AZE.US
Plastic and aesthetic surgery in Azerbaijan may soon come under tighter state oversight as the number of such procedures continues to rise and public concern over safety grows.
Rashad Mahmudov, deputy chair of the healthcare committee in Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis, said the state has the legal authority to regulate medical services in order to protect public health. That could include restricting risky procedures or interventions that lack sufficient scientific basis, he told Globalinfo.az.
At the same time, Mahmudov said a full ban on aesthetic surgery would be neither medically nor legally justified. He argued that the field is not limited to cosmetic goals alone and can also relate to psychological well-being and, in some cases, reconstructive medical needs.
He warned that outright bans often fail to produce the intended result and may instead push demand into the shadow market, where unregulated services create even greater risks for patients.
Instead, Mahmudov called for a stricter regulatory framework. He said aesthetic procedures should be performed only by properly qualified doctors, while clinics should face tighter scrutiny over technical standards, including access to resuscitation equipment and emergency care capacity.
He also stressed the need for patients to receive full and objective information before surgery, with risks and possible complications clearly explained in advance. Another proposed step is tighter control over advertising, including banning phrases such as “completely safe” or “risk-free,” which may mislead the public.
Mahmudov also backed the idea of a national registry to track the outcomes of aesthetic procedures and possible complications, saying that such a system could improve transparency and strengthen oversight.
He added that the Milli Majlis could consider drafting a more specific legal framework for aesthetic medical services, both to define the responsibilities of doctors more clearly and to better protect patients’ rights.