British cosmetic surgery is beset by "fundamental weaknesses", according to the findings of a major British inquiry published today.
Poor training, unsafe equipment and patients not given proper consent are among the problems uncovered.
The procedure is largely offered privately, usually as a "lifestyle choice" and investigators concluded that too many surgical teams offered it, often "having a go" without enough experience.
The disturbing findings come from the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death.
It found that as many as 56 per cent of surgical providers did not have the right equipment for safe surgery. And one third of private hospitals offering the procedure did not use consultant anaesthetists.
But the findings only reflect responses from half of the cosmetic surgery providers identified by the researchers. Some 360 took part in the investigation and nearly 400 did not.
Investigator Dr Alex Goodwin said advertising of the procedure was poorly regulated – and warned of patients being pressurised into having treatment.
The investigators call for regulators such as the Care Quality Commission to take a closer interest in cosmetic surgery – and called for improved training.
And enquiry chairman Bertie Leigh called on the General Medical Council to issue guidance to doctors involved in cosmetic surgery.
Dr Goodwin said: "Cosmetic surgery is far too dispersed with too many teams prepared to ‘have a go’ at procedures that they rarely perform. And, failures in monitoring patients after surgery are a recipe for disaster."
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