What is Cosmetic Surgery?
Cosmetic surgery is where a person chooses to have an operation, or invasive medical procedure, to change their physical appearance for cosmetic rather than medical reasons.
Non-surgical cosmetic procedures, such as Botox and dermal fillers - typically used to relax or fill crease lines - do not involve surgery. However, there are still risks attached. For information about non-surgical procedures visit NHS choices.
We also provide information about other types of surgery.
Can I get cosmetic surgery on the NHS?
Cosmetic surgery is rarely available through the NHS unless there is an overriding physical or psychological reason. Even when cosmetic surgery is available on the NHS, waiting times are usually long. For this reason, most people will pay to have surgery carried out privately.
Will the NHS help me if something doesn’t go according to plan?
If you have cosmetic surgery privately and it does not go according to plan (for example, it does not give you the result you wanted), the NHS will not help you unless you have a serious complication which means you need emergency or life-saving treatment.
Further information or questions...
We want to hear from you. Please complete this short questionnaire to tell us what you think about the cosmetic surgery information for patients. We will regularly review and update the web pages and take account of your feedback in these changes.
If you have any questions or need further information please call 020 7869 6120 or email cosmeticsurgerystandards@rcseng.ac.uk
For press and media enquiries please contact The Royal College of Surgeons' press office at pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk or call 020 7869 6047
We will reply to you as soon as possible.