Cosmeticsurgeon.co.uk - UK Cosmetic Surgeons

Botox has been the popular way to get rid of wrinkles and frown lines in the face for a while. A simple injection is able to relax the clenched facial muscle to create smoother skin. Chemical peels have commonly been used to smooth out facial skin and there are even more invasive procedures which include face lifts. But now there is a new procedure that can create these results easier and more effectively.

London medical has begun providing Aluma treatments. Aluma is made by Lumines Aesthetic and it employs the revolutionary radio frequency technology. This treatment conveys energy into the underlying layers of skin and stimulates the production of collagen. Collagen helps the skin to stay elastic and smooth. This treatment requires no cutting and is painless, without the use of anesthetic. This treatment is designed to be used on anyone with mild to moderate wrinkles and is not restricted to any skin types. It is typically used on the neck, and studies have shown that it may be efficient when used on the abdomen, knees, and arms.

The treatment at London Medical can be used on the face and neck areas and is performed by trained nurses. It is offered under the guidance of recognized consultant dermatologists and is very safe and efficient. The treatment normally last around 15 minutes and requires no recovery time or special care. Patients can get rid of wrinkles on their lunch break and then return to work. The effect of this procedure is considered to be long-lasting. Eventually age will catch back up with a person and wrinkles will start to reform but it is not considered to be temporary like Botox.

Another treatment offered at London Medical, that uses radiofrequency assisted technology, is the Bodytite liposuction procedure. This procedure uses a much higher amount of energy to create a heat that liquefies the fat cells which are then sucked out of the body. The heating also allows for collagen contraction which tightens the surrounding skin.

Getting rid of wrinkles when they begin is a dream come true for some people. Most people want to fight of the signs of aging any way that they can. Now, with Aluma treatments, wrinkles can be smoothed out and skin made to look tighter and smoother. These treatments are quick and painless and the results are amazing. Aluma could be the future of skin tightening procedures.

The cosmetic surgery field has continuously grown to encompass more and more different procedures. Not only are there more procedures, but there are also better techniques and tools. Technological advances from many fields have helped cosmetic surgery to become safe and efficient. More advances are made every day to improve plastic surgery. One of these improvements is a procedure called, cell enriched breast enhancement.

Cell enriched breast enhancement, dubbed ‘Stem Cell Boob Job’, involves taking fat cells from other parts of the body and putting them in the breasts to increase bust size. It is a chemical free treatment, and there are claims that it is permanent. This could be the next generation of breast implants, however a cosmetic expert advises against rushing into the procedure. Dr. Ravi Jain, medical director at Riverbanks Clinic, says, “Almost all the best cosmetic treatments currently available are actually 3rd or 4th generation versions of earlier treatments which have been refined and improved over time and as more data became available. Stem cell-based beauty treatments are certainly going to be big in the future but the treatment is still in its infancy, and in my opinion, has at least another 12-18 months of modification ahead of it.’

The new stem cell procedures are being offered in some clinics in the UK. Cell enriched breast enhancements and cell enriched Botox can be found being offered by certain surgeons but not Dr. Jain. He will most likely be offering some selected trails in 2010, however these trials will be done in order to gain better data about the long term success of the treatment. He said, “If the trial prove successful, this approach could be used to treat a range of conditions more effectively including sun damage, scars, skin tone, and lines and wrinkles. This is definitely going to be the future of cosmetic treatments, but still has some way to go.”

His statements show that he is very excited about the procedure, but being a doctor since 1995 he has gained some wisdom, when it comes to new treatments. He does not want to see a flood of people rush into something that is not yet perfected and then be disappointed with the results. Most procedures require some fine tuning before they become efficient. His advice is, merely, that people wait a little while before
having this new procedure performed on them.

2009 saw a substantial increase in a lot of cosmetic procedures. According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons there was a 6.7 percent increase of surgical procedures since 2008. There was an 80 percent increase in breast reductions for men and a 43 percent increase in brow lifts for both men and women. Many other procedures increased as well but a particular one has made the headlines.

The Harley Medical Group is UK’s biggest cosmetic surgery provider and has helped more than 450,000 patients to get the bodies that they have always dreamed of. In a press release, they reported a 17% increase in neck lift procedures during 2009 as compared to 2008. Excess skin hanging off of the neck, called ‘turkey neck’, is associated with getting old. The decrease of collagen in the skin causes it to lose it’s elasticity and makes it more susceptible to sag. 63 year-old Brenda Scott had a face and neck lift performed at The Harley Medical Group, and said “The loose flapping skin on my neck and under my chin bothered me for years so I would cover it by wearing scarves and high-neck jumpers. I always felt young for my age but where I could help disguise the lines on my face with good make-up, my neck was more
exposed.” During 2009 many women rushed to the surgeons office to get these turkey necks chopped off.

