28 December 2007
People are being pressured into potentially life changing cosmetic procedures by clinics offering time sensitive money off deals, reveals a new investigation by Which?
The consumer champion has uncovered eight examples of clinics offering discounts of up to hundreds of pounds to people who book cosmetic procedures, such as breast augmentation and liposuction, before the end of the year.
Which? says this contravenes industry rules, which prohibit such offers* and has written to the industry watchdog - the Independent Healthcare Advisory Service (IHAS) - as well as the companies involved to ask for an explanation**.
Which? health campaigner Jenny Driscoll says:
“Choosing to have a cosmetic procedure is a major and potentially life changing decision. It is highly irresponsible for clinics to rush people into committing to surgery with ‘limited time only’ offers.”
“What is the point of having a code of practice if companies are going to ignore it? This is yet another indication that proposed self-regulation will not work for the cosmetic treatments industry. The IHAS must police the industry more effectively if we are to put an end to bad practice.”
Which? is asking the government to use the Health and Social Care Bill to implement comprehensive regulations covering all aspects of the cosmetic treatment industry. Better regulation will protect consumers, ensuring they are not at risk when partaking in cosmetic procedures, whether surgical or not.
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*Guidelines outlined in IHAS Good Medical Practice in Cosmetic Surgery/Procedures (page 13) state: “Advertisements must not offer discounts linked to a deadline date for booking appointments or surgery or other date-linked incentives.’
**Which? found eight examples of companies offering time sensitive deals, although not all of the companies listed are members of IHAS:
> Harley Medical Group - Save up to £100 on all Laser Hair Removal treatment packages booked before 31st Dec 2007 http://www.harleymedical.co.uk/cosmetic-surgery-for-women/current-promotions/
> The Laser Treatment Clinic (Harley St) - Special Christmas period offer 50% off all treatments http://www.thelasertreatmentclinic.com/
> Transform – Spend over £350 before Christmas and get a voucher for £50 to put towards any treatment or procedure in Jan 08 http://www.transforminglives.co.uk/news-and-special-offers/monthly-offers.htm
> The Hospital Group - Save £400 on any cosmetic surgery procedure carried out before 31st Dec 07. Featured in Eve and Cosmopolitan magazines (Dec 2007) and http://www.thehospitalgroup.org/
> James Hull - Competition to win smile makeover worth at least £5,000. Closing date for entries is 31st Dec 07 http://www.jameshull.co.uk
> Lifestyle Medical Beauty Clinic in Bath and Salisbury - Free £75 Gift Voucher with every brow smoothing and wrinkle reduction treatment completed by Christmas Eve and buy Laser Hair Removal For Bikini & Get Underarms free. Offer valid until 31st Dec 2007 http://www.thelifestyleclinic.co.uk/news_offers.html
> Surgicare - £500 off Breast Enlargement procedures booked and taken before the end of Dec 07. £200 off upper or lower eye bag removal procedures booked and taken before the end of Jan 08. Buy two cosmetic treatments, and receive the third absolutely free on all treatments booked and undertaken before 31st Jan 08 http://www.surgicare.co.uk/
> Courthouse Clinics - Treatments must be booked and taken by 20th Dec 07 http://www.courthouseclinics.com/specialoffers.asp
