The government has launched a national review of how the cosmetic surgery industry is regulated in England that could mean tighter restrictions on its practices.

A national implant register for products such as breast implants and other medical devices is also up for debate as part of the review ¹ published on 15 August by the Department of Health.

The move follows the scandal over breast implants that came to light last year.

Around 47 000 women in the UK are thought to have received the former French manufacturer Poly Implant Prosthèse (PIP) breast implants, which were found to contain non-medical grade silicone, prompting concerns about their safety.^{2 3}

As part of the response to the scandal, health …