Cosmeticsurgeon.co.uk - UK Cosmetic Surgeons

1. Microdermabrasion scrapes dead skin cells from the skin to reveal younger looking skin. This corrects sun damage, uneven skin tones, wrinkles, acne and brown spots.

2. Chemical peels go deeper into the skin to remove uneven pigment, improve the texture of the skin and reduce wrinkles. The skin will be red and peel later. Alphahydroxy and trichloroacetic acid are the most common chemicals used.

3. Laser treatments are a newer form of facial treatments, but they are very popular. They have numerous uses for them. There is laser resurfacing of the skin that goes deep into the skin and it is not painful. However, it does not work on dark skin tones. There is also laser scar removal which uses the laser to vaporize the scar and new skin grows in it places. It can look very natural and the scar is not as noticeable. Also, laser tattoo removal uses lasers to remove tattoos through multiple sessions. Lastly, there is laser hair removal that kills the hair at the root, for a more permanent hair removal affect.

4. Injectable fillers are available in numerous forms. They are used on the cheeks and lips usually. There is Botox that is effective, but can be deadly if done incorrectly. Or there is Collagen injections. The collagen has been collected from animals and turned into human collagen. It can be used on most areas of the body. Lastly, there is the option of using the patients own fat to fill in wrinkles, lines and scars. This is the safest method to use.

5. Surgery can be done on eye lids, ears and chins. These surgeries improve drooping eye lids, fat pockets around the eyes, reduce the size of ears and increase the size of the chin.

6. Nose jobs are done for both aesthetic and deformity reasons. Nose jobs can either increase or decrease the size of the nose.

7. Face lifts lift the facial tissue, due to sagging from age. The procedure is very invasive and there is a very long healing process associated with it, which is at least a month, if not longer. Face lifts remove years from a person’s face in one procedure.

8. Facial implants fill in sagging areas of the face.

9. Permanent makeup can be added to eyes and lips.

10. Liposuction can be done on the chin, neck and cheeks to remove pockets of fat that has built up over time.

Mr Adrian Richards, Clinical Director of Cosmetic Courses has called for the Government controlled MHRA to clarify it stance on two major issues.  Are Nurses allowed to administer Botox injections without the patient seeing a doctor or dentist and whether the term Botox can be used on websites?   Mr Richards stated that because the MHRA recommendations are not being enforced they are being widely ignored throughout the UK.

The MHRA- Medicines and Healthcare regulatory Agency is the government body “designed to ensure that Medicines and Medical devices are acceptably safe”.  As such it regulates the use of all prescription only (POM’s) including Botox.

The MHRA’s guidelines state that Botox “can be administered by an appropriate practitioner or under the guidance of an appropriate practitioner”.  By this they mean a Doctor, Dentist or Nurse who has completed extra training to allow them to prescribe Botox.

Mr Richards however feels that the MHRA phrase “under the guidance of an appropriate practitioner” is unnecessarily woollen and can be interpreted in many different ways.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have stated that they do not consider it good practice for nurses to administer Botox via a remote consultation.  They recommend that each patient is reviewed in person by a Doctor or Dentist prior to treatment.

This is not specifically stated as a recommendation by the MHRA.  This has resulted in some Nurses abiding by the NMC recommendations but many ignoring them completely and administering Botox injections with no contact with an “Appropriate practitioner”

Mr Richards stated that the MHRA guidelines are being widely ignored with impunity because no Nurse has yet been prosecuted by the MHRA for repeatedly ignoring their recommendations.

Likewise advertising prescription only medicines such as Botox is illegal.  However many websites feature Botox heavily on their home pages.  The MHRA’s role is to enforce this but again Mr Richards said that these companies were ignoring the recommendations because the MHRA have never taken any legal action against them.

Mr Richards urged the MHRA to clarify both of these issues as soon as possible to ensure that Botox treatments are as safe as possible and administered by appropriate practitioners.

Infection of patients undergoing treatment in the UK is “not likely” reassures Mr Adrian Richards, an award-winning plastic surgeon with clinics in Harley Street and Buckinghamshire.  In an attempt to counteract the scare stories out today about the new ‘superbug’, New Delhi Metallo 1 (NDM-1), Mr Richards explains that infection is “highly unlikely” amongst most adults undergoing plastic surgery in the UK.

In his video on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUI1L5WJPj0) Mr Richard explains that the bug originated in the Indian subcontinent and has caused concern amongst medical professionals as it resistant to known antibiotics.  There have been 50 cases reported in the UK, all from people who have undergone surgery within India or Pakistan and have since returned to the UK for further treatment.

