It is vital to visit a qualified cosmetic doctor when considering a non-surgical cosmetic procedure
Following ITV's Face to Face documentary the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors (BACD) supports the call for tighter regulation of the dermal fillers market. Doctors from the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors, the not-for-profit organisation, established for the advancement, education and practice of cosmetic dermatology in the UK, yesterday issued a statement condemning the training of non-medical personnel in non-surgical treatments such as dermal fillers.
BACD President and Cosmetic Doctor, Dr John Curran said: "Channel 4's Face to Face documentary highlighted the importance of visiting a qualified cosmetic doctor when considering a non-surgical cosmetic procedure. The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors would consider a doctor competent to practice cosmetic medicine only after 6 years undergraduate training, 2 years post graduate and 2 years of cosmetic experience. I am bewildered at how a non-medic can be expected to learn and retain the nuances of facial anatomy in a morning and be released on the unsuspecting public in the afternoon.
"Without clear regulation it appears it is a 'buyers beware' market open to abuse. It is clear from the Face to Face documentary that the prescribing and administration of dermal fillers needs to be regulated. It would a huge step forward for the MHRA to look at all the products in the same way as they do for medicines, giving the public confidence that only bone fide products are used."
Dr Patrick Bowler agrees that the Face to Face documentary highlighted the need for the public to visit fully trained medical practitioners:
"The public need to protect themselves against risk by demanding to only be treated by a properly trained doctor, dentist or nurse. Cosmetic dermatology must, no ifs or buts, be delivered in a safe medical environment by a competent, well trained healthcare professional who makes your interests, as the patient, his or her first concern. It may be cosmetic but it’s still medicine!"