Ken Stewart

The introduction of a compulsory register of cosmetic surgeons was recommended by a UK government review in 2013, but a voluntary register was introduced instead and fewer than 30 surgeons have signed up.

In Disclosure: When Cosmetic Surgery Goes Wrong, which will be aired on BBC One Scotland tonight at 8.30pm, the BBC investigates Transform, a high street provider which uses doctors from abroad who fly in and fly out to do surgery.

As a result, when complications occur surgeons are sometimes no longer in the country to treat their patients, do not provide continuity of care and it is difficult to secure compensation.

Consultant plastic surgeon Ken Stewart, who is the Scottish government’s adviser on plastic surgery, told the BBC: “The regulation in my view is such that people can still do inappropriate things in inappropriate environments, with inappropriately trained staff.”

He said the regulation was not “robust” and called for the certification scheme to be mandatory.

The Scottish government told the BBC it would take additional steps to protect patients, including meeting with UK ministers and the Royal College of Surgeons, which said a mandatory register would effectively end fly-in, fly-out surgery.

Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick said: “Some of this is devolved. Some is reserved. I’d certainly be up for having that conversation to make sure patients are as safe as possible.”

The UK government didn’t respond to allegations it has failed to make certification mandatory, but said all doctors practising in the UK must be registered and have the right insurance.