The new document is aimed at supporting local authority environmental health officers in addressing the risks associated with buttock augmentation and other body contouring procedures.
The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) has released new guidance, specifically aimed at supporting Local Authority Environmental Health Officers in addressing the risks associated with buttock augmentation and other body contouring procedures.
This guidance has been released following the tragic death of Alice Webb on September 24 following an improperly administered buttock augmentation.
The document was developed in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the British Beauty Council (BBC) in response to the rising number of reports regarding the dangers posed by these unregulated procedures.
The guidance gives information on the powers available to local authorities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which enable them to issue Prohibition Notices to businesses or practitioners posing a risk by performing these procedures.
The document also contains detailed information on the classification of buttock, breast, and genital augmentations as surgical procedures, requiring the involvement of qualified medical professionals, and expert advice on identifying non-compliant businesses and practitioners and promoting a consistent approach to enforcement.
"These procedures should only be performed by appropriately trained specialist surgeons and fully qualified General Medical Council registered medical doctors who possess additional qualifications," read a statement from the JCCP.
"This guidance is intended to fill knowledge gaps for Local Authorities who may not possess the necessary medical expertise but are tasked with enforcing standards to protect public safety. It has been prepared with input from a range ofmedical experts and professional bodies."
“The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) welcomes and supports this document," said president of The BAAPS, Nora Nugent. "We thank the JCCP for initiating this work and have collaborated with them to help produce the document. We have been campaigning for increased safety in aesthetics and recognition of the risk of unqualified practitioners performing invasive procedures for a long time. The recent tragic death related to buttock augmentation with filler yet again highlights the risks of invasive procedures. Buttock augmentation should only be performed by qualified medical practitioners (doctors) and in CQC-regulated healthcare environments. We hope that this document will help local authorities identify unsafe and unacceptably risky practice in this area and help lead to a safer environment and improved quality of care for patients.”
Elaine Sassoon, a member of the BAAPS Council who played a key role in the development of the report, commented: “The cosmetic sector faces a lack of regulation for unlicensed medical practitioners, putting people's health at serious risk, particularly with buttock fillers for BBL. While specialist surgeons follow safety guidelines, untrained individuals can inject unsafe, bulk-purchased products in unregulated settings. We have a duty of care to ensure the safety of our population.”
To read the full guidance, click here.
