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Bupa calls for cosmetic surgery profession to take action following health care commission report 28 January 2005 Bupa is calling for the cosmetic surgery profession to take action following the Health Care Commission's report into the industry. Bupa's group medical director Andrew Vallance-Owen wants to see surgeons undertake a minimum number of cosmetic surgery procedures a year and keep up to date with new techniques. "The profession must develop a system of accrediting cosmetic surgeons who do specific procedures. Patients need to know not only that their surgeon has general qualifications and experience but also that they are experts in particular cosmetic procedures," he said. The government has today outlined tighter regulation in the profession to help stamp out disreputable and unscrupulous operators and has highlighted the need for specialist training programmes in cosmetic surgery and for surgeons' qualifications to be made available to patients. Dr Vallance-Owen urged the government to lay down timelines to get regulations in place quickly. "Cosmetic surgery is one of the fastest growing areas of the private healthcare market. Procedures, for instance those using Botox, must be better regulated and we have to get tough with the cowboy operators. Low standards, although only practised by a few, damage patients and give everyone working in this area a bad name," he said. In 2004 Bupa Hospitals experienced the fastest growth in recent years in cosmetic surgery with a 32 per cent increase in such procedures performed across its 34 hospitals. Figures show that breast enlargement remains the most popular procedure, accounting for more than one in four cosmetic surgery operations. All doctors performing cosmetic surgery in Bupa hospitals are consultants whose names appear on the GMC (General Medical Council) specialist register and meet the HCC's national minimum standards. In addition, consultant cosmetic surgeons are members of the appropriate associations such as BAPS (British Association of Plastic Surgeons) or BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons), or both. Dr Vallance-Owen said: "Cosmetic operations are best carried out in a hospital setting with critical care facilities and comprehensive medical team back-up. Choosing to have your operation carried out by a specialist consultant in a private hospital is one of the safest choices you can make." Bupa Hospitals offer cosmetic surgery services as an Inclusive Care package which means that all aspects of the procedure and care are included in one price for the individual. A dedicated new website www.bupa-cosmetic-surgery.co.uk carries clinical information and guide prices for around 50 cosmetic operations and out-patient treatments. Visitors to the site can find their nearest Bupa hospital offering a particular treatment and can view profiles of around 140 consultant surgeons who carry out cosmetic surgery in Bupa hospitals. A buyers guide offering clear unbiased information to anyone considering cosmetic treatment or surgery can be downloaded free from the website.
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