Lisa Littlehales, Regional Clinic Manager at The Harley Medical Group, said, “A neck lift procedure will give a long-lasting firm, and youthful looking appearance – liposuction is also often used in the same procedure to eliminate the fat pocket under the chin. The procedure does require an overnight stay in hospital and will require up to two weeks recovery time. Our patients are advised to keep the incision
out of direct sun light and wear sun block until colour and bruising has completely faded – so if you’re going to have this type of surgery winter is the perfect time of year to do it.” This does not bother most people because they would rather be in doors during the cold months. Why not spend that time recuperated from a beautifying procedure?

Neck lift procedures can make a person’s neck look years younger. The hanging skin under the neck usually indicates a person is old and getting rid of it really does magic to their appearance. The number of neck lift procedures increased substantially in 2009 and will probably continue to increase as people see the amazing results.

January is a popular month for inquiries into plastic surgery. With the coming of the new year people begin to think about their goals for another year in their lives. The emphasis that society places on good looks, influences these goals and thus many people decide to look better in the new year. Dr. Richard Chaffoo, a triple board-certified plastic surgeon, said in a press release, “Most New Year’s resolutions boil down to one simple desire: to look and feel more like the person you want to be.” More often now, than previous years, people hope to accomplish this through plastic surgery.

Make Yourself Amazing (MYA) cosmetic surgery is a leading clinic in the UK. They reported that between January 1st and Jan 14, 2010 there was a 15% increase in enquiries when compared with the same time period in 2009. John Ryan, MYA Chairman, says, “January is a busy time for the cosmetic surgery industry. After the Christmas and New Year period people often start setting new goals or New Year’s resolutions.
These goals often include improving one’s appearance or completing a goal they never achieved last year. We get a lot of people coming in saying that they have been interested for a while but have never got round to arranging a consultation.”

The figures for enquiries showed that breast augmentation was the most sought after procedure. The number of enquiries for this procedure actually increased 21% over last year. Breast augmentation is followed by liposuction, breast uplift, nose reshaping, and tummy tuck, in that order. These numbers show that plastic surgery is continuing to grow in popularity and no end to this growth is in sight.

The GoodSurgeonGuide performed a study at the end of 2009 which revealed that women in particular are putting more emphasis on looking good in 2010. This study showed that 51 percent of the women surveyed expressed that they were considering having cosmetic surgery. Christina Clogg, co-founder of the guide said, “We were surprised that it [looking good] was more important to some than a more successful career or finding someone special.” Looking good has become a very important factor in society and women feel it more strongly than men. Women are expected to look young and pretty, so under going plastic surgery is an understandable extension of this ideal.

According to these surveys, 2010 will prove to be a very popular year for cosmetic surgery. People have become much more comfortable with having procedures done, and society has become much less judgmental of people who have had them.

With cosmetic surgery becoming more and more important in our society, the popularity of the types of procedures that people are choosing is shifting. Breast augmentation was the most popular procedure in 2009, and a recent survey by MYA, a plastic surgery group, has found that it has also been the most popular surgery in 2010 so far. Liposuction is not very far behind in the popularity ratings. What is surprising, is that liposculpting is slowly overtaking full liposuction in popularity.

According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, nearly one in ten procedures performed in 2009 were liposuction procedures, with a total of 3,509 surgeries in the UK. Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery where fat cells are removed from the body in medium to large amounts. This reduces fat in areas below the chin, upper arms, lower stomach, hips and thighs. Liposculpting, on the other hand, is a
liposuction procedure where small to medium amounts of fat cells are removed. This procedure is designed to sharpen features and accentuate areas with a more sleek appearance. The areas normally associated with liposculpting are the neck, lower cheeks, upper stomach, outer buttocks, calves, and ankles.

The refined and more localized procedure of liposculpture has slowly become more popular than liposuction. Mario Russo, medical director at The Hospital Group, said, “The market and business demands of the patients are moving very much towards localised [liposuction] now and therefore the main requests are more for minor areas and more for sculpting one or a few areas at a time.”

Liposculpting is a less invasive and less extensive form of liposuction. Instead of a large incision, a small incision is made and the cannula is inserted there. It is usually an outpatient surgery due to its reduction in invasiveness, compared to liposuction. The procedure also requires less recovery time, and thus many people are rushing to the surgeons for some sculpting.

