Accused doctor: I can make dreams come true

Major questions over regulation of the plastic surgery industry were raised today.

An investigation reveals that unscrupulous doctors are misleading patients by exaggerating what they can achieve.

The Evening Standard sent an undercover reporter to the London Cosmetic Laser Centre in Harley Street, run by plastic surgeon Dr Abu Mahfouz - who once boasted he could make black patients "look white".

He has been struck off once and is now accused of serious professional misconduct following four official patient complaints. Some claim they were left with devastating facial burns.

Yet we found he can continue to operate without restriction while a General Medical Council hearing - due to start last summer - is delayed for legal reasons. And he takes advantage of the fact that he is under no obligation to tell would-be patients that he faces disciplinary action.

Our reporter claimed to be concerned about slight facial scarring. He failed to examine her before recommending laser "resurfacing". He claimed she would feel no pain and recover in up to five days. But the procedure involves removal of the top layers of the skin, which is left so raw that experts estimate healing can take eight to 12 weeks.

Our investigation comes as consumer magazine Which? warns that popular clinics offering "lunch-hour" cosmetic treatments such as Botox are making unrealistic claims about their results.

Dr Mahfouz's lawyers today insisted he had done nothing wrong and our reporter had " misunderstood". They said her consultation was a free-of-charge initial assessment and stressed she would have received detailed, written information on risks and aftercare at the next stage.

A spokesman for the General Medical Council - which can suspend doctors at any time if they pose a risk to patients, or if it is in the public interest - said it could not comment on the case.