'Botox' review should have covered tattoos

The independent review of cosmetic surgery reported yesterday with recommendations about better regulation, better training and proper redress if things go wrong.

It found that despite the popularity of non-surgical procedures such as Botox, dermal fillers or laser hair removal – which account for nine out of ten procedures in the UK – there is almost no regulation for them.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health( CIEH) said the review should have given equal consideration to other cosmetic procedures such as tattooing and skin piercing, pointing out that these too can result in scarring and disfigurement and are often carried out without adequate infection control procedures.

Ian Gray, CIEHPrincipal Policy Officer, said:

“This is a massive missed opportunity for the Department of Health who should have considered the need for effective controls across the entire range of these practices.

“While we can accept that the Government’s principal concern - following the breast implant scandal - was with medical procedures, we believe that tattooing and skin piercing should have been given equal consideration - even though it is accepted that there is a lack of data on the number of complaints and reports of subsequent need for medical interventions as a result of procedures going wrong.”

He added:

“The CIEHprovided this inquiry team with a submission that I can only describe as massive – detailing the concerns of our members, the lack of controls, the need for competence frameworks, training and regulation of practitioners. However, there is not even a mention of this or the need for further attention to these areas.”

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter said:

“While there are some responsible clinics which do take proper care of their patients, Sir Bruce Keogh’s review makes clear that there is a significant risk of people falling into the hands of cowboy firms or individuals whose only aim is to make a quick profit.

“These people simply don’t care about the welfare of the people they are taking money from.

“If anything good can come of awful episodes like the PIP scandal, it is that the safety of the procedures that people may choose to undergo has been questioned. It is clear that it is time for the government to step in to ensure the public are properly protected.

“The independent panel has made some far-reaching recommendations, the principles of which I agree with entirely. We will consider the report carefully and respond in detail in the summer.”

The report found widespread use of misleading advertising, inappropriate marketing and unsafe practices right across the sector and raises concerns about the extent to which the ‘business’ is booming without adequate controls on standards of practice. “

The CIEHis producing guidance on tattooing and skin piercing, which will be published shortly. It has been developed by the CIEHin collaboration with other health protection agencies and the Tattooing and Piercing Industry Union.