Women warned of shonky cosmetic procedures in new government advertising blitz
A NEW consumer advertising blitz warning women not to be conned into “botched beauty treatments” is being launched by the State Government amid concerns about dangerous treatments.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
PEOPLE are being warned not to fall prey to botched beauty treatments as part of a hard-hitting new advertising blitz.
The confronting campaign — under the slogan “Thinking of a makeover? Think it over!” — comes amid heightened concerns over the large number of shoddy procedures that have resulted in disfigurements and even deaths.
The state government drive is urging people to do their research before going under the knife and warns about being wary of high-pressure “bullying” sales pitches from unscrupulous operators, unrealistic photos of results as well as the side-effects of “contaminated toxic chemicals”.
A parliamentary inquiry has begun hearings into the cosmetic surgery industry after a series of investigations by The Saturday Telegraph into shoddy practices and the death of Jean Huang in Chippendale last year during a breast filler “injectable” procedure.
Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said Fair Trading received 287 complaints about beauty services in 2017 alone, with almost half relating to defective or unsatisfactory procedures.
“It’s not good enough when shady beauticians perform botched procedures on people who think they are being treated by reputable operators,” Mr Kean said.
“This education campaign will warn people of the risks and potential consequences that can come from reckless operators.”
MORE STORIES
WIGGLES COUPLE EMMA AND LACHLAN SPLIT UP
7-ELEVEN AXE ATTACKER GUILTY OF ATTEMPTED MURDER
In 2016 there were more than 43,000 anti-wrinkle injections, 15,000 laser hair removal procedures and 11,000 chemical peels performed across Australia, Mr Kean said.
“That same year, the Australian Consumer Survey reported 7 per cent of consumers had experienced a problem with a beauty service in the previous two years,” he said.
But inquiry member and Port Stephens MP Kate Washington questioned the campaign’s approach, saying while there was a “dire need” for consumer information, cosmetic blunders were also “very much a serious health issue”.
“It (is) very much playing into that kind of … McDonald’s style … aspect of medical services sector where we are talking about costs,” she said.
“Rather than, ‘you could be really harmed in these procedures’.”