The aggressive marketing of cosmetic & plastic surgery

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We are fast approaching the Parliamentary review, which is scheduled for publication in March 2013. This brings to light many previous scandals of the cosmetic industry, one of which was the PIP breast implant scandal, which left over 40,000 women in the UK, with faulty breast implants.

Breast augmentation

Plastic surgery

Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi explains that it is not just the public and governmental figures that are calling for these regulations, but at the London Medical and Aesthetic clinic, we are in full support of the recommended guidelines and policies which have been emphasized by the following list of ideas, which are submitted for review in March:

  • A ban on price-cut and price-driven deals for cosmetic procedures
  • Stringent regulations on aggressive advertising and sales tactics practiced by cosmetic surgery businesses, such as 2 for1 deals, those with a time limit, or offering cosmetic procedures as competition prizes.
  • A 2-stage written consent process for potential patients, allowing them time to reflect before making their final decision regarding plastic surgery procedures
  • Better information for patients about the risks associated with the cosmetic surgery procedures, including photographic evidence of the bruising and scarring following the procedure.
Plastic and cosmetic surgery

Plastic and cosmetic surgery: 

Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi, leading cosmetic surgeon at London Medical and Aesthetic clinic in Harley Street, who is well known nationally and internationally for lecturing to junior and trainee plastic surgeons and cosmetic doctors about how to establish and run a successful aesthetic clinic, states : “ Even though it is quite important for clinics to market their well established and new treatments , this has to be done in a very professional manner and approach which has to be complied with the official body organisations such as the HMRA and Care quality commissions and other government organisations”.

Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi further emphasizes that aggressive marketing for cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery is totally unacceptable and he strongly believes that private clinics and hospitals should definitely avoid using forceful, low standard marketing techniques such as Groupon, where treatments to patients are converted into sale to clients, which is totally unacceptable in any medical practice.

Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi always emphasises in his lectures that Doctors should remain Doctors and never businessmen and patients should remain patients and should never be treated as consumers who are led by the financial benefits rather than the health and medical benefits.

Plastic and cosmetic surgery

Plastic and cosmetic surgery:
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi stressed that all private hospitals and clinics should always have a professional, non-aggressive medical marketing strategy based on offeringtreatments to their patients and not selling treatments, procedures or products to patients.

Vivienne Parry, a review committee member and Science writer, stated that: “Aggressive marketing techniques are often used to maximise profit. This may be the right approach for selling double-glazing but not for people having or considering whether to have surgery. Time limited deals and offers on voucher websites pressure people to make snap decisions.”

Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi stressed that all private hospitals and clinics should always have a professional, non-aggressive medical marketing strategy based on offeringtreatments to their patients and not selling treatments, procedures or products to patients.

Vivienne Parry, a review committee member and Science writer, stated that: “Aggressive marketing techniques are often used to maximise profit. This may be the right approach for selling double-glazing but not for people having or considering whether to have surgery. Time limited deals and offers on voucher websites pressure people to make snap decisions.”

Plastic and cosmetic surgery

Plastic and cosmetic surgery

Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi at The London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic, we are completely in favor of this review, with continuous strict and ethical communication guidelines that we always adhere to out of respect to our patients and to the cosmetic industry. We are outraged by the growing emphasis on price rather than quality for cosmetic procedures.

Even the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has called for a ban on advertising. Its President, Fazel Fatah, says, “In no other area of surgery would one encounter Christmas vouchers and two-for-one offers – the pendulum has swung too far, and it is time for change… The Government is deluded if they think that the commercial sector will exercise self-regulation.”

That is why cosmetic treatments are never discounted at the London Medical Aesthetic Clinic. The London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic prides itself on excellence and together with Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi to continue providing exceptional patient care and leading edge surgical and cosmetic procedures. We are committed in providing the highest standard of care and treatments. 

LMA Clinic