Regulating for risk reduction

The Royal College of Surgeons’ (RCS) proposals aim to ensure that patients are able to make informed decisions about cosmetic treatment, including being able to check if their surgeon is listed on an approved register. It also aims to help surgeons to identify, reflect on and share best practice; and will allow providers of cosmetic surgery to assess the quality and safety of their services. It also aims to allow regulators to be able to assure themselves of the quality of care being offered. 

The Cosmetic Surgery Interspecialty Committee (CSIC), which was set up by the RCS in 2013, is proposing that patients considering paying for cosmetic surgery privately – where they choose to have an operation for aesthetic, rather than medical reasons – should have access to clear, unbiased and credible information about their surgeon, care provider, procedure and likely outcomes. 

The proposals aim to achieve these goals by setting standards for training and practice. At present, to undertake cosmetic surgery independently in the private sector, the person must be registered with, and licensed by, the General Medical Council (GMC). They must be on the GMC’s specialist register in one of a number of areas of specialty practice. The CSIC proposals aim to ensure that surgeons only perform cosmetic surgical procedures where they have the technical skills and experience to do so. Surgeons should be able to communicate effectively with their patients and they should understand and apply the ethical standards required to practice in this area.