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EXPERTS HAVE CALLED for regulation in the cosmetic surgery industry, saying many under-qualified people are carrying out procedures.
Margaret O’Donnell, the President of the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons, told the Oireachtas Health Committee she is very concerned about this practice.
O’Donnell said that misleading advertising and discount offers are also huge issues in terms of plastic surgery. She noted that many beauticians carry out certain procedures such as laser treatments which should only be done by medical professionals.
She said this was particularly dangerous in terms of mole removal as it may lead to cancer being undetected. Dr Patrick Ormond of the Irish Association of Dermatologists, said two young male patients of his died in the last four years due to complications that arose from under-qualified practitioners “mismanaging” their moles.
“When you go on to the website or open the glossy mag you dont know what you’re getting,” he said, adding: ”The well-off and the well-connected will be sent to the right people.
Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin described this situation as “absolutely horrendous” and “crazy”.
O’Donnell said she would be very reluctant to perform cosmetic surgery on an 18-year-old, but is aware of situations where people as young as 15 have been offered this service.
She said terms such as “cosmetic doctor” and “cosmetic surgeon” are not officially recognised but are often used by people who do not have any relevant qualifications.
During the discussion, the committee was informed that some surgeons fly in to Ireland to carry out procedures before flying to their home country – leaving little recrouse for patients if something goes wrong.
Lessons from the PIP scandal
O’Donnell noted that countries such as France and Denmark brought in new legislation that cosmetic surgery can only be carried out by fully-qualified professionals following the PIP scandal where thousands of women were given faulty breast implants.
She wants similar measures to be introduced here and is calling for an umbrella body to regulate plastic surgery in Ireland, as well as the setting up of a register of fully-qualified surgeons.
At present, there is one plastic surgeon per 225,000 people in Ireland – compared to one per 100,000 or less in the UK. O’Donnell noted that new legislation which requires all medical practitioners to have insurance will help protect patients but won’t deal with several other issues in the industry.
The Committee agreed to send documents prepared by the interviewees at today’s session to Health Minister Leo Varadkar as a matter or urgency.
Advertising
O’Donnell said certain advertisements manipulate people and target vulnerable customers by offering two-for-one deals and other discount offers.
Siobhan Kelly, CEO of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists, noted that many patients are more influenced by price that the qualification of the person carrying out the procedure. The Advertising Authority of Ireland is currently reviewing guidelines for relevant advertising.
On the subject of facelifts, O’Donnell said many centres are offering non-surgical facelifts with “a catchy name to capture the attention of the public” but no proof they actually work. She described one particular procedure where blood is removed from another part of the body and injected into the face to make the skin look more youthful. It’s known as the ’Dracula Facelift’.
She said that while botox should only be administered by a medical professional this doesn’t always happen.
Senator John Crown, who put the issue on the Committee’s agenda, said there is often “a tendency to trivialise” certain cosmetic procedures, but said many surgeons do “unbelievably heroic work” in terms of re-constructive surgery and burns.
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Trampolines are having a ball playing musical gardens too.
Isn’t it about time that power lines were buried ?
Why so they can pose more of a threat to farmers and construction workers?
Best kept in plain sight.
More killed by overhead cables Jennie.
Where did you hear that Mark?
Because almost all our medium to high voltage lines are overhead so naturally this poses more of a risk. But we have far more cable strikes from underground cables than from overhead cables. Irish water workers for example tend to have 300 to 400 cable strikes a month, all underground.
And just how many deaths came from those 300 to 400 cable strikes a month Keane? Thank you.
You missed the point Mark. The deaths will come if you star sticking the high voltage lines underground. Even the Dutch who pretty much have 100% low to medium voltage lines underground, will not put high voltage lines underground.
Great idea, only cost about a few billion, maybe we could levy the consumers.
It costs too much to put cables underground. Overhead are easier to maintain. The odd downed power line is a easier price to pay than ducting the whole country.
Did you consider the unbelievable cost of burying all such cables? C’mon!!
“Our whole wall fell down..” Well im not surprised since you effectively fixed a timber sail to it from what I can see in the photo.
Very windy in Donegal my house moved a yard last night!
My house took in the front lawn.
Was in meath yesterday and two enormous trees fell on the road in front of the car only missed us by a couple of feet. Scary
I don’t think were in Kansas anymore Toto.
And wheelie bins!
Our wheelie bins were like a couple of R2D2′s last night…being blown around aimlessly
Well batten down the hatches cause it aint over.
To the driver of the jeep on m9 dublin carlow yesterday for making shit of my car when your plastic material flew out including ratchet straps , my bumper grills spot lights and drivers light (€1600) also 2 other cars damaged, you pulled over down the motorway realised what you done jumped back in and sped off , shame on you, we could have been killed, and it’s me that has to somehow pay for this for your thickness
That is honestly disgusting that they didn’t take responsibility for their crap.
Turn on the washing machines
There’s great drying out !!
That’s because none are underground.
So obviously yes more are killed by overhead cables.
If they’re underground you’ll all be giving out that they’ll limit what you can do with your land too much. Ie building works etc.
And if something goes wrong it’ll be a much bigger job to fix. Digging up cable to try and find the break. Relaying the whole length. Etc
I think if you look, most cities and towns, and certainly all newer developments, have now buried the cables. This has led to far less disruption and far fewer deaths. It isn’t that difficult to map where power lines are buried.
As an aside, overhead cables are an unsightly blight on our landscape.
*to sorry
Also it’ll do a huge amount of damage to the landscape and the environment laying them underground in the first place….
Out of sight, Out of mind isn’t always the best policy
Everyone starts juicing and detoxing after new years: giant uptake in wind speeds. Coincidence? I think not.
Kevin Hunt really exposing some shoddy workmanship on that wall. It’s only a bit of wind.
Well I didn’t build the wall?! and the neighbors had the fence not us
And tell your neighbour it’s time to put the crimbo decorations away.
I didn’t say you, Kev. I said you exposed shoddy workmanship.
Oh sorry haha, Ye I guess so!
Snow in Fermangh. Not settling but great to look at
Bit of snow here in Cavan, just enough to lightly dust an annoyed cat.
Thankfully we escaped it in cork but was quite windy for a time but it blew itself out late last night
#JeSuisKevinHunt
There was a might wind in co Louth after that hot curry last night
“Mighty”
Our trampoline hasntlufted a finger yet! youd think it would have blown to the next county with these winds lol!
Go home snowman, you are drunk.
That’s the problem with Irish water not obeying safety legislation when digging holes in footpaths
It depends alot on the machine driver. I work with one who could stir your tea with a 13 Tonne machine. I’ve worked with other lads you wouldn’t trust digging a hole with a teaspoon.
Short hairy and fat. Perfectly adapted for this weather. Form an orderly que ladies.
If the night of the big wind happened in 1839 (6th Jan) then if it happened again with global warming, what would we do?
have your say