Which Doctor for Cosmetic Surgery?

Faced with the excessive diversity of types of doctors ‘interested’ in aesthetics, Belgium is one of the few countries to have defined the competences of each (see Tilmans Law 2014).

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In summary: 

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Plastic surgeons can do everything.

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Dermatologists can do everything except a few plastic surgery procedures that are normally reserved for surgeons:

blepharoplasty,

major liposuction,

breast implant surgery, etc. 

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General practitioners can perform cosmetic procedures provided they have undergone special training and practise exclusively in the field of aesthetics (no longer practising general medicine). 

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Specialist doctors, other than dermatologists and plastic surgeons, can only perform cosmetic procedures on THEIR organ. Examples: a gynaecologist cannot inject botulinum toxin, an ENT specialist can perform nose jobs.

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All this seems perfectly logical! 

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However, the law is incomplete: it does not set any limits on beauticians and the many NON-medical ‘cosmetic centres’ (insist on seeing a doctor and ask for their INAMI number).

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They should not be allowed to use very powerful and potentially dangerous equipment such as :

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flash lamps 

radio frequencies 

cryolipolysis 

diode lasers 

peels other than ‘scrubs’ ​

 

It is in this sector of non-medical practitioners that the most abuse and accidents are observed. Patients are NOT WELL PROTECTED during these procedures and accidents are far from rare.