Cosmetic surgery 'should be done by specialist surgeons'

Doctors should be prevented from performing 

cosmetic surgery outside their speciality, according 

to the Royal College of Surgeons.

It told the QueenBlogs the current rules allowed "GPs to 

do 

nose 

jobs" and that was "a big problem" for patients.

The organisation wants a new system to certify 

surgeons 

for each procedure.

Bodies that represent aesthetic plastic surgeons say that

 they support the idea but it will only help patients if it is 

"mandatory and policed".

The whole industry has been under intense scrutiny 

since thousands of women were fitted with sub-

standard breast implants made by Poly Implant Prothese

 (PIP).

Ministers described it as a "cowboy industry" of "murky 

practices".

The Royal College of Surgeons has launched a 

consultation on ways of cleaning up the industry.

One suggestion is a register of certified surgeons to

 help 

the public make an informed decision about the quality 

of their surgeon.

Doctors would have to be a proven specialist in their

 field 

and provide evidence about their success rates.

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We really need it to be mandatory; we need every plastic surgeon and cosmetic surgeon to be involved in it and be regulated and certified”

Gary RossConsultant aesthetic and plastic surgeon

"But it'll stop the general practitioner doing the nose job, 

it'll stop the dermatologist lifting someone's breasts, it'll 

stop all that cowboy behaviour which goes on."

The College said these were not real-world examples, 

but theoretical worst-case scenarios that highlighted just 

how little regulation there was in the system.

However, the certificate system will be voluntary.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons 

(Baaps) says the proposal is a step in the right direction,

 but does not go far enough.

Rajiv Grover, a Baaps spokesman and former president,

 said: "This will only protect the public if the 

recommendations are mandatory and policed.

"It is essential that the public know who to go to when 

seeking a qualified cosmetic surgeon, but also, to be 

assured that the quality of their outcome will meet 

accepted standards, and particularly to meet their own

 expectations."

'Recognising expertise'

Gary Ross, a consultant cosmetic and plastic surgeon

, told the BBC the new regulations were "a start" but that 

more needed to be done:

"We really need it to be mandatory; we need every 

plastic surgeon and cosmetic surgeon to be involved in

 it 

and be regulated and certified.

"I think the public and the surgeons and the providers, 

everyone, must strive for that."