We heard recently about the death of a beauty therapist in Sydney who died after receiving a lethal dose of anaesthetic during the intent to inject filler into her breast. The cosmetic industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, but local doctors are concerned that procedures carried out by unlicensed practitioners can have dire consequences. Local doctors are particularly concerned about those who are unlicensed carrying out procedures. Dr Glenn Murray is an Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery Medical Fellow and says it’s vital that any such procedures are carried out under the supervision of properly trained doctors.
Who are the people conducting these surgeries, where are they from?
It’s not just surgical procedures; injectables are also a concern. We’re increasingly hearing reports about doctors or nurses who fly in and out, as well as individuals without medical training, offering these services. With the rise of affordable airfares, this trend is becoming more prevalent, raising questions about the qualifications and backgrounds of those administering these treatments.
They are coming because there is a demand for their services and are they able to undercut the considerable expense of having these kinds of procedures done locally?
That’s a very good point, I think they do under cut but not always. Often, the salon, etc., is getting a kickback. I noticed a spike when the Australian dollar was high, and we were hearing stories of people being lined up in a room and having a Doctor or whoever jabbing them in the forehead- one after the other.
Have you noticed it significantly in Western Australia?
While the situation may not be as severe as in Sydney, where there are reports of individuals undergoing cosmetic surgery in hotel rooms, we are witnessing a concerning increase in similar practices here. Many people treat wrinkle relaxers and dermal fillers with a level of casualness that can be dangerous. A notable incident in Sydney involved a tragic outcome where a patient believed she was receiving a breast augmentation, but it turned out to be a filler injection. The sedation and local anaesthetic administered during the procedure ultimately led to her death. When procedures are performed by untrained individuals, the risks can escalate significantly, and unfortunately, we have seen such disasters occur.
When you talk about Relaxers and filler being taken too lightly, what do you mean by that?
I think the problem is you can see it on “Scoopon”, etc, and the medical board frowns upon that. When people see it on “Scoopon” right above a beauty salon they think it’s something like waxing, it’s not. It’s an S4 medication, and it does take skill to inject. At a recent conference I went to, there was a big discussion about people going blind after fillers. It’s like being on a jumbo jet. If you are with a good pilot, on average, you have a very low risk of anything going wrong. But if you’re on a jumbo jet and the person flying has no qualifications, a disaster will happen.
Do you think that for people who go in for relaxers and fillers, there is too much in the industry of people offering those services that are not telling them that expertise is required and consequence?
I agree. It does flabbergast me. The consequences are mentioned everywhere. I had a lady come to me just this morning, and she said, “I had this done, I have lumps, I don’t know what I had, I don’t know who did the procedure, and it was done at a friend’s house”. We hear stories of people having dermal fillers, etc., performed in a garage or laundry, and they know they have been foolish when it goes wrong. I think not enough is being done to educate people as these are medications and are regulated by the government. You are supposed to be a licenced practitioner to use them. It’s not like getting your legs waxed.
Please do your homework when booking in for a cosmetic procedure, surgical or non-surgical. We are well-known for warning people about the risks of going overseas for surgery, but there are also risks associated with going to an underqualified practitioner in Australia.