Liposculpting is not a weight loss procedure. It should be understood that having this procedure done will not create drastic changes like liposuction. Liposculpting is the sculpting and reshaping of small to medium problem areas on the body. Little pockets of fat are sometimes very frustrating. Some people have tried every exercise, weight loss pill, or diet, and still cannot get those pockets to go away. Liposculpting is a surefire way to remove those pockets for good. Many people have found that liposculpting has accentuated parts of their body and given them the look that they had only ever dreamed of.

During a consultation, a plastic surgeon will help a person decide what procedure is right for them. They will be able to give the patient advice as to whether they should get liposuction or merely liposculption. They can encourage chemical peels or a face lift. One thing that they try to do is give the patient a visualization of what they will look like after the procedure. Most surgeons will rely on before and after pictures of other patients. Some may even have a computer program that can give them an idea of what the results of the procedure will be. One surgeon has gone much further than that. He has a 3-D simulator, that will give the patient a picture of what they will look like after the surgery.

Dr. Brett Kotlus, of the Allure Medical Spa in Michigan in the US, has an innovative 3-D simulation system. This system ‘sculpts’ a 3-D image of the patient’s features into the more desirable profile. He reported, “This 3-D system has a clever interface that constructs a realistic, modifiable image that can be sculpted in the same way that cosmetic surgery would sculpt a nose or a breast. Within minutes, we can see possible surgical results. In this scenario, a picture is truly worth a thousand words.” He likes that the system allows him to make modifications or changes based on the patients desires, before they go under the knife.

It is called the Vectra 3-D system, from Canfield Imaging Systems, and has become an integral tool in Dr. Kotlus’s consultations. It captures an image of the face or body with 12 different cameras at a resolution of 36 megapixles. This image is then placed on a computer screen. Dr. Kotlus is then able to make modifications to it and create, before and after images.

There is a Canadian website called Modiface that allows potential patients to see how they might look with a procedure also. This site allows a person to download their picture and then see what it will look like with a nose job or face lift. These images however are not as advanced as those made by the Vectra 3-D system.

Good cosmetic surgeons want to give their patients the best consultation possible. Dr. Kotlus has found that his new imaging system makes it easier for a patient to have realistic expectations, because it gives them a very good picture of what they will look like after the procedure. This has helped to increase patient satisfaction and makes them feel more comfortable about having the procedure done.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) reported over 36,000 procedures in 2009. This is nearly a seven percent increase over 2008. The organization is a not-for-profit group that was established for the advancement of education and practice of aesthetic plastic surgery for the patients benefit. They have a strict set of rules and regulations that members must follow. There are surgeons who perform cosmetic surgeries in the UK, who are not members of the BAAPS. Some of these surgeons are not regulated and BAAPS is calling on the government to change that.

There was a One Show episode that focused on cosmetic surgery. It revealed that there were a lot of false PR claims and corrupt practices performed by plastic surgeons, and that there is no regulation preventing it. In the article ‘Minimizing Risk in Aesthetic Surgery’ Foad Nahai, of the International Society of Aesthetic
Plastic Surgeons, said, “Regulations governing the training of all cosmetic surgeons are sorely needed. Governments are reluctant to become involved, as they see this issue as a dispute between various physician groups and not a public safety issue.”

BAAPS’s Nigel Mercer could not disagree more with this reluctance. He believes that regulation of the cosmetic surgery field is a matter of public safety and thus should be taken on by the government. In a paper titled ‘Clinical Risk in Aesthetic Surgery’ he said , “There has been a massive increase in ‘marketing’, including discount vouchers, 2-for-one offers and holidays with surgery. In no other area of medicine is there such an un-regulated mess. What is worse is that the national governments would not allow it to happen in other areas of medicine. Imagine a ’2-for-1′ advert for general surgery? That way lies madness.”

France has instituted regulations and guidelines that must be followed by their plastic surgeons. In ‘France Sets Standards for Practice of Aesthetic Surgery’ a French surgeon lists some of these regulations as: -surgical procedures can only be undertaken by surgeons who are registered specialists and deemed competent -neither possession of a general medical degree nor that the practitioner is experienced are sufficient qualifications -a ban on all forms and methods of publicity and advertising, direct or indirect, in
whatever form, including the internet.

