Review of cosmetic surgery industry launched

The Department of Health is carrying out a review of the cosmetic surgery industry that could lead to the introduction of tighter regulations on the sector.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley has requested the review in order to ascertain whether the right level of control is currently in place, and if patients have the correct amount of information before surgery and aftercare following their operations.

A call for evidence has been issued to ask people's views on issues such as how best to ensure that surgeons are qualified, what improvements are needed when dealing with complaints and how to guarantee patients have access to the right advice.

This comes after a recent survey suggested that many people in the UK currently consider the cost of surgery a more important factor than the qualifications of those performing it.

NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh said: "We want to hear views from everyone, particularly people who have experience of the cosmetic surgery industry or of other cosmetic interventions – good and bad – so we can learn what works best."

The professor previously led a inquiry into the recent PiP breast implant scandal, to which this current review is partially a response.