Warning over hasty surgery
Young women are signing up for radical cosmetic surgery as if it is a retail purchase like buying a hat, doctors warn.
Perth plastic surgeon Mark Lee said he was worried that some people, including women in their 20s, were making hasty decisions about cosmetic surgery without doing their homework and for the wrong reasons.
He said some of the promotions for surgical procedures were similar to "used car salesman tactics" by trying to get people to sign up on the spot.
The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons wants the Medical Board to double the cooling off period for people who sign up for cosmetic surgery, arguing it gives them time to speak to others and check the credentials of the surgeon.
Since 2011, the society's code of conduct has included a 10 day cooling off period.
The board's draft recommendations on cosmetic surgery regulations call for a seven day cooling off period but the society believes it is not long enough and should be a minimum 14 days.
Dr Lee said cosmetic surgery was often regarded as a retail decision that did not take into account its medical significance.
"When you're having an operation there are risks and people need to realise it's a major decision about their health, yet a totally elective procedure," he said.
"People need to do their homework a bit more and make sure they're having their surgery in a properly accredited hospital with an accredited anaesthetist.
"They also need to think why they're having the surgery and what their anticipated results are because it's not like buying a hat off a rack and knowing what you're getting.
"Often there are a range of potential outcomes that people are not properly warned about."
Dr Lee said sometimes people had unrealistic expectations about how it would change their life and even after they decided to have surgery, having extra time to think about it could help them avoid costly disappointments.