Mr Richards reassures patients thinking of undergoing plastic surgery in the UK by explaining those susceptible of contracting the infection are those who are immuno-compromised, very young or very old.  If you have an open wound and have come into contact with someone who has recently visited India you should refrain from undergoing further surgical treatment.

The message for UK patients is that if they should discuss any concerns they have with their surgeon.  However, we should be reassured that healthy adults will have nothing to fear by being treated by reputable UK-based plastic surgeons who operate in highly sterile conditions.

Finding a plastic surgeon that is safe, trust worthy and provides excellent service can be found by looking at their training and reputation. Looking for a plastic surgeon is similar to finding a lawyer, accountant, dentist or any other professional that will be used for a service. Their education, training, certifications, experience and practice in their field should be scrutinized before selecting a doctor.

Trying to research plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgeons is not always so easy. Looking through the phone books or online depicts this immediately. Many surgeons and even non surgeons call themselves cosmetic surgeons, cosmetic specialists or cosmetic surgeons that specialize in certain areas of the body. You may even come across listings that the doctors state they are certified cosmetic surgeons, but never say what they are certified in.

This has caused confusion with consumers who go to doctors and find out later that they were not a certified plastic surgeon. This is only found after the outcome of the surgery has been botched or had unfavorable results.

A plastic surgeon should have surgical skills and training, as well as be able to make surgical judgments during a procedure. Plastic surgeons should also be continuing their education and their skills even after graduating. Surgeons should attend conventions and be completing their required CME hours. The symbol of excellence should be seen which certifies that they have board certification to be a plastic surgeon.

Furthermore, when visiting a plastic surgeon for a consultation, talk with the staff and find out about their backgrounds as well. Watch the dynamics of the office and find out about their training and position within the staff as well. Find out about the coordination of care, clerical duties, nurse and technician care as well, since these can be performed by trained staff. Know where the doctor does his procedures and who will be with him.

Check into the location, the equipment used, inspections and maintenance performed there and safety within the facility. As well as making sure there is emergency equipment and medications on hand as well in case of an emergency.

The Irish Times reported that a plastic surgeon was found guilty of misconduct in the treatment of a 33-year-old Dublin woman. Twelve allegations were made against him and a three person inquiry team found him guilty of six of them.

Ms. Catherine McCormack underwent a breast augmentation at an Advanced Cosmetic Surgery (ACS) clinic in Dublin, with Dr. Marco Loiacono as her surgeon. A few days after the procedure her left breast became infected and Dr. Loiacono failed to arrange for adequate post-operative treatment. He did not remove the implant in a timely manner, kept inaccurate records, and failed to treat the infection properly. The inquiry team also found that he did not apply adequate standards of clinical competence or judgment.

Ms. McCormack had undergone the procedure to move from a B cup to a D/DD cup, and was initially happy with the results. When the left breast became infected Dr. Loiacono stitched up the wound and gave her an antibiotic. He did not remove the implant and thus the antibiotic was ineffective. Instead of ending up with enhanced breast, Ms. McCormick ended up deformed.

Dr. Peter Meagher, a reconstructive breast surgeon at Dublin’s St. James’s Hospital, gave evidence to the enquiry team. He said that Dr. Loicono’s handling of Ms. McCormack’s case was “fundamentally flawed” and “suboptimal”. His refusal to hospitalize her was negligent and inevitably harmful. He also attacked Dr. Liocono’s choice of operation facility. The ACS clinic did not have the proper post-operative facilities. The clinic has actually gone into liquidation.

Criticism was also lodged because Ms. McCormack was not seen for the first time until 20 days after her surgery. This follow up was not even effective because at that time the infection was observed but not treated correctly. Also she was not seen until eight days after that follow up .

Dr. Loiacono represented himself and said that given the chance he would not have done anything differently. He claimed that he was available to Ms. McCormack within 24 hours after her procedure. He claimed that when he saw her for the follow up appointment, she only had a mild infection and he put her on antibiotics. He said that he would have had her admitted to the ACS clinic if he had found it necessary.

The inquiry team recommended that Dr. Loicona keep his license to practice provided that he meet certain conditions. He must undertake an appropriate professional development program, however the decision must be ratified by the full council.

The increased cost of medical procedures, coupled with a long waiting list, means many Britains are going over seas to have medical procedures done. No longer is going over sees reserved for cheap cosmetic surgery. Needed procedures, such as dentistry infertility treatments and hip replacement are what people go there now for.

