Botox in your lunch hour

The growing accessibility of cosmetic surgery procedures is seen as a good thing for the beauty conscious. But there are still risks involved in even the most minor of nips and tucks.

No longer just for the rich and famous, plastic and cosmetic surgery is now accessible for the beauty- and youth-conscious masses. These days, it is possible to get botox or dermal filler injections in your lunch break – a service offered by many beauty salons and high street chemists.

When Superdrug, Britain’s second largest beauty and health retailer, launched its range of beauty treatments last year it made much of its low prices and easy location. While the clinic price for anti-wrinkle injections comes in at over £400, at the chemist it is far a more wallet-friendly £145.

“Now a customer can nip into our store during their lunch hour, get a manicure, have an anti-wrinkle consultation, have their brows threaded before choosing a sandwich meal deal and heading back to the office,” says Superdrug spokesperson Anish Sabherwal.

More and more women are considering such procedures. A third over the age of 40 think they need plastic surgery while one in five said they would happily have a facelift if money was no object, according to a Superdrug study.

Risky business

As cosmetic surgery has become more and more popular, has the perceived risk associated with certain procedures been downgraded?

Very few beauty practitioners carrying out these procedures do not have medical experience for when complications arise.

There are plenty of examples. Stars left with a ‘trout pout’ because their lips have been pumped with too much collagen. There are others who can barely change their facial expression because they’ve had too many facelifts and/or too much botox.

“There is significant concern that clients experiencing minor complications could go on to develop more significant complications because the beauty therapist is not trained to deal with those complications,” says Nigel Mercer, President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). “It’s one of the reasons why there’s been a call to reclassify dermal fillers as medicines rather than medical implants.”

He thinks there needs to be greater scrutiny of the practitioners carrying out cosmetic procedures. This includes making sure that plastic surgeons are on the specialist register of the General Medical Council. “If you’re a plastic surgeon you’ve got to prove you can do the procedures you’re doing.”

He also believes lessons can be learnt from the US, where the cosmetic surgery sector is more tightly regulated.

“Why are there only seven US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved facial fillers and over 160 facial fillers in the UK now? That is because they have thorough safety testing, which costs money.”

“The US system isn’t entirely foolproof,” he adds. “We have to look at both sides of the pond and look at what is the best way to protect patients’ safety.”

Underwriting the risk

A careful underwriting approach is required for the sector, particularly when it comes to new products and procedures.

“It is vital that any insurer remains informed and up to date on trends and developments in their industry segment,” says Sharon Brennan, Medical Malpractice Underwriting Manager at WR Berkley. “This is no truer than for the cosmetic industry which has seen explosive growth over the last few years.”

“The lack of regulation allows individuals who have little or inadequate formal training to carry out cosmetic techniques,” she adds. “This can lead to disastrous results and consequences.”