BAPRAS launches major new campaign to help anyone considering cosmetic surgery to be safe

19th February 2015

 

Today, BAPRAS publishes worrying new research that shows thousands of people are at risk of physical and psychological harm from poor or inappropriate cosmetic surgery. In a major study, the Association found two million people in the UK are considering or undergoing cosmetic surgery in the next year – yet one quarter of patients don’t check credentials of their surgeon, a fifth aren’t aware of the risks associated with the procedure and a further fifth aren’t even clear on the potential outcomes of the procedure before going ahead.

To help protect patients, BAPRAS is launching a new campaign – Think Over Before You Makeover –to help anyone considering surgery to carry out the right checks and preparation to ensure the decision is the right one for them. 

In order to ensure a surgeon is properly qualified and has the right credentials, the Association is urging patients to check they are on the General Medical Council’s (GMC) Specialist Register for the discipline in which they have trained. It is also encouraging patients to ask their surgeon about their experience as well as taking time out to cool off and think about their options.

BAPRAS warns many patients may experience long-term damage unless they take a considered and safe approach and is calling on all patients, clinics and professional bodies to support the campaign. 

Nigel Mercer, BAPRAS President and Consultant Plastic Surgeon, said:
“Cosmetic surgery is not something to be taken lightly and yet thousands of people are putting themselves at serious risk by rushing in to major procedures recklessly, without consideration for their own safety. In fact, many people spend more time choosing an electrician than they do a surgeon. Think Over Before You Make Over is not here to promote cosmetic surgery; we recognise that thousands of people will choose to have surgery this year and we want all these people to read our campaign advice so they can make informed choices and protect themselves from bad practice.”

Materials available to the public include a range of free guides from expert BAPRAS plastic surgeon members, alongside patient case study stories and Q&As to help people make sure that if they do have surgery, they are having it safely. 

Nigel Mercer continued: 
“BAPRAS has been at the forefront of driving the highest standards of industry practices, demanding appropriate regulation and marketing of cosmetic surgery interventions. Think Over Before You Makeover builds on this commitment. We need an informed and empowered public, able to make active choices; we critically need people to think over before they make over, and we call on everyone to support this vital campaign.”

For more information about the campaign, detailed research findings and press release, please visit www.bapras.org.uk/thinkover

 

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