Letter: Skin complaints

I WOULD like to thank Cora Mann for a fine piece of marketing copy for the cosmetic surgery industry ("Nations on a knife edge ... and how the UK cuts it cosmetically", Real Life, 15 August). Of course, I will have to balance the benefits she describes against the growing number of complaints we receive about this type of procedure. Mann makes no mention of the traumatic effects when something goes wrong with this type of surgery, as it frequently seems to. The article suggests that should someone decide to have "aesthetic" (it's now an art form) surgery, they will receive balanced advice. Our clients report that this is usually little more than a sales pitch and certainly wouldn't draw attention to the many and varied things which can go wrong.

TOM HILL

Action for Victims of Medical Accidents

Croydon, Surrey