Expand operations in the UK Breast Taxable More Expensive

London, The British government plans to raise the tax burden for cosmetic plastic surgery including breast augmentation surgery, facial surgery and liposuction. Plastic surgery is taxed 20 percent higher than normal.

The new guidelines issued by Revenue and Customs Enforcement Agency UK (HM Revenue and Customs or HMRC) showed that physicians who perform purely cosmetic surgery, including breast augmentation surgery, facial surgery (facelift), abdominal folds and liposuction surgery (liposuction), must register for taxes and fees to be charged to the patient.

The government will raise taxes by 20 percent of cosmetic surgery. These increases will add to the burden of breast surgery cost of 1,000 pounds, or about USD 14 million and reportedly will raise 500 million pounds ($ 6.95 trillion) per year for public finances.

However, this decision drew criticism from members of the profession of plastic surgeons Britain.

"The proposal put forward by HMRC subjective will potentially harm a large number of patients. They imply that, a procedure that corrects the appearance is not a medical necessity. There has been no meaningful discussion with the professional bodies involved," said Fazel Fatah, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, as quoted by the Telegraph, Monday (17/10/2011).

Fatah hope that policy makers can protect the welfare of patients while balancing a clear need to increase tax revenue.

"With surgery we are literally in touch with human life," said Fazel Fatah.

HMRC recently updated guidelines stating that the services of cosmetic surgery is usually done so that the individual feels better looking.

The fact that cosmetic surgery treatments can make a person feel more confident with her appearance does not by itself enough to make treatment were released.

The new guidelines state that people with conditions such pscychological body dysmorphic disorder or those who are disabled because of plastic surgery will not be affected by the proposal.

"Should the correction of prominent ears taxed? The operation is performed on young children to prevent them from becoming victims of bullying and develop psychological problems?," Said Douglas McGeorge, consultant plastic surgeon criticized the new guidelines.

But according to a spokesman for HMRC, no change in government policy regarding VAT for cosmetic surgery. It is not charged to operations for medical reasons, but additional charges will be in surgery for aesthetic reasons.