Many people believe that regulations similar to these should be implemented in the UK. The law in the UK presently says that , as long as the patients gives permission for the procedure than that surgeon can perform it, whether they are qualified or not. The BAAPS believes that this is unacceptable. Mr. Mercer said, “We have seen what a lack of regulation has done for banks and for the British parliament. There is a British Potato Council so why not an OFFCos [official cosmetic surgery regulator]? Surgeons can do more harm than potatoes….!”

There are many different types of cosmetic procedures and they are divided into two categories: surgical and non surgical. Surgical procedures include breast augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tucks. Non-surgical procedures include accent laser treatment, Botox, and collagen injections. A non-surgical procedure that is becoming more and more popular is chemical peels.

The Press Association reports that chemical peels have actually become more popular than face lifts. The number of chemical peels performed in 2009 was three times the procedures performed the previous year. The Harley Medical Group’s Obagi Blue Peel is a treatment which gets rid of blemishes, acne scars, uneven pigmentation, sun damage, and wrinkles. It has been called by some the ‘recessions facelift’ due to
the increased popularity of the treatments. Liz Dale, director of the Harley Medical Group, said, “Non-surgical procedures, which saw big growth last year, have continued to be a strong area for us and now account for 32 percent of all our business.”

Chemical peels are a skin resurfacing procedure, in which the top layer of skin is removed so that the body can replace it with new skin. The new skin will grow back without whatever problem had been on the old skin. There are three different classifications for chemical peels. There are light peels which are basically
exfoliants. Intermediate peels are good for fine lines and superficial hyper pigmentation from sun damage. Deep peels can remove deep lines, medium sized wrinkles, and darker pigmentation. Many people find that they do not need to get a face-lift and are happy to settle for a chemical peel which makes their facial skin
look fresh and young.

In the plastic surgery field chemical peels are indeed increasing in popularity but the most popular cosmetic procedure is still, by far, breast augmentation. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reported that in 2009 there were a total of 8,565 breast augmentation procedures, in the UK. Studies done in January of 2010 also show that breast augmentation should prove to be the most popular
procedure in 2010. The Press Association reported that 75 percent of breast up lift patients in 2009 were mothers.

Undergoing a plastic surgery procedure can help to make a person look and feel young. Chemical peel are a way for some people to achieve this without a surgical procedure. The popularity of these effective yet non-invasive treatments has been increasing quickly and shows no sign of slowing.

The plastic surgery field has grown very quickly in the UK. In fact, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) reported over 36,000 procedures in 2009. This is nearly a seven percent increase over 2008. But not all surgeons in the UK are a part of the BAAPS. A broadcast of the One Show uncovered some of these ‘none member surgeons’ performing bad practices.

The One Show episode focused on cosmetic surgery and found that there is no regulating body to keep bad practices from occurring. In the hospitals the General Medical Council and the Care Quality Commission regulate the doctors. The Independent Healthcare Advisory Service (IHAS) is talking with the government about starting a joint regulation but many people do not believe this is enough. The problem with the IHSA is that their code of practice is not mandatory and thus is not enforceable throughout the entire field of plastic surgery.

Members of BAAPS have a strict set of regulations that must be followed. The organization is pushing to have all surgeons that perform cosmetic procedures to be held to the same standards. Nigel Mercer, president of BAAPS, in a paper titled ‘Clinical Risk in Aesthetic Surgery’ said , “There has been a massive increase in ‘marketing’, including discount vouchers, 2-for-one offers and holidays with surgery. In no other area of medicine is there such an un-regulated mess. What is worse is that the national governments would not allow it to happen in other areas of medicine. Imagine a ’2-for-1′ advert for general surgery? That way lies madness.”

France has instituted strict laws which limit who is able to do procedures. These laws state that a general medical degree is not sufficient to perform surgeries and advertisement of plastic surgery is also tightly regulated.  These are regulations that many would like to see instituted in the UK. Dr. Harvey Marcovitch, editor of a UK-based journal called Clinical Risk, said, “We need proper regulation of the industry and we need both surgeons and GPs to manage patient expectation.”

Goodsurgeonguide.co.uk is a website designed to help people learn more about plastic surgery. The site encourages people to carefully consider their choice of surgeon and make sure that they are respected and trusted. In response to the episode of the One Show, the managing director of this website, Christina Clogg, said, “We are not surprised that the One Show unearthed such bad practice at leading surgery groups in last night’s expose, it is one of the reasons why we developed the site and has lead us now, more than ever, to believe that the whole industry needs regulating.” Choosing a plastic surgeon needs to be based on more than just saving money. Finding a good and respected surgeon is necessary, because, as Ms. Clogg says, “[you] cannot put a price on good health and a safe procedure.”