Models Direct were pleased to hear about reviews to the Royal College of Surgeons code of practice this week. The changes are aimed at medical professionals and are being put in place to protect the consumer, which is always a good thing in our eyes.

There has been a proposed ban on ‘Botox parties’ and representatives of the RCS have stated that only trained nurses, dentists and doctors should be allowed to perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections.

RCS president Professor Norman Williams is quoted in a BBC report as saying: “While the colleges and professional organisations involved in cosmetic practice are neither regulators nor legislators, the profession has a responsibility to provide standards to which we would expect our members to work.

“We have serious concerns that not all those who offer cosmetic procedures are adequately qualified, or that patients are getting accurate information prior to treatment. We hope these standards will feed into the ongoing review of the industry led by the NHS medical director, Sir Bruce Keogh, and improve quality of care for patients going forward.”

It has also been suggested that those providing cosmetic treatments should change their use of language to state fact around likely results only, as apposed to promises about looking ‘nicer’ or ‘better’. Another suggestion is that those planning to go ahead with a cosmetic procedure should be psychologically assessed prior to the event.

Meanwhile glamour model Alicia Douvall – who is well-known for her extensive cosmetic surgery – said in a recent BBC interview that she felt plastic surgeons have “turned into car salesmen” and that she had been “convinced” into surgery with persuasive language and pressure from people that she viewed as trustworthy professionals.

Bloggers at Models Direct think she has a point. Those in a position of relative authority regarding advice on cosmetic surgery should be thoroughly vetted and persuasive language should be avoided, particularly when speaking to someone who could possibly be struggling with self-esteem issues. How many of us have gone through phases of disliking a characteristic of our face or body, only to get over it in time and gain a different perspective? It’s certainly not rare among young women, who may be especially vulnerable as a result of media driven pressures, among other factors.

If you have considered a cosmetic procedure we urge you to think very carefully and seek professional advice before going ahead. The chances are that you’ll change your mind.