Recently, as discussed in this blog before, you will know that there was a scandal involving 50,000 women getting PIP breast implants or Poly Implant Prothèse manufactured by a French company with the same name. These implants were made of industrial grade material and pose as a great health hazard to the women who have undergone surgery with PIP as breast implants.

Leading British Doctors have asked the government to have PIP implants removed from some 50,000 British women who have had them implanted during breast enlargement operations. There has been research conducted regarding the PIP implants which shows that the shells are faulty and are twice as likely to break compared to other brands. The material inside these PIP implants are made of industrial grade silicone which are normally used for mattress production.

If these implants were to burst inside the bodies of those who have them, it may escalate to serious medical complications that would be very serious. Women who have had PIP implants ruptured inside their bodies complained of swollen lymph nodes and pains in their breasts. The leading doctors calling on the government to take out these implants from women who have them believe that these PIP implants are very hazardous to health.

Having breast implants is not an easy decision, and you do need to be careful as to who performs the surgery and what kind of implants you get it. It is always best to be safe rather than be sorry when it comes to procedures where you’re going under the knife. The best thing advice we can give is to do your own research about which surgeon you should choose, for example, an experienced and qualified surgeon who belongs to BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) and/or BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons).  Any surgical procedure should not be taken lightly.

Remember: good breast implants may not be cheap, but cheap breast implants are never good. Think before you agree to any cosmetic surgery procedure and consult only with qualified and experienced surgeons, such as those belonging to SaferCosmeticSurgery.

According to leading psychologists, when people go under the knife to make multiple adjustments to their face and body, they can grossly underestimate the deep attachment they feel towards looking a certain way. This can particularly apply to the facial features, which we tend to most closely associate with ‘who we are’. The truth of the matter is that in some cases, the very features that we view as flawed may figure in our psyche as part of what makes us the people we are. The configuration of our facial features that we are used to plays an important part in how we view our own identity.

A huge disappointment can arise from a patient putting all their hopes into a procedure changing them for the better in a way that is more fundamental than mere aesthetics. One example would be that someone asking for the “Duchess of Cambridge’s nose” during a rhinoplasty consultation, may subconsciously hope that this change will result in a life that more closely resembles hers. When people go overboard and plan sweeping surgical changes, the risk of a detrimental psychological impact is greatly increased.

Experienced surgeons are well aware of the potential psychological impact of surgery, which is why they always take such care with prior consultations and thoroughly assess patients as candidates for surgery. It is also another reminder, if it were needed, of why the disreputable, fly-in-fly-out (“FIFO”) surgeons who carry out surgeries with little thought for the well-being of the patient, need to have their activities curtailed by tighter regulation. Members of SaferCosmeticSurgery, who all belong to BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) and/or BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons) support the judicious use of psychological screening by qualified surgeons to help ensure that the outcomes of cosmetic surgery are positive in terms of both the physical and psychological results.

People in crisis – If you are experiencing a stressful time, such as grieving for a loved one, going through a divorce, coping with losing your job or similar, you should not consider cosmetic surgery at that time.  Deal with the crisis and only think about a change in appearance afterwards, if at all.

People who have unrealistic expectations – if you dream that having the nose of a Duchess may bring you untold riches, or if you hope that a movie star’s chin may give you the same glamour and lifestyle, or if you are very mature yet want the features of a twenty year-old.  It pays to remember that even the most skilled surgeon’s knife is not a magic wand.

People who are impossible to please – If you are going from surgeon to surgeon hoping to find a yes-man who will tell you what you want to hear, it could be time to stop and re-examine your approach. What you want may just not be possible.

People who obsess about a minor flaw – correcting a tiny detail is unlikely to transform every aspect of your life.  Try to think about surgery and your own appearance in realistic terms.

People are mentally ill – It is important that if you are considering undergoing surgery, you should have sound judgement and no paranoia or psychosis at the time of surgery.

Michael Tyler, SCS Surgeon and member of BAAPS, comments, “Any decision to have surgery is a very important one. The biggest variable in any operation is the surgeon, so choosing an experienced, well-trained surgeon is important. For that reason it is important to consult with the operating surgeon first, rather that an assistant or sales person.”

Experienced and qualified cosmetic surgeons, such as the surgeons belonging to the Safer Cosmetic Surgery group, already recognise that people in these circumstances will not be permitted to have surgery.  Members of SaferCosmeticSurgery all belong to BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) and/or BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons).  All the more reason to make sure that clients consult a surgeon who cares for their whole health, which means assessing the potential psychological impact, as well as any change to their physical and aesthetic well-being.

Well, you’re not alone. Even TV soap stars worry about losing their youthful looks. Ex-Coronation Street actress, Beverley Callard, is just one of the latest converts to cosmetic surgery, and has turned to Botox to smooth away the lines that appear when she wrinkles her nose. She’s also hoping to have further work on her neck to turn the clock back on an area that she’s “very conscious about.”

