Cosmeticsurgeon.co.uk - UK Cosmetic Surgeons

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.

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.”