Royal College of Surgeons publishes cosmetic practice standards

The Royal College of Surgeons has published a new set of professional standards that aims to raise the standard of practice among those administering cosmetic procedures.

Entitled Professional Standards for Cosmetic Practice, the comprehensive document recommends that only qualified surgeons should be able to provide cosmetic surgery, while non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as Botox should be confined to appropriately trained doctors, dentists and nurses.

It also highlights the importance of discussing all aspects of treatment in detail with patients, including psychological issues, as well as the need to crack down on overly commercial promotional tactics such as time-limited discounts.

Professor Norman Williams, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: "While the colleges and professional organisations involved in cosmetic practice are neither regulators nor legislators, the profession has a responsibility to provide standards to which we would expect our members to work."

This comes at a time when NHS medical director Sir Bruce Keogh is carrying out a review of standards in the sector in the wake of the national PiP breast implant safety scandal.