Call Yourself a Surgeon? The use of the title surgeon among non-surgical cosmetic practitioners in the United Kingdom.

Abstract

Background: The global growth in cosmetic procedures has generated ongoing debate around what constitutes a medical procedure. Non-surgical procedures account for the majority of all cosmetic treatments performed, however in many jurisdictions, regulatory frameworks have not kept pace. In the United Kingdom, the term surgeon has partial protection in law in a medical context, being restricted to medical doctors registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). UK law thus permits all medically qualified doctors to call themselves surgeons. This sets up a conflict with multiple Codes of Conduct and Regulatory guidance documents, which set out clear definitions of what constitutes a surgeon.

Methods: We conducted a review of a public database including 350 non-surgical aesthetics doctors, identifying, practitioners presenting as surgeons. Information was checked against the GMC register, and guidance form Advertising Standards Authority Guidance and the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Results: We found that 62 % of practitioners presenting as surgeons did not meet the identified criteria in regulatory guidance. These consisted in practising surgeons without specialist registration (equivalent to board certification), hair restoration surgery practitioners, and practitioners solely offering non-surgical treatments.

Discussion: Collaborative dialogue across surgical and medical aesthetics sectors is needed to agree accepted terminology in medical and surgical aesthetics practice. This is crucial to both empower patient choice and to allow aesthetics practitioners to meaningfully convey their previous experience and training, which may have been in a surgical setting. Doctors who have not undertaken surgical training should avoid terminology that could confuse patients.