Calls for tighter regulation of 'cosmetic surgery crisis'

A committee set up by the Department of Health in the wake of the PIP breast implant scandal has called for tighter regulation of the UK cosmetic interventions industry.

The "booming" cosmetic surgery industry has become a trivialised "everyday product" because of programmes such as The Only Way Is Essex, health officials said.

Recommendations announced today by the committee, headed by Sir Bruce Keogh, has recommended tighter controls on advertising, that those administering treatments should have proper qualifications, and that all dermal fillers should be prescription only.

Sir Bruce Keogh said: "(An) area that is problematic is the trivialisation of cosmetic procedures - TV, magazines, social media, the internet - they all normalise it.

"They have turned cosmetic interventions into an everyday product."

Nine in 10 cosmetic procedures are non-surgical treatments such as injectable anti-wrinkle treatments .

But the review board, set up following the PIP breast implant scandal, said they were "surprised" to learn that non-surgical treatments are almost entirely unregulated.

The group said there has been "explosive growth" in the market for dermal filler treatments, which involve injecting a gel-like substance into wrinkle sites.

The products, which are also used to plump up lips, should be made prescription only, the review board said.

Plastic surgeon Simon Withey, who also sat on the review board, said: "I do think shows like this (Towie) do contribute towards this trivialisation and that failure to inform the public that there are risks and implications for these things."

In 2010, people across the UK spent £2.3 billion on cosmetic procedures ranging from Botox to breast implants.