Ann Short Rep | Volume 2, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access
Samuel George Coulson1*, Jeremy Neil Rodrigues2, Laura Christina Fraser3 and Zakir Shariff4
1Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Mid-Essex NHS Trust, UK
2Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, UK
3Department of Plastic Surgery, North Bristol NHS Trust, UK
4Department of Plastic Surgery, Bradford Royal Infirmary, UK
*Correspondance to: Samuel George Coulson
Fulltext PDFBackground: Hypertrophic and keloid scarring can occur following cosmetic procedures such as piercings. However, there is no formal guidance on whether prospective clients should be informed of such complications when consenting to the procedure.
Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to survey piercing parlour policies regarding awareness of and consent for adverse scarring from cosmetic piercings.
Method: Google™ was searched to identify cosmetic piercing businesses in Sheffield, UK. All were contacted by telephone and invited to participate. Those who agreed were posed a telephone questionnaire. Information regarding consent, operator experience, after care advice and customer demographics was obtained.
Results: Fifteen piercing businesses were identified, with 13 (80%) responding to the study questionnaire. 12 (92%) always obtained generic written consent for piercing: 3 (23%) used a generic form and 9 (69%) a company specific form. Six (46%) discussed hypertrophic/keloid scarring as a complication during consent, whilst 3 (23%) did not routinely discuss any complications. Ten (77%) respondents would recommend a medical review if faced with a hypertrophic/keloid scar, with the remaining 3 (23%) providing inappropriate advice. Whilst 8 (62%) businesses provide generic aftercare leaflets none of those materials handle hypertrophic/keloid scarring.
Conclusion: This study highlights a lack of awareness and appropriate informed consent in cosmetic piercings and a risk of incorrect post procedure advice. An education package in conjunction with local businesses may reduce any public health risk. Education packages could include patient information leaflets and consent forms, formulated with guidance from local plastic surgery units.
Coulson SG, Rodrigues JN, Fraser LC, Shariff Z. Adequacy of Adverse Scarring Consent and Management in Private Cosmetic Piercing Services. Ann Short Reports. 2019;2:1034.