BAPRAS backs Be Real: Body Confidence for Everyone
Media Release- 13 October 2014
The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) welcomes today’s launch of Be Real: Body Confidence for Everyone which is campaigning to change attitudes to body image and help put health above appearance so that everyone in the UK can be confident about their bodies.
Be Real is driving change through three priority areas: educating children and young people from an early age; promoting healthy living and wellbeing over just weight loss and appearance; and encouraging the media, business and advertisers to recognise diversity.
The campaign will be working with a range of experts to ensure that providers of cosmetic interventions offer consumers full facts, supported by real imagery and does not mis-sell their services.
Graeme Perks, BAPRAS president and Consultant Plastic Surgeon, said:
“We fully support this campaign to recognise diversity and encourage everyone, whatever size, ethnicity or ability to be confident in their bodies.
“BAPRAS has been at the forefront of driving the highest standards of industry practices, demanding appropriate regulation of cosmetic surgery interventions targeted at vulnerable people. We have long championed the need to protect the public against mis-selling, unrealistic expectations and the lure of cosmetic surgery ‘deals’, as well as cutting out irresponsible advertising. We want to ensure that people considering cosmetic surgery and procedures are given the information, advice and time for reflection to make an informed choice.
“Our work has involved helping to develop a strict code of conduct for doctors undertaking cosmetic surgery and would like to see a compulsory code and swift action taken against those who break the rules.
“BAPRAS also calls on the media to ensure issues around body confidence are responsibly reported and that there is greater recognition for the wide variety that naturally exists in body type.
“Whilst more work needs to be done to promote body confidence and diversity, groundbreaking innovations in reconstructive plastic surgery are also helping to rebuild lives, thereby enabling a better quality of life, self image or function for individuals depending on their needs.
“We hope that this campaign continues to raise awareness of the damaging impact of low body confidence and is successful in further promoting positive attitudes and values to the whole spectrum of physical appearance.”
[Ends]
About BAPRAS
BAPRAS, the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, is the voice of plastic surgery in the UK. It aims to increase the understanding of the professional specialty and scope of plastic surgery, promoting innovation in teaching, learning and research.
Founded in 1946 (originally as the British Association of Plastic Surgeons), today BAPRAS has over 800 members and is the professional representative body for reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgeons providing services to patients on the NHS and privately in the UK. Members of the public can find a member plastic surgeon in their area by logging on to www.bapras.org.uk. Anyone can check the GMC to find out if a surgeon is on the plastic surgery specialist register; http://www.gmc-uk.org/register/search/index.asp