LONDON: Britain's department of health has introduced an information section on cosmetic surgery at its official website in order to provide sound advice to those seeking to undergo cosmetic surgery for beauty enhancement. The aim, according to the department, is to save people from suffering at the hands of quacks.
The section, part of the department's website, www.dh.gov.uk, will have information to help patients take informed decisions whether to go in for cosmetic surgery or opt for non-surgical treatments. It complies with the requirements of the report of the expert group on the regulation of cosmetic surgery.
It contains details such as various procedures adopted, the qualifications required of the surgeons to practise, steps one can initiate in case the results of the surgery are not as desired and links to useful websites where additional information can be obtained.
The department of health feels it is important that people wanting to undergo this treatment should have access to information about the risks involved. Cosmetic surgery is not part of the National Health Scheme, but there has been increased demand in the recent years.
An estimated 100,000 botox injections were taken by Britons in 2004 and some 200 million pounds have been spent on cosmetic surgery that year. The government had announced its intention to bring in tougher regulations as more and more people opted for tummy tucks, botox injections and other look-enhancing procedures.
Britain's chief medical officer Liam Donaldson said the information will enable patients to be well informed, which in turn can drive standards among service providers. Cosmetic surgery has been a field in healthcare where there have been concerns, he said.
Cosmetic surgeons in the country generally welcomed the steps saying it will complement the work already carried out in educating patients and in developing enhanced training and assessment procedures for medical practitioners.
Posted
on : Fri, 23 Dec 2005 02:05 GMT | General News
By : Anne Philips
|
