Severe warning issued over 'Wild West' Brazilian Butt lifts done in garden sheds
The UK's cosmetic industry has been compared to the 'Wild West' by MPs, who warned a lack of regulation is putting Brits at serious risk.
Dangerous procedures have been carried out in garden sheds, hotel rooms and even public toilets, according to the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC).
The government has been urged to 'immediately ban' high-risk treatments such as liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs) to avoid further fatalities, as they 'pose a serious threat to patient safety'.
Ministers have been accused of dragging their feet when it comes to introducing a licensing system for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, as currently, people 'without any formal training' can carry them out.
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Various rogue operators have left patients with permanent disfigurement, lasting health problems and constant pain after botched procedures.
The committee want the government to pull the trigger on proposals about bringing in tighter restrictions around cosmetic procedures, meaning only specified health workers would be able to perform them.
"High-harm procedures such as the liquid Brazilian butt lift (BBL), which has resulted in fatalities, should be banned immediately without further consultation," the WEC said.
"A licensing system for lower-risk procedures, in which only those suitably qualified can perform them, should be introduced within this Parliament.
"The Government is not moving quickly enough in introducing such a system. At present, individuals without any formal training can carry out potentially harmful interventions, placing the public at risk."
As there is currently no regulations regarding who can carry out non-surgical cosmetic procedures - such as injectables, including fillers or Botox injections, laser therapy or chemical peels - it's become a free-for-all, MPs warned.
In a report, the WEC said: "This has led to a ‘Wild West’ in which procedures have reportedly taken place in Airbnbs, hotel rooms, garden sheds and public toilets, leading to many individuals experiencing serious harm.
While investigating the consequences of leaving the cosmetic industry unregulated, the group of MPs heard traumatic accounts of patients who had been directly impacted by this.
One woman, Sasha Dean, tearfully told how she spent five weeks in hospital when she contracted sepsis after a botched BBL.
The committee also heard how a mum-of-five from Gloucestershire, Alice Webb, died after undergoing a 'liquid' version of this procedure. This typically involves filler being injected into the buttock to increase its size.
WEC chairwoman, Labour MP Sarah Owen, said that the government need to get a move on.
"Procedures that are deemed high risk such as liquid BBLs and liquid breast augmentations, which have already been shown to pose a serious threat to patient safety, should be banned immediately," she said.
"There is no need for further consultation and delay. Currently, individuals without any formal training can carry out potentially very harmful interventions and often do so in unsafe environments. This ‘wild west’ of procedures is placing the public at risk."
Owens said that over a decade after NHS bosses first raised concerns about the rise of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, 'the only thing that has changed is the number of people suffering life-changing and life-threatening injuries'.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said that the government is 'taking action to crack down on cosmetic cowboys and root out dangerous treatments'.
"Our tough new measures will ensure only qualified healthcare professionals will be able to perform the highest-risk procedures," a statement said.
"For anyone considering a cosmetic procedure, please check the provider’s qualifications and insurance - and avoid treatments that appear suspiciously cheap.
"We will consider the Women and Equalities Committee’s report and respond fully in due course."
Olivia Burke