Cosmeticsurgeon.co.uk - UK Cosmetic Surgeons

From September 2012, Anglia Ruskin University is offering a new course in cosmetic surgery, which will, it is claimed, further ensure the safety and reliability of cosmetic surgery procedures carried out in the UK. While all plastic surgeons working within the UK must already complete training, this new course hopes to boost the level of expertise amongst surgeons working particularly in areas of cosmetic surgery.

Practical knowledge

The course, after which successful students will graduate with an MSc (Master of Science), opens this September to all accredited plastic surgeons who are currently working within the country. Surgeons from other countries will be able to apply from September of 2013. Indeed, it is hoped that the course will mean that Brits no longer feel that it is necessary to travel abroad for reliable and cost-effective plastic surgery. Some plastic surgeons currently working in the UK may not be fully knowledgeable about cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation, despite having expertise in medical ‘reconstructive’ work (such as treating burns patients). This is due to the difference between NHS training and the fact that most cosmetic surgery is done in private practices.  It is this gap that surgeon Professor James Frame hopes to fill with this new course, which will be practice-based, ensuring that qualified graduates will have practical experience as well as theoretical knowledge.

The need for training

Headline-grabbing stories such as the recent scandal surrounding ‘faulty’ PIP breast implants show the need, says Professor. Frame, for cosmetic surgeons to be recognised within their own qualification, separate from other areas of plastic surgery. However, the president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), Fazel Fateh, claims that at present plastic surgeons do indeed receive training in cosmetic surgery as part of their NHS training. “Every trainee is taught the basic principles of aesthetic surgery,” he said, denying that the new MSc would be a necessary condition of being a “fully-qualified” plastic surgeon, although he did agree that the new course would certainly be “desirable for some.” At present, all plastic surgeons working within the UK undergo training, approved by the Royal College of Surgeons, which can last as long as seventeen years. However, the issue of practical experience specifically in the field of cosmetic surgery, and then operating in private practices without that experience, is the disjuncture that the new Anglia Ruskin course aims to bridge, helping patients feel secure knowing that their surgeon is highly qualified.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has reported a significant increase in the number of men having Botox treatment, giving rise to the nickname, ‘the Brotox generation’.

Most people associate Botox with middle-aged women who are eager to combat wrinkles and fine lines and restore their youthful complexion, but statistics from the States show that Botox is becoming increasingly popular among men.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there was a 258 percent increase in the number of men having Botox between 2000 and 2010, making Botox the most common cosmetic treatment for men. In 2010 alone, more than 330,000 men had the facial aesthetic treatment, which is designed to reduce the visibility of lines and wrinkles by preventing muscle contraction.

Why has Botox become so popular?

Dr Stephen B Baker, associate professor and programme director of the department of plastic surgery at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, said that the stigma attached to male surgery and cosmetic treatment has all but gone and men feel that they are now free to have treatments to make themselves look better in the same way as women.

The most common reason men want Botox is to reduce furrowed brow lines, according to Dr Baker; many men feel that lines on their foreheads make them look angry and unapproachable, as well as ageing them and the Botox procedure is very simple and minimally-invasive. Dr Sherman, who works with Dr Baker, admitted that men tend to ask for targeted treatment on specific areas of their face, while women tend to plump for a full facial treatment.

Botox is also incredibly popular among men because it is temporary and the recovery time is extremely short and the effects are also very natural, which is a major draw for any patients. Marcus Gogas, a 49 year old man from Virginia, said that he chose to have Botox because he had seen people who had undergone cosmetic surgery on television and the results were too radical, but with Botox, he knows that he will still look the same, just younger and fresher.

Cleft lip or cleft palate is a facial disfigurement, which affects roughly one in every 600 babies. The difference made to a person’s appearance by a cleft lip can be dramatic or less problematic, and this equally applies to the health problems that can be caused by the condition.

What is a cleft lip or cleft palate?

A cleft lip or cleft palate can refer to a range of craniofacial defects (affecting the head and face). It can mean relatively innocuous defects such as a small ‘dent’ in the lip, to more obviously problematic disfigurements such as a groove, which continues into the roof of the mouth. Such issues can exist separately or in connection with other facial defects. Such defects can prove to be a challenge for patients due to the difference in their appearance, but more significantly, there are medical and health issues which can be caused, meaning that treating a cleft lip or palate goes beyond aesthetic reasons.

What health issues can be caused by a cleft lip and cleft palate?

The problems or issues for a patient’s health caused by a cleft lip or cleft palate can become quite serious. Since the condition primarily affects the mouth and nose, the effects are unsurprisingly most keenly felt in the patient’s bodily functions related to these areas. This means that suffering from a cleft palate can lead to problems with breathing, eating, and speech. Problems with breathing may lead to conditions such as sleep apnoea, and there is an increased risk of problems that affect the airways, including laryngitis and sinusitis. Hearing may also be affected – in fact, hearing loss is a common condition amongst those with cleft palates, and can indeed be progressive, meaning it gradually becomes worse. In addition, there may be psychological and social effects felt by those with cleft palates.

How can these problems be treated?

“Otolaryngologic [ear, nose and throat] evaluation is of paramount importance in providing adequate care for this patient population,” writes Dr. Laura Swibel Rosenthal in a recent study. The primary concern for treating cleft palate sufferers has to be ensuring that they can breath as correctly and easily as possible. This can be achieved through corrective surgery, although several stages of care may be necessary. In addition, since hearing loss is common, regular hearing tests are necessary to ensure that hearing does not become progressively worse. Other specialist doctors such as pulmonologists may be involved, as well as physical therapy and additional support such as social care or psychiatry.

Cosmetic surgery has long been considered a woman’s pursuit, yet figures indicate that male treatments and procedures are becoming more popular year on year.

Cosmetic surgery is an increasingly appealing option at this time of year as the sun appears and people prepare to bare their bodies on holiday. Treatments such as liposuction and body contouring, breast augmentation and breast lifts are very popular among women, but the summer body panic is not restricted to females, with cosmetic surgeons reporting an increase in the number of men seeking treatment to enhance their physique.

Why are more men having surgery?

Men who are familiar with Men’s Health covers, Abercrombie and Fitch models and posters of well-known Euro 2012 stars may be dreading baring their bodies on the beach, fearing that what they have to offer doesn’t quite match the tanned, toned torsos on parade in magazines and billboards. Thankfully, for those who are worried about ‘moobs’, love handles or wrinkles, there is an array of treatments now available to men.

Which treatments do men go for?

In the past, the most popular treatments for men included rhinoplasty (more commonly known as a nose job) and otoplasty (pinning back the ears), but over the course of the last few years,  body contouring treatments have become increasingly popular, as men look to replicate the muscular, taut physiques showcased by elite athletes and gym bunnies. Developments in cosmetic surgery mean that treatment is simpler, safer and quicker than ever before and cosmetic surgery is no longer a taboo subject, meaning men do not have to fear ridicule for having surgery.

Treatments, such as Vaser Hi-Def liposuction, are popular because they create definition and tone, while male breast reduction, designed to remove excess fat from the chest, has also become increasingly popular. Male boobs commonly referred to as ‘moobs’ have appeared in many television programmes and are discussed in health magazines. People may joke about moobs, but for some men, this is a serious issue, which affects their confidence, especially in the summer months when you want to wear less clothing. A simple procedure can now eradicate these problems and help men to feel confident in time for trips to the beach.