Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi has learned that, The government has unveiled plans to hike up VAT on cosmetic surgery, including breast augmentations, facelifts and tummy tucks. This dramatic rise in VAT will have an impact on patients and surgeons alike, as the raise in VAT will mean that the cost of an average breast augmentation will rise by £1,000.
Clearly, the government are still seeking ways in which to plug the deficit and cosmetic surgery is the latest industry to take the hit. George Osbourne has pointed out that there is ‘no reason for aesthetic surgery to be VAT free’ and that the new hike in VAT will raise around £500 million for the treasury.
Plastic surgery:
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi like a lot of other Surgeons have been quick to point out that the new VAT charges will, inevitably be passed to the patients, for some of whom aesthetic surgery is essential to mental and emotional well-being. Also he has stated that many of the patients who visit him in his clinic are at an incredibly vulnerable point in their lives, and while George Osbourne may deem the procedures unnecessary, the reality is that they can have a hugely positive impact on patients’ lives.
Under new rules, patients must be able to demonstrate very clear reasons as to why surgery is medically necessary or for therapeutic reasons to avoid paying VAT. However, concerns have been raised as to the number of hoops that patients will have to jump through to prove that surgery is a necessity for their physical or mental wellbeing.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi has described these differentiations between patients who do and do not pay VAT as ‘an ethical mine field’. The proposal that patients be ‘rubber stamped’ by a psychologist before undergoing treatment has been dismissed by surgeons as ‘unrealistic’, and virtually impossible to regulate sufficiently. Surgeons wonder what levels of breast abnormality will make breast surgery VAT free and who will decide. Questions are also being asked about how consistency of such decisions will be ensured and maintained.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi argues that the wellbeing of his patients is paramount, and that a middle ground must be found which can balance the obvious need to increase tax revenues whilst safe guarding the physical, mental and emotional needs of patients.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi is not the only person to voice concerns, Sky News host Kay Burley, who has had a facelift, has condemned the proposals as ‘an attack on women’. Model Imogen Thomas has also pointed out that George Osbourne seems to be ignoring the degree to which women ‘suffer psychologically if they feel that their bodies are not up to scratch’.
Botox:
Surgeons have also raised concerns that the proposals may be a false economy as women will be driven to seek treatment abroad, where standards are often not as high as in the UK and the cosmetic surgery industry is often largely unregulated.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi In this instance has pointed out that the NHS will be called upon to correct botched operations, which could potentially endanger the lives of patients, as well as placing extra strain on the NHS and costing the government millions.The new VAT proposals are at best going to cause a good many headaches, and at worst will mean that many women will not receive the treatments that they require.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi has pointed out that throughout his lengthy career as a cosmetic surgeon, he has never known two women to give exactly the same reasons for undergoing cosmetic surgery, the only common theme is that it gives women confidence and makes them feel better about themselves, which, arguably means that no cosmetic surgery is for the ‘purely aesthetic reasons’ that HMRC use as justification for the VAT rise.
Breast Augmentation:
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi understands and shares some of the views which agree with VAT issue on cosmetic surgery such as The Only Way Is Essex star Jessica Wright TOWIE’s said:I WANTED my boob job so my breasts would be more in proportion to my body – and I feel much better since I had it done.
I didn’t have particularly low confidence or self esteem before, but having a boob job is something I’ve always wanted and now I feel that I look my best.
Why should I be penalised for that when it hasn’t harmed anyone or even cost anyone else a penny?
I paid the average UK cost for my op, around £4,000, and it didn’t cost the NHS anything.
I pay taxes like anybody else, income tax and national insurance. I’m not a politician but I think taxes in this country are high enough already.
I can see why people say that cosmetic surgery should be subject to the same tax rules as anything else, but women have boob jobs for a whole host of different reasons.
Bullied Some want to alter the shape of their boobs to improve their body image, some may have been bullied at school because of their bust size and want to improve their self-esteem, others may need a boob job following something like breast cancer.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi asked: How can we make a decision on which of these is therapeutic and which isn’t?..The operation means different things to each individual woman.
We also run the risk of penalising women who are less able to afford the operation, because it will suddenly cost an extra £1,000.
I don’t think the extra tax will stop women having a boob job, or any kind of cosmetic surgery.Instead I think more and more people might head abroad for cosmetic surgery if these proposals are brought in, and you hear real horror stories about that.
You can’t be as sure of your surgeon abroad and different countries have different medical standards which are difficult to research in advance.
We’re also in a recession in this country – so why do something like this which will just send business elsewhere?
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi warns that plans to tighten VAT rules on plastic surgery will encourage ‘risky’ surgery holiday deals abroad
it agrees that non-surgical ‘cosmetic’ treatments, such as botox and lasers, which make up nine out of 10 ‘cosmetic procedures’, should attract VAT. However, it warns that bundling surgery, like breast reductions, tummy tucks and children’s bat-ear ops into the same category will produce an “ethical minefield”.
A spokeswoman for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) tells they are “constantly reviewing our guidance in consultation with the relevant trade bodies”, but adds that there are no plans to change the VAT liability of cosmetic services.
Current guidelines from HMRC say that procedures are VAT exempt when “protection, maintenance or restoration” of health are the primary purpose. Procedures that are done for pure cosmetic reasons, though, attract the standard VAT rate.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi says many cosmetic procedures and plastic surgery techniques inhabit a grey area between what is aesthetically desirable and what is purely functional.Also he explains that the image of aesthetic surgery is the film star and the rich and famous pampering themselves. The reality is a long, long way from that. It’s something that a large section of the community do.
He questions whether it is possible to draw a clear line between aesthetic and functional benefits.
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