By Andrea McCallum
VAIN Scots had more cosmetic surgery in 2009 than ever before.
Experts say that many took advantage of cut-price deals in the run-up to Christmas.
But top medical bosses have described the spate of plastic surgery bargains as “madness”
Nigel Mercer, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, said: “Imagine a two-for-one advert for general surgery – that way lies madness.
“All cosmetic treatments are medical interventions, and every medical intervention has a complication and failure rate.”
Britain’s largest plastic surgery chain Transform carried out more than 850 surgical procedures in its Edinburgh and Glasgow clinics last year – up 18 per cent on 2008.
And the company completed 6,835 non surgical treatments – including Botox and lip enhancement – boasting a boost of 43 per cent.
Between November 23 and December 23, 80 surgical and 732 non-surgical treatments were performed – a total increase of 55 per cent compared to 2008.
However, the business was criticised two months ago for offering a £750 discount on any two surgical procedures in December.
Ken Stewart, who runs a private practice at Spire Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh, said: “The vast majority of my profession have very significant concerns about what we see as the trivialisation of significant surgical procedures by those offering financial incentives.”
A high profile example of botched plastic surgery – with devastating consequences – occurred when the wife of Colin Hendry died earlier this year.
Denise Hendry died in July last year after undergoing a tummy tuck in 2002.
The 43-year-old mother-of-four had her bowel pierced nine times by Swedish surgeon Gustaf Aniansson during the procedure – the contents leaked and her stomach was infected.
After 20 operations to repair the damage, she contracted meningitis during further corrective surgery and died from brain damage after 80 days in intensive care.
