Lack of specialists, drawback to cosmetics industry - Health official

by Carol Aloysius

The lack of proper job descriptions and a list of specialists in the field are a major problem for the cosmetic industry, a health official said.

Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Ragama Teaching Hospital, Dr Kolitha Karunadasa told the Sunday Observer, there are many grey areas in the existing laws and medical ordinances with regard to the description and boundaries of the practice that a registered health professional can perform."

While there were laws to register and regulate medical drugs and cosmetics, "the rules and regulations to monitor the practices and actual use of drugs and cosmetics need to be strengthened. Else there will be a catastrophe similar to the recent death of a lady doctor after visiting a cosmetic clinic", he said. Although advertising beauty products was unethical and unlawful, some beauty surgeons used the print and electronic media to publicise their products. The public should be vigilant of misleading information", he said.

Those resorting to cosmetic surgery should do so only after a thorough understanding of the procedure and doctors should select areas of the body for such surgery only after a careful analysis of the client's medical history. Beware of products claiming to make you lean and fair.

There are no such products. Beauty lies in one's individual features and proportions along with healthy lifestyles", he said.

At present there are only 13 Board Certified specialist Plastic surgeons working in State hospitals.