Experts demand regulation of cosmetic injections and surgery in Finland

Experts have warned that Finland’s regulation of cosmetic surgery and injectable treatments lags behind other Nordic countries, Yle reported. Some clinics perform filler injections and cosmetic operations without adequate training, they said.

The risks of the procedures have come under scrutiny after social media personality Olivia Oras died following the anaesthetic administered before liposuction. The cosmetic operation connected to her death was performed at the Plastic Surgery Center clinic in Helsinki. Police are investigating the case as aggravated causing of death.

Antti Mikkola, chair of the Finnish Association of Plastic Surgeons, said the administration of filler injections is not regulated in Finland.

“Anyone without healthcare training can administer filler injections,” Mikkola said. Sweden introduced legislation regulating the procedures several years ago, while other Nordic countries acted earlier, he said.

Virve Koljonen, professor of plastic surgery at the University of Helsinki, said some providers in Finland also perform cosmetic surgery without the necessary training.

In her view, certain procedures should be restricted to specialist doctors, as is already partly the case in other Nordic countries. She said some major operations can currently be performed in Finland by anyone with basic medical training.

Customers too often become patients

Mikkola described the provision of injectable treatments in Finland as the “Wild West”. Serious errors sometimes occur during cosmetic procedures, particularly those involving the face.

Filler can, for example, be injected into a blood vessel, potentially causing sudden blindness or tissue death. The most serious complications are treated in hospitals, Mikkola said.

Koljonen said complications caused by unskilled injections are very difficult to correct. She said the focus should not be on blaming people for choosing such procedures, but on ensuring that the procedures are safe for those who choose to undergo them.

How to identify a qualified professional

Mikkola said new private clinics offering injectable treatments and cosmetic surgery have opened in Finland in recent years.

He said the simplest way to check whether a procedure is being performed safely is to verify the provider’s qualifications in a public register. A plastic surgeon is a doctor with six years of basic medical training and at least six years of specialist training.

Many providers use misleading titles such as “doctor of aesthetic medicine” or “cosmetic surgery doctor”. Mikkola said these are not legally protected professional titles.

People should carefully consider undergoing a procedure and choose a reputable clinic that has operated for a long time. The provider should explain the risks and show before-and-after images from similar procedures, he said.