Doc: Cost to repair botched cosmetic ops could be much more

The Star

By SHAUN HO and LOH FOON FONG
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Operations to repair cosmetic surgeries often cost four times more than the botched operation.

For example, a mastectomy to remove a damaged breast and saline implants to reshape it can cost at least RM40,000, said Dr Selvaraj Y Subramaniam, the president of Society for Anti-Aging, Aesthetic and Regenerative Medicine Malaysia.

He said victims had paid more than RM6,000 for botched boob jobs and more than RM4,000 for work on their faces.

He said most cases of failed cosmetic procedures were facial, breast and penile enlargement.

Dr Selvaraj said in such cases, silicone or other substances were injected directly into the body by unqualified people.

The substances disfigure patients over time as they move about in the body.

Numerous cases of botched cosmetic surgeries done in beauty salons, hotel rooms and even homes, had been reported over the years.

Although the Health Ministry had been cracking down on such procedures they were still being performed in beauty salons.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said on Friday that beauticians were not allowed to perform procedures invasive or otherwise that were specified to be undertaken by registered medical practitioners.

Malaysian Society of Aesthetic Medicine president Dr Chin Shih Choonsaid that the most common complications received from patients who suffered from botched cosmetic procedures were chemical burns from acid or untrained laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) use.

Dr Chin said that if the patients were lucky, they could be treated but might need prolonged treatment costing a lot of money.

Getting tough on beauty industry

By DERRICK VINESH
derrickvinesh@thestar.com.my

SUNGAI PETANI: The Health Ministry will step up enforcement against unqualified persons who perform cosmetic procedures.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said he was disappointed that enforcement was rather lax.

He said consumers seeking such treatment should also get better information before undergoing them.

“There is a line between pure ordinary cosmetics and things that border on the realms of medicine.

“When it borders on the latter, then it can only be carried out by qualified doctors and those with the necessary skills,” he said when commenting on yesterday's front page report in The Star.

Dr Subramaniam, who had earlier opened the Asean Dengue Day celebrations at the Inland Revenue Board office here, said a person who performed cosmetic procedures that were deemed medical in nature without any qualification or experience could be taken to court.

“We will definitely make sure that non-qualified persons do not indulge in activities that can endanger patients and do things beyond their scope of expertise.

“They should just confine themselves to supplying creams and washing faces and not do anything that involves surgery,” he said.

Dr Subramaniam said the ministry was quite clear on the matter, adding that it would expedite preparation of the proposed Cosmetics Bill.

On dengue, he said the ministry has introduced an i-Denggi portal to allow the public to access information on cases in real time.

“Those who access the portal will be able to know the exact location of a suspected case.

“This will enable the people, especially those living in the same neighbourhood, to take precautionary steps,” he said adding that the data would be updated regularly.

Currently, people in a neighbourhood only knew that someone in their area was down with dengue fever when Health Department personnel send out notices prior to fogging the place.

Dr Subramaniam also said the ministry would target high-risk dengue areas to step up enforcement and conduct awareness programmes.