04 December 2007
Which? will today warn the cosmetic treatments industry to clean up its act or face a Government crackdown.
In a speech at today’s Laing and Buisson conference on cosmetic surgery procedures*, Which? health campaigner Frances Blunden will point to a culture of irresponsible marketing, gimmicks and pressure sales as undermining the industry’s attempts to self-regulate.
This follows an investigation by Which? at November’s Body Beautiful show**, which uncovered 20 examples of companies flouting industry rules with their marketing materials. These included:
> Advertising Botox
> Time sensitive money off deals
> Refer a friend deals
> Offering cosmetic procedures as competition prizes
The speech comes as the Department of Health looks set to announce the de-regulation of laser treatments in what Which? sees as an increasingly casual approach to non-surgical procedures.
Frances Blunden says:
“Our research shows a cavalier attitude towards the marketing of cosmetic treatments, which is completely unacceptable. We’re not just talking about a few rogue operators - we’re continually finding examples of irresponsible marketing from some of the biggest and most ‘reputable’ names in the industry.
“We seriously question whether self-regulation of this industry can really work. No cosmetic treatments are risk-free and consumers must be adequately protected. The Health and Social Care Bill*** is a great opportunity to re-think this self-regulatory approach.”
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*The Laing and Buisson conference on cosmetic surgery procedures is being held on Tuesday 4 December at the Mayfair Conference Centre. The topic for discussion will be self-regulation of the cosmetic treatments industry.
**The Body Beautiful Show was held in Islington from 2nd-4th November. For a copy of Which?’s findings please email adam.williams@which.co.uk or call 0207 7707563
***The Health and Social Care Bill was published on 16 November 2007 and is currently going through Parliament.
