Latest blogs on cosmetic surgery, beauty, non-surgical and medical aesthetic treatments.

Women with PIP Breast Implants can`t sleep, are missing work and taking anxiety medication according to a psychology clinic

A recent online survey by Clinical Partners, a private clinic of psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists, polled women who have, or have had, the controversial French PIP breast implants which are at the centre of a current scandal and health scare due to the use of industrial grade silicone by the manufacturers (see our recent blog).

With over 120 respondents in less than 24 hours, it revealed that nearly half of the women had missed work due to stress over having PIPs, nearly 8 out of 10 felt that their self-esteem and self-worth has been affected, two thirds are feeling severely depressed and anxious and 80% feel they will need the help of a therapist or counsellor. Added to that, nearly all (92%) are suffering from insomnia, with many needing to visit their GP for anxiety medication and sleeping pills.

PIAPA call for better regulation of dermal fillers and those who provide them

You may have seen a recent front-page article of The Times headlined ‘Cosmetic Injections - The Next Disaster’ (Jan 3rd 2012).

The main body of this article reflects the same feelings held by members of the aesthetic nurses group PIAPA (Private Independent Aesthetic Practices Association). Members are reporting increasingly hard-sell from companies and individuals offering practitioners numerous alternative fillers, administered by individuals with sometimes questionable skills and qualifications, it would seem a disaster similar to the PIP implant situation may become more inevitable as time passes.

Economic worries not affecting cosmetic surgery take-up; according to BAAPS 2011 statistics

We may all be tightening our belts when it comes to how much money we spend on general goods and services but it seems that when it comes to cosmetic surgery, we’d rather tighten our waistlines than worry about the effect on our monetary bottom line!

That’s according to the 2011 statistics released today from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) who have audited their members and returned a 5.8% rise in the number of surgical procedures performed by its members in the UK over its 2010 figures.

2011: The Year in Cosmetic Surgery Stories

With 2011 at an end and 2012 already well upon us, the past twelve months have proven to be a bustling time, not merely for the cosmetic industry itself but for their media counterparts also.

2011 was a year when many cosmetic surgery stories came to light and whether it was a celebrity attempting a new and extreme form of cosmetic sculpting with quite ludicrous results (I think you remember the one) or a worldwide scandal that almost rocked the industry to its very foundations one thing we can say is that it certainly wasn’t dull.

The year kicked off...

Treatments You Can Trust Launches New 7 Point Plan

The Department of Health backed Treatments You Can Trust register celebrated the 2nd anniversary of their self regulation register related to clinics and practitioners offering injectable cosmetic treatments such as Botox® and Dermal Fillers. Over 40 industry participants, regulators and suppliers were invited by Baroness Ritchie of Brompton, Chair of the Treatments You Can Trust Governance Group, to attend a reception last Tuesday 24th January 2012 in one of the House of Lords private committee rooms.

A glass of House of Lords wine was enjoyed alongside comments from a panel including: Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, Group Medical Director, BUPA; Christine Braithwaite, Director of Policy and External Relations, Council for Healthcare Regulatory; Sally Taber,  Director of Standards & Training Principles; Anne Milton, MP for Guildford and Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for Health and Baroness Ritchie.

Sally Taber announced the 7 challenges that the group have targeted in terms of their focus for future development of the scheme to help improve standards in this sector of the market.