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Hundreds of patients have had free liposuction at NHS hospitals across London, figures reveal.
The health service has spent £5.7million in the past year on giving 471 patients the procedure and more than 1,600 patients nose jobs, tummy tucks and breast reductions, NHS Information Centre figures show.
Doctors said many operations were because of medical problems - but that some patients were thought to be suffering from body dysmorphic disorder, a psychiatric condition when people are overly worried about small flaws.
Jagdeep Nanchahal, professor of plastic surgery at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said the health service would not give a patient surgery for purely cosmetic reasons.
"The figures could sound alarming, but there are very strict guidelines.
"A few years ago it may have been possible for a patient to ask for a nose job because they were distressed by their looks, but the rules have tightened."
The 471 people having the body fat removal procedure each cost the NHS about £1,500 based on an estimate of the operations undertaken privately.
The procedure lasts about 75 minutes, during which a hollow tube is inserted and a suction device removes the fat.
Rhinoplasty - a nose job - costs the NHS £3,000 for each procedure. Tummy tucks and breast reduction operations are £3,800 each.
Barbara Jemec, consultant plastic surgeon at Chelsea and Westminster hospital, said liposuction figures were increasing because HIV patients' medication can cause fat to build up on their necks: "One of my colleagues does liposuction exclusively for HIV patients and the machine is so expensive he bought his own."
Critics fear private clinics will benefit as NHS hospitals without equipment have to pay for patients to go elsewhere.
Geoff Martin of London Health Emergency said: "Not many NHS hospitals can afford to buy a liposuction machine so our concern is that private companies are making money out of this."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "The NHS does not carry out surgery for cosmetic reasons but does carry out surgery to secure physical or mental health."
Several celebrities have admitted having liposuction, including Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh, 33, and former singer and reality TV show star Kerry Katona, 28.
Documentary-maker Louis Theroux had it on screen for a BBC2 show in 2007.
Its risks were highlighted when in 2002 Denise Hendry, 43, wife of former Scotland footballer Colin, was left in a coma for six weeks.
Reader views (8)
I had a bad road accident some 4 years ago and my hand was crushed and "Frankeisten monster looking" (lol). I had three liposuction procedures done to my hand in the recent past, all under the NHS and without it my life would be a misery now, in terms of hand functionality and hand cosmetics. I kind of know the plastic surgery NHS procedures, or at least in my local London hospital and I saw a lot of people having breast reduction and plastic and cosmetic surgery done. I have never seen any case of abuse, these people are as desperate as me to have it. I think we need to have a more positive approach and look at problems where there really are, that is the the NHS is not allocated enough funding?
- Marie,, London, 21/06/2009 10:16
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Kerry Katona never had this treatment on the nhs.
- Mazzy, london, 20/06/2009 18:50
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No wonder Nu Labor and Crash Gordon bankrupted this country.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 19/06/2009 18:03
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This is plain wrong. Treatments need to be properly prioritized. This is the same NHS that is denying people access to drugs that might save their lives, on the basis that they cost too much.
Cosmetic surgery on the NHS must be restricted to those who look like Frankenstein's monster or worse, because of severe illness, injury or birth defect. Anyone who looks vaguely normal should save up to pay for elective surgery or (if excess fat is their problem) go on a diet.
- Nigel, London, 19/06/2009 12:53
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Liposuction et al on the NHS and "Mental Health"? Ah yes, juxtaposition truly is a remarkable word.
- Ted, London, 19/06/2009 11:05
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Please explain why these operations were needed to the young lady from Surrey who had her cancer treatment refused as the trust could not afford it.
- Mark, London, 19/06/2009 11:03
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If they eat healthier food and exercise because this mass has been removed then elation. If they return to pie eating then make them pay back the money. Would they not also need plastic surgery to cut away the flappy skin or do the NHS offer a BOGOF?
- Gary, brentwood, 19/06/2009 10:52
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But of course! Too bad if you wanted treatment for cancer instead . . .
- Roz, France, 19/06/2009 10:30
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