Women and Equalities Committee
Wednesday 9th September 2026
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14:28
Speaker 1
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Speaker 1
The high street by unqualified practitioners. And unfortunately, those risks have now escalated to a point where I don't think anybody could have imagined whereby you have laypeople performing plastic surgery procedures involving scalpels and vast quantities of anesthetic in people's living rooms and on dingy salons on the high street, whereby they're operating, they're performing facelifts, blepharoplasties, intimate procedures, liposuction, all without consequence.
14:28
Rebecca Paul
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Rebecca Paul
Sadly it does. I would have to agree with Ashton. We had this conversation about the potential consequences at the inquiry. And over the last year we have we've had it brought to our attention several times about plastic surgery procedures being performed, as Ashton says, in private homes and beauty salons, with the practitioner of of unknown origin, let's say, in terms of being able to where qualifications are being able to track her down. There's one particular person, but there have been a few copycat instances as well.
So sadly, we are no further forward and probably a little bit backwards.
So sadly, we are no further forward and probably a little bit backwards.
14:29
14:29
Rebecca Paul
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Rebecca Paul
I think it has helped raise awareness of the issue. I know we have been talking about it for a long time, but this inquiry did reach the media and did reach all the professional groups and into the awareness of people. But unfortunately, the people who are not bothered about regulation are also are not bothered by the pace of action and anticipate a slow pace of action. So I don't think it has prevented it has raised awareness, but I don't think it has been enough to prevent what's going on.
I think there are very few who've actually shut their doors.
I think there are very few who've actually shut their doors.
14:30
14:30
Speaker 1
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Speaker 1
Well, fortunately in, in some ways, yes, they have. So our campaign work on Alyssa's law, which was to prevent liquid bbls being carried out on the high street by laypeople, essentially, that has seen a huge success in as much as we were at the height of its popularity, sort of late 2023. Throughout 2025, we were averaging about 6 to 9 complaints every week about these procedures, and that's now fallen to about six complaints per month, which is a is a dramatic decrease.
But like I said, unfortunately, these practitioners are now pushing the boundaries even further and they are now wielding scalpels. And so the risk profile in terms of these treatments is now escalating. And that needs to be nipped in the bud as a priority.
But like I said, unfortunately, these practitioners are now pushing the boundaries even further and they are now wielding scalpels. And so the risk profile in terms of these treatments is now escalating. And that needs to be nipped in the bud as a priority.
14:30
Kevin McKenna
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Kevin McKenna
And from your point of view, what with this gap now between government announcements and the actual not even the intervention, but the, the, the consultation and the implementation of any changes that gap widening, what impact do you feel that's had on public confidence, particularly in the regulatory system as a whole?
14:31
Speaker 1
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Speaker 1
Yeah, I think, you know, it's very damaging to public confidence. I think, you know, people deserve to be protected from these rogue operators and unfortunately, protecting from themselves as well, because because of social media and things like that, the trivialisation of these treatments has become hugely, you know, insignificant. People don't always appreciate that these are high risk medical interventions. And so when they see these cheap deals being advertised on places like TikTok, they think that they're going to be in safe hands.
And it's only when they arrive and they realise it's a home, but by which point they've already paid their money and committed to having the treatment so they don't back out. And so I think people don't appreciate the risks they're getting into. And the government is responsible in part for that, for not taking action sooner.
And it's only when they arrive and they realise it's a home, but by which point they've already paid their money and committed to having the treatment so they don't back out. And so I think people don't appreciate the risks they're getting into. And the government is responsible in part for that, for not taking action sooner.
14:32
Kevin McKenna
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Kevin McKenna
And there are obviously, as a surgeon, you're, you know, you're fully registered and compliant and have many, many regulatory responsibilities and oversight. I mean, from your point of view, how do you what do you feel as a as a professional? The impact of this is on, on the public perception of the regulatory system.
14:32
Rebecca Paul
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Rebecca Paul
It's very damaging because it seems like the regulatory system doesn't matter. Our only applies to some people, but not others, and that if you don't comply, there is no consequence. And that reduces confidence overall. And you are right. I'm on a GMC register. I have to have a certain amount of medical indemnity. I have to go through appraisal and revalidation. I have gone through the College of Surgeons Cosmetic Surgery Certification scheme, but that doesn't stop others who have done none of that from from putting themselves forward as cosmetic surgeons and the general public find it very difficult to distinguish between the different layers of who's calling themselves a cosmetic surgeon and versus who actually is and who's a plastic, who's actually a plastic surgeon, who's just someone calling them themselves a cosmetic surgeon who may not even be a surgeon, never mind a cosmetic surgeon.
It undermines public confidence and it confuses people.
It undermines public confidence and it confuses people.
14:33
14:33
14:33
Speaker 1
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Speaker 1
Yeah, in the vast majority of cases. And, you know, because they can and I'm very mindful of as much as public awareness helps people avoid falling into unsafe hands, it does have unintended consequences. And it has, I think, reached people who are unscrupulous and now are aware that it is not illegal for you to pick up a scalpel and operate on somebody or to perform a liquid bbl. And when you find out how much money there is to be made and how many procedures you can do in a week or a month, you know, that is very appealing to these unscrupulous people.
14:34
14:34
14:34
14:34
Speaker 1
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Speaker 1
extremely prevalent. I mean, to date, we've helped over 1200 women who have had either liquid bbl or liquid breast augmentation complications. Over 50% of those women have had sepsis have been hospitalised. A further 40% of those have needed extensive corrective surgery, ongoing district nurse care. And I can't stress strongly enough how much of an impact that's had on their lives. And more recently, we've seen women who have had blepharoplasties being carried out in people's living rooms who cannot close their eyes.
They have to tape their eyes closed to go to sleep. And so, you know, that is a permanent complication that they'll be left with for life.
They have to tape their eyes closed to go to sleep. And so, you know, that is a permanent complication that they'll be left with for life.
14:34
14:34
14:35
14:35
Rebecca Paul
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Rebecca Paul
I think Ashton has summarised the position, but I think we hear the high profile cases like the like, you know, the recent inquest that BBL, the liquid BBL death and so on. But there are numerous others who are going around with life changing complications, complications that have needed surgical treatment and months of dressings, months taken out of their lives. You know, it's not it impacts every aspect. They can't get back to work. They can't.
It's not just affecting their appearance. And we have numerous others going around with just honestly poorly done, not a poorly done treatments. And it really, it really, really is, is so prevalent that if you walk down any
It's not just affecting their appearance. And we have numerous others going around with just honestly poorly done, not a poorly done treatments. And it really, it really, really is, is so prevalent that if you walk down any