The Star 16062013 Doc: Cost to repair botched cosmetic ops could be much more

PETALING JAYA: Operations to repair cosmetic surgeries often cost four times more than the botched operation.

For example, a mastectomy to remove a damaged breast and saline implants to reshape it can cost at least RM40,000, said Dr Selvaraj Y Subramaniam, the president of Society for Anti-Aging, Aesthetic and Regenerative Medicine Malaysia.

He said victims had paid more than RM6,000 for botched boob jobs and more than RM4,000 for work on their faces.

He said most cases of failed cosmetic procedures were facial, breast and penile enlargement.

Dr Selvaraj said in such cases, silicone or other substances were injected directly into the body by unqualified people.

The substances disfigure patients over time as they move about in the body.

Numerous cases of botched cosmetic surgeries done in beauty salons, hotel rooms and even homes, had been reported over the years.

Although the Health Ministry had been cracking down on such procedures they were still being performed in beauty salons.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said on Friday that beauticians were not allowed to perform procedures invasive or otherwise that were specified to be undertaken by registered medical practitioners.

Malaysian Society of Aesthetic Medicine president Dr Chin Shih Choonsaid that the most common complications received from patients who suffered from botched cosmetic procedures were chemical burns from acid or untrained laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) use.

Dr Chin said that if the patients were lucky, they could be treated but might need prolonged treatment costing a lot of money.

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Registry on Practitioners of Aesthetic

Health Ministry: National registry for aesthetic medical practitioners to be set up:

SEREMBAN: A national registry on doctors and specialists in aesthetic medicine will be set up to curb allegations of disfigurements or deaths arising from aesthetic procedures performed by incompetent medical and non-medical practitioners.

Medical and surgical specialists will be required to possess a higher qualification and be properly trained in their respective fields before they can have their names included in the National Registry of Registered Medical Practitioners Practising Aesthetic Medical Practice.

These are among new provisions introduced by the Health Ministry in a move to regulate the industry following a significant increase in the number of doctors engaging in this practice.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the main objective of the registry was to ensure the safety of aesthetic medical practice in Malaysia.

“In recent years, aesthetic medical practice has gained popularity and as it is a consumer-driven service, the public needs to be protected.

“Aesthetic medical practice is not risk-free as many may perceive. In the pursuit of trying to satisfy the aesthetic desires of patients, practitioners need to be aware of the health risks and potential complications,” he said in the foreword of the just-released Guidelines on Aesthetic Medical Practice for Registered Medical Practitioners on Tuesday.

Aesthetic medicine procedures range from botox injections, hyaluronic acid injections (to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis), laser hair removal, micro-dermabrasion (anti-ageing treatment) and chemical peels (to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin) to breast augmentation, liposuction, facelift and rhinoplasty.

Malaysian Society of Aesthetic Medicine president Dr Chin Shih Choonsaid the registry would help the people to verify the credentials of the said doctor before they decide to undergo any procedure.

“Once the registry is up, the people will be able to distinguish between a trained doctor in aesthetic medicine and a fly-by-night operator,” he said.

The national registry will have three chapters for general practitioners, medical specialists and surgical specialists.

These guidelines would define the scope of practice allowed, the minimum level of competency required and the process of registration for medical practitioners, said Dr Noor Hisham.

The ministry sought expert opinions from various stakeholders including professional bodies, universities and doctors over several years before coming up with the guidelines on aesthetic medical practice for general practitioners, medical and surgical specialists.

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