Help is at hand if you’ve found yourself in the same dilemma as Beverley. If you’d prefer not to go under the knife, there are many non-surgical procedures available that can help restore a fresh, radiant appearance. Dermal fillers can be used to plump out bothersome lines and wrinkles, chemical peels can improve fine lines, scars, age spots, and irregular skin tones, and Botox can help banish folds and lines caused by loss of skin elasticity.

For a more drastic and long-lasting “new you,” you may wish to consider some of the surgical options available. Brow lifts and eyelid surgery can help to perk up your appearance and tighten your skin, whilst a face lift or neck lift can combat a whole range of ageing afflictions, such as sagging skin, wrinkles, double chins, and “turkey necks.”

If you’d like to know more about how any of these procedures could help you, talk to our friendly and professional team today to book a no-obligation consultation with a member of SaferCosmeticSurgery, all of whom belong to BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) and/or BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons).

A leading plastic surgeon from Hull, England, Mr Alastair Platt, has recently commented on how this rather delicate topic should be handled in public.

Rolling up at a dinner party, neighbour’s BBQ, or a company work do and finding that a friend or acquaintance is looking distinctly different in appearance can naturally throw you off guard. However, Mr Platt comments, “I will often have patients say ‘I don’t want anyone to know that I have had something done’.  I often suggest to them that they change their hairstyle if they are worried about this.”

Please only take the lead in initiating some subtle questioning if you’re the one who’s undergone the procedure. Offer words of support if they decide to confide in you, but keep it at that, and don’t pry for additional information that may not be given readily. A simple, “you look amazing!” is enough to let them decide whether to let you in on their secret or not.

Many people who’ve had surgery may well wish to keep it private. If you’re one of them, a subtle change of hair colour or style, wardrobe makeover, or change in your make-up can help deflect attention away from your cosmetic procedure, and lead your friends to believe that these are the reasons why your appearance has changed.

On the other hand, if you want to shout from the rooftops about how pleased you are with your procedure, let people know you’re happy to talk about it to help them feel at ease.

It’s never pleasant when you find yourself in an awkward conversation, so mind your P’s and Q’s, and no one should feel offended or embarrassed.

The Royal College of Surgeons has recently released a new code of practice, which says that surgeons need to be more realistic about the results they can achieve, and should never tell their patients that they can give them their favourite celebrity’s look. It also recommends that patients should be psychologically assessed before undergoing the knife, and referred for counselling if deemed necessary. Furthermore, they only want trained doctors and nurses to be able to perform procedures such as facial fillers and laser surgery, in a change to the current legislation where almost anyone can carry out non-surgical treatments without training.

Glamour model, Alicia Douvall, is no stranger to the odd nip and tuck, and when she was recently interviewed on Radio 5 Live, she says she was frequently “sold stuff she didn’t need” by her surgeons. At one point, Alicia was recommended facial implants that “would give her more of an Angelina Jolie look” which would “make a huge difference” to her appearance and “make her happier”. Accepting this recommendation, she underwent the procedure and received the implants, which she described as “painful” and left her looking “absolutely horrendous,” leading her to promptly get them removed.

Nilesh Sojitra is a member of BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons), and says he welcomes the Royal College’s report, which BAAPS members have been pushing for since 2009. As well as agreeing that the regulation of the cosmetic surgery industry needs to be far tighter, he also says that many doctors have not undergone the relevant training to carry out treatments.

If you’re considering a surgical or non-surgical procedure, we strongly advise that you choose an experienced and qualified cosmetic surgeon. You should be given plenty of time to talk through your requirements before taking the plunge, and not given the hard sell. That’s exactly what we offer at SaferCosmeticSurgery – unbiased advice from professional surgeons, who you can trust 100%.

• At this stage it would appear that the risks to long-term health are not significant but further testing with PIP samples ‘in vivo’, or within the patient, may suggest different results.

• To assume that the PIP implant patients are now better off more than one year after the scandal broke, would be “disingenuous”.

• The crisis has revealed major issues concerning a lack of regulation with the cosmetic surgery industry, plus “trivialisation” of the industry and lack of clarity about what constitutes a bona fide surgeon.

Thus far, Grover underlined and reiterated key points previously raised by BAAPS, BAPRAS and other official bodies in connection with the PIP scandal (thousands of women in the UK received inferior breast implants during breast enlargement procedures). In underlining the need for further testing he is amongst those leading the way in trying to make sure that PIP patients receive those answers about the health effects of their faulty implants and that lessons are thoroughly learned. He also looks to the future in his statement:

• BAAPS recognises that this is a vital “pause” and time for reflection, implying that this is likely to benefit both patients and the industry, plus help to raise standards for the future.

• Grover adopts an optimistic tone, suggesting that 2013 may well prove to be “a turning point.”

