BAAPS calls for clamp-down on cosmetic surgery 'deals'

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has called for medical regulatory bodies to clamp down on deals for cut-price plastic surgery offered through discount site Groupon.

The popular dailydeals site is today running an offer entitled: "£1,999 Instead of £5,000 for Cosmetic Surgery Such as Breast Augmentation and Rhinoplasty at Birkdale Clinic".

BAAPS objected to the discounting as well as the time sensitive nature of the offer, which displays a countdown clock alongside displaying how long consumers have left to bag themselves the deal.

Consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS president Fazel Fatah said: "Selling surgical procedures without patients being first assessed for suitability is highly unethical and goes against every guideline and recommendation from the General Medical Council and the surgical associations. The BAAPS would like to call upon the Care Quality Commission andother regulatory bodies to investigate how medical procedures can be offered in this way and what quality of care is being provided."

BAAPS asserted that: "The Independent Healthcare authority (IHAS) clearly states: 'advertisements must not offer discounts linked to a deadline date for booking appointments orsurgery or other date-linked incentives'."

Consultant plastic surgeon Adam Searle, former BAAPS president added: "The true tragedy is that within this epidemic of rather tastelessactivity there are going to be patients who experience significant complications and lifelong damage from pursuing ill-planned and ill-thought out operations."