There is controversy to it though. Antibiotics are running low due to the increased medical tourism. 1 in 20 people go over sees or outside of Britain or considering doing so to have medical procedures done. Countries such as Poland, Czech Republic and Bulgaria are increasing their medical tourism numbers, due to NHS cut backs and European currencies. With even more cuts planned for the NHS, more tourism medical procedures are seen in the future.

The British Medical Association or the BMA says do thorough research of any hospital or clinic that is over sees. The GP should be talked with as well and a patient should look into every aspect of the treatment they are looking at having done. Patients should consider the safety and health standards of the companies and what long distance travel will mean after a procedure has been completed.

Hospitals in Asia and India many times have doctors that have trained in America or Britain. These qualifications can easily be verified and they will speak clear English. Make sure English is spoken, this is very important when talking with nurses and other staff.

Also, treatments such as obesity, fertility, addition and hair transplants are being done abroad as well. Some procedures are less at first glance, however in the long run they do not save any money. A crown is less expensive in Spain, but the x-rays are more and are needed before and after the procedure is done. However, this cost can be recouped because an oral exam and consultation is free in Spain.

Furthermore, make sure that post care is covered as well. Have arrangements made or make sure they are part of the procedures package. This care is just as important as the procedure itself. Follow up visits and appointments should be clearly laid out with the over sees doctor, so that patients understand what they are receiving and how the procedure will be handled once it is completed.

Many children suffer from deformities of the face and skull. These deformities are tricky to fix because of the impingement on skin, bone, brain and eyes. The aesthetic outcome of the surgery must also be considered. The child’s face will grow and the repair should be as minimally disfiguring as possible. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital has a craniofacial and plastic surgery team that is able to perform these reconstructions efficiently and effectively.

The clinic has specialists from craniofacial surgery, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, orthordontics, genetics, psychiatry, audiology, speech-language therapy, ophthalmology, nursing and social work. This wide range of specialists allows for the children to see each doctor that they may need all in the same day. It makes the process easier on the families because it is not necessary for them to travel to multiple specialists separately. After this procedure they then create a coordinated care plan to ensure that all treatments are delivered at the correct times.

Packard Children’s research has made advances in the stretching of bone. A few deformities are results of disfigured bone and creating a way to fix this was completely necessary. The surgeon cut the bone in two and secure the two pieces close together, causing the pieces to grow trying to close the gap. As the gap gets smaller the surgeons spread the bone again, repeating this process until it is the right size. This process is called bone distraction and is used in undersized jaw bones, facial asymmetry, and crainiosynostosis.

Soft tissue defects of the face, head and neck are also treated at Packard Children’s. They are able to restore smiles of children who lack facial nerve and muscle function. They actually take pieces of tissue from other parts of the body and then transplant them in the affected area. After meticulously connecting blood vessels and nerves the transplants are able to grow naturally. Another soft flesh treatment that they offer is for hemangiomas. Hemangiomas is a blood vessel tumor which causes purple blotches on the skin. These tumors can leave a scar if not operated on.

The Clinic would like to be able to perform these reconstructive procedures without leaving any scar at all. They are researching fetal dot cells to accomplish this. Dr. H. Peter Lorenz is the director of craniofacial surgery and service chief for plastic surgery at Packard Children’s. He told Stanford School of Medicine that,
“Dot cells are like soldiers for stem cells.” Research showed that the cells move to a wound and help to make healthy new skin. He continued, “We could inject the cells into patients with skin problems to enable scarless skin repair. The possibilities are really exciting.”

Many women can find a few areas on their body that they believe has too much fat. Many of these women also find that their breasts are too small. A new procedure, called fat grafting or fat transfer, now allows for them to take fat from one part of their body and use it to enhance their breasts.

Anup Dhir is a senior cosmetic surgeon at New Delhi’s Apollo hospital and spoke to The India Times concerning this hot new procedure. He said that surgeons were once afraid to use fat grafting. He explained, “A decade ago surgeons were hesitant to perform this procedure as calcification after fat transplantation could not be differentiated from those caused by cancer.” Calcification is the process where
calcium salts build up in soft tissue making it hard. He goes on to explain that the MRI has allowed these concerns to be cleared up.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which was holding reservations about this procedure, has finally given their approval. Anup Dhir said, “I personally feel the situation with fat grafting will be the biggest thin in plastic surgery in the first half of the 21st century, not just for breasts but for other parts of the body as well.” Being able to have a breast enhancement while also slimming and contouring the body, is a novel procedure that many women will be excited to avail themselves of.

Meenakshi Agarwal is a Mumbai- based cosmetic surgeon who has performed a few fat-grafting surgeries, and he sings praises to the natural look of the new breasts. To the India Times he explained, “If a woman wants natural looking breast, she should go for fat grafting. It is a better way of getting a soft, visible push-up effect and more streamlined breasts.” No matter how good the surgeon is, getting silicon or saline implants to look and feel as natural as a fat grafting augmentation is impossible.

