PIP breast implants. It says that cosmetic surgery as a medical procedure should not be advertised, just as the promotion of prescription medicines is banned.

Fazel Fatah, president of Baaps, told the BBC: "Aggressive marketing gimmicks...not only trivialise surgery but endanger the patient. In no other area of surgery would one encounter Christmas vouchers and two-for-one offers - the pendulum has swung too far, and it is time for change."

The Independent Healthcare Advisory Service, which represents the cosmetic surgery industry, also said the advertising had "increased to an inappropriate level", although its director Sally Taber said it was not in favour of a "total ban".

Around 40,000 British women had PIP implants, with nearly all using private clinics. Some clinics have said they will remove implants for free, while the NHS says it will remove - but not replace - implants done privately.

Harley Medical Group and Transform have both said they will not replace implants free of charge, while Surgicare has said it will remove them for free although they will have to pay £2,500 for replacement implants, according to the Daily Mail.