The news that the medical council in New Zealand has banned before and after images in cosmetic surgery adverts has caused quite a stir.
The council in question is rightly keen that cosmetic surgery is not overly glamorised, but plastic surgery experts argue that the images can play a key role in helping patients make informed decisions.
So what is the truth?
Cosmetic surgery experts at Why Go Abroad reckon it’s somewhere in between.
“The council is clearly trying to be responsible and it’s absolutely true that no-one should ever feel pressured or tricked into surgery,” said a spokesman.
“However, the truth is that patients want to see what the outcome of a procedure could be. If a woman is thinking of a breast enlargement, she wants to know how it could look so she can visualise the difference to her. Similarly, if a man is considering a hair transplant or male breast reduction surgery, a before and after picture could make all the difference.
“The risk with banning real-life pictures of former patients is that some providers might use artificial images, which is not the way to go.”
Why Go Abroad uses only General Medical Council-certified surgeons to ensure that patients’ wellbeing is always the top priority.
For more information or for cosmetic surgery prices, visit Why Go Abroad.