Dr. Dhir would caution women who are seeking this procedure to be sure that the surgeon is well trained. He said, “The technique must include all precautions to ensure that the maximum survival of fat tissue occurs. This can be achieved by reducing the possibility of trauma to the harvested site, demonstrating correct refinement of the tissue.” He also explains that a patented suction system is being designed to make the transfer more efficient.

This procedure is less invasive than a traditional breast augmentation and the results are claimed to be better. The fact that the implanted material is from the patients own body helps to prevent the development of complications and side effects. This procedure could indeed be the future of breast enhancement.

The earthquake in Haiti has left many people injured and deformed. Many of the victims require complex reconstructive surgical procedures. World wide assistance has been offered but the problem seems to be overwhelming. Dr. Craig Hobar, of the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute, told the Dallas Morning News, “Either you say it’s too enormous; there’s no way; get me out of here – or you react like I hope we have; You say there’s too much pain and devastation, and I can’t fix it, but I’ve got to do everything I can do to help.” And he is truly doing everything that he can.

Dr. Hobar has steeped away from his practice in order to organize assistance for Haiti. He was approached to organize medical teams and logistics for specialists who wanted to help Haiti. By the fourth day after the quake Hobar was on the ground in Haiti along with two colleagues. This group performed around the clock amputations and trauma surgeries for three days. Hobar then returned to Texas to organize the help.

In 1991 Hobar had started a not-for-profit organization called Life Enhancement Association for People (LEAP). This organization performed medical missions around the world to help fix children’s facial and limb deformities, with annual medical missions. He said of the countries that they help, “For many of these countries we have become the team of last hope.”

Now LEAP has come to Haiti’s aid. The organization has donated over $100,000 and has brought together volunteers to mount a long-term presence in Haiti. Hundreds of surgeons and other medical personnel from as far away as Germany and Turkey have volunteered. The personnel are on week long rotations to provide the medical care needed, especially post operation treatment. Donors were also generously available when needed. Some business men even offered their private jets for transporting teams to Haiti.

In the midst of the relief effort Dr. Hobar was happy and depressed at the same time. He was happy to be helping where he was needed and sad to see the devastation surrounding the people of Haiti. A hand surgeon by the name of Dr. John Elfar summed it up well when he said, “You can’t do this work too long. It’ll break your heart. Still, it’s not very often you feel like you’ve gone to the right place and done the
right thing.”

Dr. Paul Angelchik is a cosmetic surgeon in Phoenix Arizona. His goal for each of his patients is to find the right procedure for them and then use his skill and experience to give them the look that they desire. He does, however, understand that not all surgeons have these goals. And so, Dr. Angelchik wrote a press release to give people an outline to follow when choosing a plastic surgeon.

He says, “When choosing the right plastic surgeon, there are many things to consider. After all, you usually do not get more than one chance to improve your appearance with plastic surgery or minimally invasive cosmetic treatments.” He divides the choice into four specific things to look for when choosing a plastic
surgeon. These are education, associations, experience, and vision.

A plastic surgeon is required to do years of specialty training after medical school. When choosing a plastic surgeon, a person wants to be sure that they are well educated and trained for the procedure. A good surgeon will not only rely on what he learned in school. He will also keep abreast of new techniques and
technologies that are becoming available. Finding out about a doctor’s education is as simple as asking them about it or checking on it via the internet.

There are many plastic surgery associations that a doctor can be a member of. In the UK two of the most prestigious associations are the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and The Harley Medical Group. In the US the major association is the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). A surgeon should be certified to practice plastic surgery, operate an accredited facility, attend continuing education programs and also follow a strict code of conduct. Many associations require at least these things of their surgeons and most require more. It can be important to know what certificates and awards a surgeon might have, as well as other associations or fellowships that the surgeons is a member of. A surgeon’s charitable contributions is also a good way to gauge his or her character.

The experience of a plastic surgeon is gauged by a few things. The number of years in practice is important but a decision cannot be made based solely on this. Research should be done to determine if any newsworthy problems ever occurred in association with the doctor. These negative news stories should not weigh too heavily on a decision however they should not be ignored. Talking to people who have actually been patients of a surgeon is usually a good way to gauge his or her experience.

The vision of a plastic surgeon is a true test of the surgeon. He or she should be able to give you specific goals concerning your procedure and be able to meet these goals. During the patient interview the surgeon should be able to outline the procedure and make the patient feel comfortable and at ease.