Why women are 'bullied into choosing
cosmetic surgery'

Irresponsible cosmetic surgery clinics are today accused
of putting sales before safety. At some centres, unqualified
staff pressurised women into having operations and made
misleading claims about procedures, the consumer group
Which, says; In one case, a sales assistant even bared her
own augmented breasts to an undercover researcher to
persuade her to have surgery.

The former Consumers' Association's investigation of 19
clinics in England and Wales found evidence that misleading
claims were used to get patients to buy cosmetic procedures
ranging from breast implants to facelifts. It also found Botox
was being offered to customers without the personal
involvement of a doctor or other qualified professional.
The anti-wrinkle injections should be prescribed and
administered only by a doctor, dentist, trained nurse
or pharmacist.

However, some women are getting "remote prescriptions"
which is against good medical practice. Which' campaigner
Jenny Driscoll said the "pressure selling" climate could put
patients at risk. She added: "Choosing to have a cosmetic
procedure is a major and potentially life-changing decision.
"It is highly irresponsible for clinics to operate in this way.

"There are risks with all cosmetic treatments.
So when people go for a consultation they should get accurate
and in- depth advice from a medical professional, not a pitch
from an unqualified salesperson." The investigation provided
an "unimpressive snapshot" of the industry, says Which?.

Staff at some clinics described surgery as "scarless" or a
"minor procedure", and one clinic contained literature which
offered liposuction in an "office setting". Which, found three
major areas of concern - the use of aggressive marketing,
poor information making it harder for patients to come to an
informed decision and unchecked breaking of regulations
and codes of conduct.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, which
represents leading specialists, said it had "deep concerns"
about the selling methods used by non-medical staff in
some clinics. Its president, consultant surgeon Douglas
McGeorge, said yesterday: "Having cosmetic surgery is not
like shopping for a handbag and we're very much against this
form of selling. It's an inducement to make them sign up
for surgery. "I don't feel it's ethical and it's time for better
regulation of the industry."

Nip and tuck is no longer taboo for the over-50s,
research found yesterday.

In a survey of 7,800 older people, 26 per cent of women said
they had already had cosmetic surgery - or would be willing to
try it. Nine per cent of men also responded positively in the
poll for Saga Magazine.

The women who had already had or would consider surgery
said eye lifts were their preferred procedure. Second on their
list were facelifts, followed by tummy tucks, liposuction and
breast reductions. Only 2 per cent would consider a breast
enlargement.

Emma Soames, the magazine's editor, said: "Cosmetic
surgery is not the taboo it might once have been and for the
over-50s it is certainly an option. However, there is also a
huge acceptance of the notion of growing old gracefully."

By Jenny Hope - Source: MailOnline