• He highlights the fact that BAAPS is launching plans for the provision of an insurance scheme that will ensure that patients who require redress in future are well covered.

At Safer Cosmetic Surgery we wholeheartedly agree that this period is indeed a vital phase within the cosmetic surgery industry. The laxity that was demonstrated by the culpable parties within the PIP implant scandal cannot be allowed to spread unchecked throughout the industry. Instead, let this be a watershed moment, one which acts as a catalyst that leads us towards ever safer cosmetic surgery. As the BAAPS president concludes:

“It’s time to scrub up and take action to restore public confidence.”

“It has increased in its popularity, particularly into the face and, like most things cosmetic, has come across from the States.”

He went on to explain that procedures which involve injecting fat, for example, from the waistline into the face to plump and contour it have grown in popularity since people have had issues with non-surgical procedures like fillers. With fillers or collagen, the matter injected is a synthetic or non-human substance, whereas, as Mr Allison explained, the fat is the patient’s own and provides long-lasting facial rejuvenation.

Mr Allison asserts that these fat injections are “a safer option than some of the injectables that have been used in the past.”

There is no issue of rejection when the fat is the patient’s own and the risk of complications is reduced compared to some filler procedures that have led to lumpy faces.

Unlike certain areas of the US, there is no real demand for pronounced J-Lo posteriors from fat transfers, at least not in the north-east region of England where Mr. Allison practises. Similarly, men in this part of the country have not shown an increased interest in having more surgical procedures carried out.

Mr Allison’s view on fat transfer procedures, which are now more popular than liposuction, indicates that they are here to stay. In his interview he concluded that:

“Fat transfer is one of the most promising and newest surgical techniques that we’re using regularly… It is showing very promising results, with both facial and breast surgery and I think that it’s going to continue to be used.”

Undergoing cosmetic surgery can and should be a positive overall experience for the patient – and that includes their mind-set when they make the decision to seek surgery. A considered approach, guided by reputable professionals, is vital. Just because it is a New Year, there is never any reason to take ill-advised medical risks. So before you leap into a consultation for that ‘boob job’ (breast enlargement) you have always dreamed of, make sure that you check your surgeon is registered with BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons) and/or BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons).

If hoping for an improved appearance for the New Year, patients need to thoroughly research the procedure concerned rather than simply leaping in. The Keogh review, which is looking to improve the industry’s standards, recently denounced what can be described as ‘a makeover programme mentality’. The committee stated that:

“Cosmetic surgery… in TV make-over programmes was felt to trivialize surgery and its risks, while making excessive claims.”

We would certainly support this view – titillating, Cinderella-style programmes such as Extreme Makeover and Bridalplasty regularly treat cosmetic surgery like a game show prize. At the same time they promote the unrealistic idea that physical transformation is in itself a panacea, rather than the desired result of a medical operation.

As we have just stated, cosmetic surgery can and should be a positive overall experience for those who need it, but that can only be assured when patients take care to avoid those who would seek to exploit them. This New Year, our resolution is to continue to support and inform those who care about the availability of safer cosmetic surgery, commenting on the views of BAAPS , BAPRAS  and other official bodies throughout 2013 and beyond.

All our members of Safer Cosmetic Surgery are registered with BAAPS and/or BAPRAS and we provide lifelong aftercare.

So don’t delay contacting our friendly, helpful team today for some more information on the surgeons available. You can contact us via telephone on 0800 622 6262 or email: info@safercosmeticsurgery.co.uk

However, both BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) and BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons) have warned potential clients to avoid placing the cost of cheap procedures over personal safety and customer satisfaction. Both Associations have recently spoken out about the way that surgeries abroad advertise their services in a similar fashion to car sales, and the President of BAAPS is shocked that the average patient choosing to travel abroad for surgery spends less time choosing the right surgeon than they would “choosing bathroom tiles” for their home.

Here at Safer Cosmetic Surgery, we stand by the professionals, and would highly recommend that you only place your body in the hands of an experienced UK-based surgeon. Many overseas clinics speak very little English, leaving communication to translators – hardly reassuring when you have questions to ask, or need to take on-board important information before agreeing to go under the knife. You also run the risk of needing to return for post-operative consultations and even corrective surgery, which is by no means convenient (or free) when your surgeon lives in Argentina!

Whilst cheap procedures aboard may appear to be a bargain, you can’t put a price on your own health. Yes, the cost of cosmetic surgery in the UK is often higher, but if you do your research, you will find an experienced surgeon that you like. Your UK surgeon may not provide a free consultation, but will definitely provide achievable results, and unlimited aftercare. The value-for-money will soon become apparent.

All our surgeons are registered with BAAPS and/or BAPRAS and are available for professional consultations and expert advice. Contact one of our helpful, friendly and professional team today. You can contact us via telephone on 0800 622 6262 or email: info@safercosmeticsurgery.co.uk