Illegal Cosmetic Surgery Is An International Issue

Cosmetic surgery continues to be performed on millions of people in the United States each year with board-certified doctors helping patients achieve the changes and results they desire. The art of cosmetic surgery is also popular in other countries and, unfortunately, so is the practice of illegal surgical procedures performed on patients. In Australia, health officials are investigating reported cases of patients being injected with Botox that was illegally imported and then injected in venues other than medical offices.

The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (also known as the HCCC) has been investigating a growing number of complaints about procedures as varied as Botox injections, protein suture facelifts and rhinoplasty. All of these cosmetic surgery choices were advertised through social media to gain the attention of patients. An example of a complaint the HCCC investigated includes a woman who had a double eyelid suture performed in the apartment of the person doing the procedure. The residential apartment surgery left the patient with scarring, bruising and eyelid damage. Further investigations showed that the person who performed the surgery was not a registered medical professional in Australia and was not legally allowed, or qualified, to perform the surgery. Further investigation of the surgery site showed numerous medications that were prescription-only and also imported illegally into the country. Some of the illegally imported medications included dermal fillers and Botox. The Botox and dermal fillers were not listed on the ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods).

Authorities have also investigated claims of illegal cosmetic procedures being performed in other Australian cities including Melbourne. Authorities urge anyone with information or suspicions about the performance of illegal cosmetic surgery to contact the HCCC immediately. They also advise patients to exercise caution and do proper research before allowing anyone to perform surgery on their body.

Whether a patient is in Australia, the United States or any other location, medical care and surgical treatment needs to be administered by a licensed and board-certified doctor. A licensed doctor has been trained to uphold the highest medical standards and give proper care to patients. While saving money on hospital fees and other surgical costs might seem like a good idea to a person on a budget, the risks far outweigh the advantages of paying less money for surgery. Having cosmetic surgery performed by an unlicensed person means that the patient has little to no legal options if something goes wrong during, or after, the surgery. Patients need to consider all of their options and decide if paying a cheaper price is worth all of the potential problems that may result from surgery performed by an unlicensed person.

- MA