Safety
CosmeticSurgeryToday.co.uk believes it is crucial that you always follow basic safety guidelines. Joining with The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), a non-profit organisation committed to maintaining standards in the cosmetic industry, CosmeticSurgeryToday.co.uk promotes a simple checklist to follow before embarking on any invasive or non-invasive treatments or procedures click here for more information
We are constantly bombarded with images of beautiful people in the public eye, fuelling our desire to achieve the body beautiful and hold back the ravages of time. Cosmetic surgery and procedures to improve your personal appearance are growing in popularity in the UK with the latest figures released by market analyst Mintel predicting that in 2008 Britons will spend more than £1billion on cosmetic surgery.
This surge is partly due to the perception that technical advances in the last few years have improved what is achievable and minimised potential risks and recovery periods. While this is undoubtedly true, if you are contemplating surgery or even a non-invasive procedure, it is crucial that you follow basic safety guidelines to prepare yourself. As Mark Henley, consultant plastic surgeon, makes clear, "Cosmetic surgery undertaken in appropriate circumstances is very positive and can be life changing in a highly beneficial way. However, if things are not right then it is likely to be at least unsatisfactory and, at worst, disastrous for all concerned." Mark is a member of The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), a nonprofit organisation committed to maintaining standards in the field of cosmetic surgery, which has provided a simple checklist to follow.
S.U.R.E you want cosmetic surgery?
S is for surgeon
The first step is to find the right surgeon and check their credentials. Rajiv Grover, consultant plastic surgeon and Secretary of BAAPS, feels that "some people spend longer choosing their bathroom tiles than they do choosing their surgeon". Below is a list of useful websites to check out including the Healthcare Commission as all clinics should be registered with the Commission. As a spokesperson for the Commission explains this can have serious implications: "If a clinic offers a procedure without that registration they are not legally registered to offer that treatment and their insurance might not cover you in the event of something going wrong."
Hospitals which have strong associations with NHS consultants and practices will also adhere to high standards and so offer some level of reassurance.
U is for understand
Make sure you fully understand what’s involved and that you are informed about the potential risk of each procedure, be it surgical or non-surgical. The internet can be a valuable source of information but it can also fast become bewildering; for every imperfection there are a number of treatments that could deal with the problem. It is imperative that you discuss in depth with your surgeon what you would like to achieve and, even more importantly, that you take on board what is actually achievable.
R is for recovery
Make sure you fully understand the process of recovery and what the long-term implications are of any cosmetic treatment. The term cosmetic may make it seem like a glorified beauty treatment but they are just as complex as other medical operations and they should be taken just as seriously. Rajiv Grover believes that "many patients still think that some procedures can be performed in a lunch hour but unfortunately all surgical operations have significant down time and will require time off work and social activities".
EXPERT OPINION
Rajiv Grover is consultant plastic surgeon, Secretary of BAAPS and responsible for the UK safety audit of cosmetic surgery for the Royal College of Surgeons. He urges people to follow a simple checklist in choosing a cosmetic surgeon.
Before the consultation
- Check the qualifications of the surgeon: do they hold the exam FRCS (Plast.). This is the only specialist exam in Plastic Surgery through the Royal College of Surgeons. They should also be a member of BAAPs or on the General Medical Council’s specialist register for plastic surgery
- How did you find your surgeon? Beware of free consultations, try to get recommendations, make very careful checks before going abroad for surgery
During the consultation
- Understand the procedure, likely outcome, costs and risk. Remember, no procedure is 100% risk free
- Feel comfortable with your surgeon; guage their experience in performing a particular procedure
After the consultation
- Take your time making such a crucial decision. Do not be rushed into paying a deposit
- Timing of the surgery is important; do not embark on surgery if you have recently experienced a major lifechanging event
E stands for expectations
A recent survey by top American plastic surgeon’s Toby Mayer and Richard Fleming put together the perfect face; it had Katie Holmes’ eyes, Katherine Heigl’s nose, Keira Knightley’s cheeks and Angelina Jolie’s lips. But what looks great on Angelina Jolie might not work on you. It is essential that your hopes be compatible with what can actually be achieved. A patient who has a personal desire for, and is able to identify realistic goals, is likely to be a suitable candidate – but someone who thinks the procedure will magically change their life may not be right for surgery. Rajiv Grover is of the opinion this is probably the most important area you should consider and it is crucial the surgeon gives an honest and clear opinion as to what can be achieved. "If what you are looking for cannot realistically be achieved you would be better off spending the money in Selfridges or on a cruise."
Non-surgical procedures
Over recent years, the market for non-surgical procedures has exploded with people keen to experiment with treatments that avoid the need for surgery with its higher costs and safety considerations. But although these treatments do not involve surgery that does not mean they are risk free and some of these treatments can have permanent effects.
Dr Rita Rakus, co-founder of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors (BACD) believes that it was essential for cosmetic doctors to selfregulate themselves to provide prospective patients with a degree of reassurance. "The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors was set up to provide the public with a list of reputable practitioners and provide training for cosmetic doctors. As well as checking the BACD website www.cosmeticdoctors.co.uk and that the practitioner is registered with the Health Care Commission (HCC), further endorsements can be obtained from the manufacturer of the product, e.g. Allergan (Botox) or QMed (Restylane), who provide a list of trained practitioners."
Currently, the use of musclerelaxing injections such as Dysport and remodelling techniques using cells, tissues or synthetic products (dermal fillers) are not regulated by the Healthcare Commission. Botox is a prescription-only medicine, and must be prescribed by a doctor, dentist or a registered nurse, so it is important to ask that they are registered with the appropriate body.
Other non-surgical treatments are not currently regulated and are carried out in hospitals, clinics and beauty salons by doctors, dentists, nurses and beauty therapists. You must make sure that the person offering the treatment is adequately trained and sufficiently experienced, as there is currently little protection if something goes wrong.
USEFUL WEBSITES
- www.baaps.org.uk: for more information on BAAPS safety guidelines and an accredited list of surgeons
- There are also organisations for dentists, the British Association of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) at www.bacd.com and for doctors specialising in non-invasive surgery, the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors (BACD), which provide a list of BACD-approved doctors at www.cosmeticdoctors.co.uk
- www.dh.gov.uk/en/publichealth: The Department of Health provides a comprehensive look at the cosmetic surgery industry (follow the links to cosmetic surgery)
- www.rsceng.ac.uk: The Royal College of Surgeons website provides details on surgical training in England as well as advice for patients
- www.gmc-uk.org: The General Medical Council provides a search facility that allows users to check a doctor’s registration. It also includes a registration of surgeons and anaesthetists.
- www.healthcarecommission.org.uk: The Healthcare Commission’s website contains information on cosmetic surgery and details of all hospitals, clinics and other providers who are registered with the Commission, as well as links to any inspection reports that the Commission have produced
