UPDATED: 10.56AM An Auckland Council member said something has to be done about the increase in dog attacks as soon as possible.

A seven-year-old boy has more than 100 facial stitches, has had a metal plate inserted into his nose and cheek and may never regain movement in his upper lip after being mauled by a pitbull over the weekend.

SEE ALSO: 7 year old needed more than 100 facial stitches after pitbull mauling

Manurewa - Papakura Councillor Calum Penrose told Rachel Smalley a ban on dangerous dogs would be difficult.

LISTEN ABOVE: Calum Penrose talks to Rachel Smalley

However, he says a discussion needs to take place this week on the best way forward.

"There's no easy solution. When you see young ones -- as young as three and the oldest being 12 -- in the last month being attacked and mauled something has to be done about it. Do we register the owners?"

Penrose said the number of dog bites in Auckland has gone from 10,500 in 2008 to 13,000 in 2015.

New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons spokeswoman Dr Sally Langley told Mike Hosking a whole range of dogs is responsible for attacks and sometimes the breed of the dog is not known.

"But we do feel that the worst injuries these most horrendous injuries, like from Saturday and the Japanese girl from a couple of years ago, they're caused by these very aggressive dog breeds."

Dr Langley said it's not always the typically dangerous dogs that bite.

"It's the whole range of dogs but we think the most severe injuries are occurring with certain dangerous dogs such as rottweilers and pitbulls."

Dr Langley said all dog bites are significant injuries and are very distressing.