East Midlands Cosmetic P rocedures Policy Review March-April 2014

1. East Midlands Cosmetic Procedures Policy ReviewMarch-April 2014

2. The public image • Public perceptions of cosmetic surgery have mainly been shaped by images of celebrities and media coverage of private ‘plastic surgery’ to enhance body image. • Less information is in circulation about the cosmetic surgery available to NHS patients.

3. What the policy is for • The East Midland Cosmetic Procedures Policy sets out the region’s approach to the treatments which are only made available when specific criteria are met based on medical need and effectiveness. • The criteria have been drawn up based on clinical evidence and expert opinion. The policy also details the cosmetic procedures that are not normally provided. • All NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups in the East Midlands are now working together to review the 2011 East Midlands Cosmetic Procedures Policy.

4. The need for review • In general, cosmetic procedures have relatively small health benefits compared to many other forms of healthcare • There must be compelling clinical evidence before such procedures can compete for limited NHS funds.

5. Our approach • The review of the current cosmetic policy has been led by colleagues in public health across the region. • The commissioning criteria set in the revised policy have been decided on evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness, local and national guidelines, and clinical expert opinion from local GPs and hospital doctors. • The starting point of the review was ‘no change unless • compelling evidence of clinical effectiveness was available’. • The policy retains a single policy for adults and children with • age limits only being applied when clinically appropriate.

6. The proposed changes • The changes are not extensive and mainly affect the • eligibility criteria for treatment associated with: • the nose • earlobes • both male and female genitals • male and female breasts • hair transplant to correct baldness will not be routinely available on the NHS.

7. Earlobes • The proposed policy says that a patient will only be allowed • to have an earlobe repaired if it was completely torn. This • may be due toinjury, for instance. This procedure will not be • funded if there is only apartial split or tear of the lobe or if • the lobe has elongatedholes due to deliberate piecing. • The key change to policy isthat this procedure is only • available if it was completely torn.

8. Genitals • Women: • Guidance from the Royal College of Gynaecology concluded • there was little physical and psychological benefit to the • patient in vaginal labia repair. Therefore we will continue to • not routinely commission this procedure. The policy • rewording clarifies that this includes hymen ‘repair’. • Men: • Surgerymay be performed to correct congenital defects with • male genitals. The key change to the policy is that the • surgery will only be routinely funded following cancer, injury, • and small number of specified conditions.

9. Removal of breast implants • Breast implants may need to be removed if they rupture or • cause breast disease, repeated infections, severe pain or • they interfere with breast x-rays. The proposed policy says • breast implants will only be removed from patients who have • undergone cosmetic surgery, either on the NHS or privately, • if they have any of the following: • breast disease • implants causing repeated infections • implants associated with severe pain • implants that interferes with breast x-rays • rupture of silicon gel-filled implants.

10. Removal of breast implants • The key change is that for women who comply with the • criteria, and whose original surgery was funded by the NHS, • we will also fund the insertion of replacement implants. Re- • insertion was not previously commissioned. This is in line • with Department of Health guidance following issues with • Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) implants in 2011/12.

11. Removal of breast implants • We will not fund the insertion of replacement implants where the original surgery was funded privately • We will also not fund or part-fund corrective treatment in the private sector, irrespective of whether part of that procedure involves removal of a breast implant. • Co-funding to have the breast implants replaced is not permitted in the NHS. • The East Midlands Cosmetic Procedures Policy does not cover the surgery available to cancer patients, whose treatment is based on other clinical considerations.

12. Enlarged male breasts • the patient must havereached sexual maturity • in men under 25 a period of at least two years has been allowed for natural recovery • screening done for glandular and drug related causes • non-surgical treatments have been tried but failed • BMI is 18 to 25 and has been for a year • the patient is a confirmed non-smoker • nohistory of steroid use for body enhancement • photographic evidence of the condition is available. • The key change is that men with a history of use of steroids for body building will not be eligible for surgery.

13. Structure of the nose • Correct airway obstruction causingserious breathing problems, due to injury or an inherited condition, such as cleft palate, or prevents access to perform other surgery, if: • symptoms remain despite treatment for 3months or more • photographs show the deformity form all sides • history of accidental, surgical, or congenital defect • documentation about duration and degree of symptoms • the recorded results of the basic treatment of symptoms. • The key difference in new policy is that doctors are asked for • more to detail on patients, in order to show the valid need for • treatment and to clarify what is required.

14. How to have your say • You may complete the questionnaire on our website, • https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/emidscosm2014 • Please submit a paper based survey form to: • Vivienne Parish • Public Health Specialty Registrar  • Room G58, County Hall, Glenfield • Leicestershire LE3 8TB • The survey lasts until until 9am on Thursday 17 April 2014. • Decisions will be taken during the summer of 2014, when • the latest version of the policy will be published.

15. Any questions?