PROCEDURES: Cosmetic injections are high on the complaints list. Source: Supplied
A BOOM in cosmetic surgery has left many patients disfigured, with accusations those seeking treatments were not sufficiently cautioned about the risks.
A report tabled in Parliament warned that some patients were left permanently deformed and suffering agonising side effects.
Increasing numbers of patients say they were mutilated and their lives destroyed.
A total of 14 doctors and nurses are under investigation for dozens of allegedly botched procedures dating back to 2006.
The shock report by the Health Quality and Complaints Commission said cosmetic surgery in Queensland had left patients with "severe infection, temporary paralysis, blood clots, the need for repeat procedures, (and) significant psychological distress".
And it questioned the training of the doctors and nurses to perform often complex surgeries.
The HQCC listed "major and minor permanent harm" as "significant scarring, leaking and burst breast implants, repeat procedure with further complications, nerve damage, cut muscle/organ, excessive skin removal, and gross deformity".
There were complaints about tummy tucks, face lifts, eye surgeries involving lids and brows, and surgeries to necks, chins, ears and buttocks.
There were complaints about liposuction and varicose vein removals.
Most complaints came from women although there was one complaint of a botched penis enlargement. Mercifully, the report spared us the details.
As if by way of consolation, the report added: "There were no reports of patient deaths."
The Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Cairns were over-represented in the number of complaints, no doubt reflecting the pitiful body-beautiful beach culture enslaving many of the locals.
There were few, if any, complaints in more sensible cities such as Toowoomba, Hervey Bay and Rockhampton.
After reading the report, it is hard not to conclude that Queensland has a serious body image issue.
It is a modern disease that strikes desperate and dateless middle-aged women and men attempting to recapture their lost youth.
And there are girls as young as 12 with such poor self-esteem that they are demanding cosmetic surgery, a psychologist friend says.
There are teenagers requesting dangerous cosmetic procedures with the full knowledge - and approval - of their mothers.
Shamefully, one 16-year-old was offered a breast enlargement as her Christmas present by her mother thrilled with her own boob job.
The risks of surgeries and procedures are grossly understated, according to the report to Parliament.
The HQCC said more than half of the complainants stated they received inadequate or inappropriate treatment, while nearly 40 per cent complained of complications and "unexpected outcomes".
Unexpected outcomes? What were they thinking? Did they expect to walk out of surgery looking like Scarlett Johansson or Tom Cruise?
The report added: "Permanent harm reported in cosmetic surgery complaints was related to breast enhancement (implants and lifts), followed by abdominal surgery, face and neck surgery and breast reduction surgery.
"Permanent harm reported in cosmetic medical procedure complaints was related to laser treatment, followed by cosmetic injections.
"While cosmetic surgical procedures clearly carry greater risks, medical cosmetic procedures also carry risks."
It said "temporary minor harm" included bruising, pain, minor infection, and allergic reactions.
There were also complaints about costs, prompting this warning: "Unlike many other areas of medicine, doctors and nurses practising cosmetic procedures operate in a commercial market where they are seeking financial profit and their patients are seeking procedures as a matter of choice to boost self-esteem or make them feel better about their bodies rather than for medical need to treat trauma or disease.
"The roles of patient and customer are blurred. This blurring can compromise a patient's capacity to identify when the practitioner is their best advocate in ensuring their health needs are met and when the practitioner is a commercial services provider with a vested interest in the procedures and products being considered."
The HQCC looked at 245 complaints about cosmetic surgical and medical procedures.
In all, 82 per cent of cosmetic procedure complaints were about cosmetic surgery and 16 per cent were about cosmetic medical procedures.
"Breast enhancement was the most frequently complained about cosmetic surgical procedure," the report said. "Cosmetic injections and laser treatment were the most frequently complained about cosmetic medical procedures, followed by chemical peels.
"The number of complaints about cosmetic medical procedures more than doubled between 2006 and 2012.
"The most frequently reported concern in complaints about cosmetic procedures was treatment (accounting for 82 per cent of complaints), followed by fees, costs and rebates."
The HQCC said there was various "harm types" identified.
These included "additional surgery or operation required to fix problems, post-procedure complications, such as significant pain and discomfort, bleeding, vomiting, infection, scarring, significant psychological distress or dissatisfaction with outcomes and complications from inadequate follow-up care by the healthcare practitioner".
It said unavoidable harm and surgical complications did occur.
"However, there are times when harm could have been avoided."
And it said advertising for cosmetic procedures "often focuses on the benefits, while 'downplaying' or not always mentioning the risks".
"It is critically important that people thinking about having a cosmetic procedure are made fully aware of any risks and possible complications.
"This information should be available to consumers in advertisements, at the pre-operative counselling stage and as part of post-operative follow-up information and care."
HQCC chief Cheryl Herbert told Parliament the community often perceived cosmetic procedures to be "low risk" when, in fact, they were often complex, required a high degree of skill and had a number of potential risks.
"We analysed cosmetic surgery and medical procedure complaints because consumers generally underestimate the risks associated with such procedures, and there is less regulation and few safeguards compared to other areas of medicine," Herbert said.
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