Newcastle cosmetic surgeon Dutta botched eye-lift

Oct 29 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

A COSMETIC surgeon has been issued with a formal warning after being brought before a medical regulation body.

But the General Medical Council (GMC) found that Dr Ashish Dutta’s fitness to practise had not been impaired following the two-day hearing.

The surgeon, owner of Aesthetic Beauty Centre in Newcastle and Sunderland, and famed as being the first to offer lunch-break liposuction in the North East, faced the misconduct panel following complaints from two patients who had undergone eye-bag lift operations.

The warning, which will remain on the 44-year-old’s record for five years, states that he must keep fully informed and up to date to ensure that in future his cosmetic surgery techniques are consistent with recognised best surgical practice.

Both patients gave evidence at the Manchester hearing about their dissatisfaction with their under-eye bag removal operations – known as a blepharoplasty – carried out by Dr Dutta at South Tyneside District Hospital and Palmer Community Hospital, Jarrow, in 2005 and 2006.

The panel heard that both women would have expected that not only would the bags be removed but that the scarring would be minimised.

Dr Dutta had admitted that the incisions made were lower than the accepted standard, and in the case of one patient were uneven.

The panel was shown photographic evidence taken at the time of surgery and was told that scarring was likely to improve in time.

Dr Dutta has since attended an advanced one-day lower lid blepharoplasty course approved by the Royal College of Surgeons.

The GMC panel took into account the “unchallenged evidence” that Dr Dutta had carried out 153 successful blepharoplasties.

It stated: “In view of your admissions of failure in your cosmetic surgery technique with regards to blepharoplasties, and the subsequent panel findings that this was irresponsible, inappropriate and not in the best interests of your patients, the panel has determined that this conduct does not meet with the standard required of a doctor.

“The panel is of the view that both the profession and the public would expect that any practitioner would ensure that they had sufficient skills and up-to-date knowledge before undertaking any surgical procedure.”

It added that Dr Dutta’s conduct risked bringing the profession into disrepute and must not be repeated”.

Last night Dr Dutta told The Journal he was happy with the decision and wanted to thank his patients and staff who had stood by him.

He added: “It shows they have taken heed of the patient and that the doctor is doing everything possible in his power to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”