Last Word: Rozina Ali

By: Katharine Griffiths
Created on 10th February 2012

Consultant plastic surgeon Miss Rozina Ali explains why plastic surgeons should embrace non-surgical procedures for their patients' benefit... but only if they are truly convinced of their worth

I believe strongly in being able to offer my patients the best the surgical and non- surgical spheres have to offer and I think this is a significant development in the quality of aesthetic medicine. It’s my very own modern holistic approach to rejuvenation.

Past practice

If surgeons have been seen to avoid non-surgical procedures in the past, it’s probably because there are very few plastic and reconstructive surgeons in the UK so we’ve been busy performing other procedures. Also, any surgeon will only offer treatments that they have experience of or faith in. It’s almost like we’ve had to wait until the non-surgical techniques available were able to compete with surgical techniques.

Also, I think it wasn’t always obvious just how much benefit we could bring as surgeons, with our greater experience and qualifications. This has become more obvious as we’ve seen the gap filled by less skilled and knowledgeable practitioners and, increasingly, I meet patients who’ve had less than satisfactory aesthetic procedures or been offered inappropriate solutions.

I believe that it’s imperative that any non-surgical work is seen as a valuable adjunct to surgical practice and that the surgeon offering it has to enjoy and believe in the value of a total rejuvenation package.

Best for patients

Embracing non-surgical procedures has improved my practice because it has enhanced the results that I can achieve from surgery alone. It has also benefited my patients because they enjoy the practitioner they trust the most being able to offer them a wide gamut of techniques – if you only know non-surgical procedures then that’s all you can offer, whatever the problem, likewise with surgeons only offering surgery.

I’ve found it wonderfully freeing to be able to take into account a patient’s lifestyle, financial limitations, their skin and ageing issues and then offer them what they will most benefit from or actually need.

Looking good, feeling good

I’m passionate about therapeutic skincare because I believe it isn’t just about what looks better – the patient should be physically better off for having these treatments. Active ingredients such as retinoic acid, hydroquinone or antioxidants can have a positive effect on the visible skin and underlying dermis and can be delivered by a number of novel technologies.

The needle versus the scalpel

Fillers and volumisers can be magical, although I have to qualify that statement because I’m not a fan of puffed-up swollen faces, where agents have been used indiscriminately to fill loose skin, which would benefit from being tightened. However, if they are used judiciously, in the right places, then they can have a wonderful and immediate effect.

A passion for aesthetics

In the past plastic surgeons might not have entered the non- surgical arena – whether because they haven’t been interested or felt out of their depth – but I think most are well-placed to do so. Whatever treatments you offer, you have to have a passion and believe strongly in them, otherwise you are doing your patients a disservice.