By Plastic Surgeon Dr Dirk Kremer. 

The debate over whether cosmetic surgery should have a place within the NHS has come under increased media scrutiny as of late, with stories of dramatic procedures being funded by taxpayers' money becoming more and more prevalent in media news reports. 

There has been a strong response to these stories; whilst many believe that those undergoing ‘unnecessary’ surgery are at fault for manipulating the system, others feel that the issue lies with the NHS itself for allowing these procedures to take place at all.

For the British public, the examples of the aspiring model who received breast implants to pursue a career in glamour modelling, and the Birmingham barman who underwent a £5,000 NHS-funded rhinoplasty procedure by ‘pretending to cry’ in front of his GP, have painted the National Health Service in a damaging light. As a result, there remains a debate as to whether the NHS, which was recently declared the best healthcare system in the world by a panel of experts, should be the place to undergo cosmetic procedures, or whether aesthetic surgery should be the preserve of private clinics.

UK Health Secretary reacts to criticism

In response to the negative coverage of these stories, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt recently expressed a strong opposition to cosmetic surgery funded by the NHS at a press lunch. He stated:

"We should not be doing cosmetic work on the NHS […] The decisions are taken on the basis of clinical need, but I have made it very clear that I am against purely cosmetic work being done.”

Hunt’s comments have been well-received by supporters who feel cosmetic procedures should only be privately-funded but many have criticised him for brushing over the complex subject of aesthetic surgery. Detractors believe that Hunt is failing to account for the fact that, given the importance of looks in today’s society, an unhappiness with our appearance can lead to deep psychological or social issues and cosmetic surgery provides a potential solution.

Cosmetic surgery is a mentally transformative procedure

The place of plastic surgery within the NHS is indeed a controversial issue, and people both for and against it contribute equally valid opinions. It could be argued that every patient undergoing a costly aesthetic procedure on the NHS is taking time and money from someone with a more pressing condition, an argument strengthened by the way in which both the barman and the aspiring model aforementioned smugly revealed their story to the media, appearing boastful that they had tricked a system put in place to help others to receive some of the fame they were after.

There are also numerous cases of cosmetic surgery such as facial reconstruction or face transplants after severe burns or car accidents, that may require facelift procedures or other extensive surgery options that are unavailable from a private clinic, and can hardly be considered ‘purely cosmetic’. Giving someone a normal life back after they’ve experienced severe trauma is definitely worth it, and plastic surgery is not always a luxury but is sometimes a real necessity. Even without having undergone a trauma, your appearance may be painful to you, and in this case, cosmetic surgery really can have life-changing benefits on mental health. This is why I feel those greatly affected by issues with their looks should always be allowed to speak to a qualified professional, and explore both surgical and non-surgical options available to ease their trouble.

Because of reports on people abusing the system, it becomes difficult to lend a sympathetic ear to stories of people’s mental well-being being transformed as a direct result of cosmetic treatments, especially on the NHS. However, while I cannot condone people who play the system to have the NHS foot the bill, I think that dismissing aesthetic surgery as something that only enhances someone’s physical appearance and not taking into account the fact that it can be a transformative, confidence-building experience is unfortunate, and plays into the belief that a person’s mental state is of lesser importance than their physical health.

I strongly believe in the idea that plastic surgery should accentuate a person’s natural beauty rather than change it entirely. As a qualified professional surgeon, I pride myself upon maintaining a personal approach with each and every one of my patients and providing an in-depth consultation to ensure cosmetic surgery is a suitable option before agreeing to a procedure.

If you are considering plastic surgery and would like some advice, please feel free to contact Harley Street Aesthetics to arrange a consultation.