17 May, 2006 - Government slammed over cosmetic surgery law delay

Law firm TJ Legal has slammed the Government for delaying the introduction of new regulations that could prevent people suffering unnecessary neglect during cosmetic surgery.

New regulation of cosmetic surgery procedures was expected to come into force this year, but this has now been delayed while the Department of Health carries out ‘further work to bring together health reform projects’.

Manchester-based TJ Legal, which last year became the first law firm to set up a specialist cosmetic surgery negligence team, has received over 100 enquiries in just six months.

Many of these people have suffered terrible injuries, pain and trauma – often as a result of poorly regulated cosmetic procedures and practices.

Mike Saul, head of TJ Legal’s cosmetic surgery negligence team comments: “Some of our clients have had terrible experiences which could have been prevented if the industry were better regulated.

“Worryingly, scores of people we have spoken to have received sub-standard surgery and appalling levels of after-care at private clinics.

“One of the biggest problems is that some clinics are putting profits before patients by cutting corners and employing doctors who may not have completed the relevant higher surgical training. As a result, they may not be genuine experts in the field of cosmetic surgery, which can put people’s lives at risk.

“We’re hearing from women and men who have suffered from a range of problems including severe infections, nerve damage, scarring and permanent psychological problems.

Tanveer Jaleel, senior partner at TJ Legal adds: “The popularity of cosmetic surgery is growing at an astonishing rate among women of all ages, with recent studies revealing that more than a quarter of girls aged 16 would like cosmetic surgery, and two out of every five young British women would now consider it.

“People need to be better educated about this industry and the lack of regulation, so that they can make safer, more informed decisions.

“Importantly, more should be done to prevent the private sector from trivialising cosmetic surgery with offers such as the ‘quickie facelift’, the ‘lunchtime boob job’, and other incentives such as big discounts in time for summer.”

Mike Saul concludes: “I would urge anyone thinking about cosmetic surgery to seek specialist advice and to take greater care when choosing a clinic and surgeon.

“If people do decide to go ahead, they should choose a surgeon who has an NHS Consultancy, as they will have completed higher training. It’s also advisable to select a surgeon that specialises in the body area that is to be operated on.”

TJ Legal’s service is geared towards supporting these men and women by obtaining compensation to enable them to have corrective surgery and receive financial payments to cover any loss of earnings that they might have experienced.

Anyone who believes they have suffered from cosmetic surgery negligence has up to three years from the date of the operation or knowledge of negligence to make a claim.