Cosmetic surgery 'everyday product'

The "booming" cosmetic surgery industry has become an "everyday product" because of programmes such as The Only Way is Essex, health officials said.

An independent review into cosmetic procedures has concluded that cosmetic interventions have become "normalised".

The group said there has been a "trivialisation" of procedures - influenced by TV programmes such as Towie, magazines and social media.

Plastic surgeon Simon Withey, who also sat on the review board, said: "Part of the reason there hasn't been a change (following the PIP implant troubles) is because there has been this trivialisation of plastic surgery.

"I do think shows like this (Towie) do contribute towards this trivialisation and that failure to inform the public that there are risks and implications for these things."

NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, who chaired the review, added: "(An) area that is problematic is the trivialisation of cosmetic procedures - TV, magazines, social media, the internet - they all normalise it.

"They have turned cosmetic interventions into an everyday product."

In 2010, people across the UK spent £2.3 billion on cosmetic procedures ranging from Botox to breast implants. Nine in 10 cosmetic procedures are non-surgical treatments such as injectable anti-wrinkle treatments .

But the review board, set up following the PIP breast implant scandal, said they were "surprised" to learn that non-surgical treatments are almost entirely unregulated.

The group said there has been "explosive growth" in the market for dermal filler treatments, which involve injecting a gel-like substance into wrinkle sites. The products, which are also used to plump up lips, should be made prescription only, the review board said.