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A cross-party group of Members of Parliament has called for immediate tighter regulations on high-risk cosmetic treatments, specifically targeting liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs). According to the Women and Equalities Committee, only medical doctors should be authorized to perform these procedures due to their significant risks. The MPs suggest that this restriction would effectively act as a ban, with doctors likely to carry out the treatments only when absolutely necessary.
Currently, there is no formal regulation governing who can offer non-surgical cosmetic interventions that do not involve incisions. The government has proposed a similar measure but has not yet set a date for its implementation. The committee criticized the lack of oversight, describing the current situation as a “wild west” environment. They highlighted reports of procedures like liquid breast enlargements taking place in unsafe and unsuitable locations such as Airbnb rentals, hotel rooms, garden sheds, and even public restrooms.
An alarming case underlines these concerns: Sasha Dean, a woman from Bedfordshire, was placed in a coma after undergoing a liquid BBL earlier this year. The procedure partly took place in a private home, leading to her developing sepsis. Dean recounted to the BBC, “Very quickly it turned into a complete nightmare.” She experienced a heart attack, lung collapse, and kidney failure as her body began shutting down. After spending five days in an induced coma, she eventually recovered but has been left with ongoing health issues, including hair loss, cognitive difficulties, and problems with vision and coordination. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “It’s ruined my life, quite frankly,” and called for the procedure to be banned altogether, warning others about its dangers.
Sarah Owen, a Labour MP and chair of the committee, emphasized the serious risks posed by liquid BBLs and liquid breast augmentations. She criticized the government’s slow pace in responding, stating, “The government is not moving quickly enough. There is no need for further consultation and delay.” Owen urged the government to commit to introducing a licensing system for lower-risk non-surgical procedures by the end of the current parliamentary term in 2029. Under the proposed government plan, high-risk cosmetic treatments would be limited to regulated healthcare professionals and subjected to inspections by the Care Quality Commission, while lower-risk options like Botox and lip fillers would fall under local council licensing regulations.
A representative from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) commented that the government is actively working to eliminate dangerous “cosmetic cowboys” and clamp down on unsafe treatments. The spokesman assured that “tough new measures will ensure only qualified healthcare professionals will be able to perform the highest-risk procedures.” However, no official timeline has been announced for the enactment of these measures. The committee noted that although consultations on these changes began in 2023, calls for stricter oversight have been ongoing for over ten years. Meanwhile, the cosmetic procedure industry has expanded rapidly; a University College London study found over 5,500 clinics offering non-surgical cosmetic treatments in the UK, with only one-third of practitioners being qualified doctors. The report pointed out a lack of uniform training, with some providers relying solely on online courses before performing treatments.
Experts like Dr. Sophie Shotter from the British College of Aesthetic Medicine stress the importance of swift regulatory action. She explained, “If the government clearly defines which procedures are considered high-risk and legislates that only regulated healthcare professionals can perform them, implementation could happen relatively quickly.” Dr. Shotter highlighted the necessity for a clear legal definition of “high-risk” to facilitate enforcement, adding, “Once that legal line is drawn, it should be a prosecutable offence for non-clinicians to carry out those treatments.”
The MPs also urged the National Health Service (NHS) to start collecting data on complications from cosmetic surgeries performed abroad, which often result in patients requiring emergency care after botched procedures overseas. Furthermore, the committee expressed concern about the role of social media influencers in promoting cosmetic procedures, which may be impacting body image negatively and boosting demand, especially among young women and girls. The government has stated that it will consider the committee’s recommendations moving forward
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