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The Harley Street Journal

Bi-monthly newspaper for the cosmetic and plastic surgery sector

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facial plastic surgery

Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Should I Be Having Surgery At All?

September 14, 2014 by Laura Casewell

12503410_xxlIn the last issue of THSJ, we revealed statistics showing most women have their first cosmetic procedure by 21 years of age. With cases of BDD on the rise, Marie Shoulder from Bevan Brittan explains why it’s important to ensure that patients have realistic expectations on the outcome of their cosmetic surgery.

Around 2% of the population suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). The disorder can range in severity but it is generally characterised by the sufferer being overly obsessive about their appearance, and in particular one aspect of their appearance which to others may seem trivial or non-existent.

A recent study by the Institute of Education at the University of London commissioned by the Department of Health revealed that those who have underlying psychological issues such as depression and BDD are more likely to have cosmetic surgery. The caution lies however in the fact that a psychological condition can actually worsen rather than improve following cosmetic surgery. In a case with a patient who has BDD for example they can undergo several cosmetic surgery procedures whilst becoming increasingly unhappy with their appearance, which can often result in depression, agoraphobia and social isolation.

This impact could add thousands to the potential value of any damages claim, certainly if a loss of earnings claim were to be advanced along with a claim for treatment such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The current JC Guidelines value general damages for psychiatric and psychological damage up to £82,750 at the top end of the bracket where the impact of the disorder can affect the injured person’s ability to cope with life and work and on the injured person’s relationships with family, friends and those with whom he or she comes into contact and the prospects for recovery are poor.

So, how well do practitioners know their patients? In most cases, patients undergoing cosmetic surgery do so without referral from their GP. It is therefore extremely important that a thorough discussion takes place to identify the reasons why a patient is seeking to undergo surgery. If there is any suspicion that a practitioner is dealing with an at-risk patient, they must question whether the treatment is appropriate at all. A patient with BDD is unlikely to accept they have a mental disorder at all because to them their cosmetic flaws are very real so obtaining informed consent is fraught with difficulty.

The IHAS “Good Medical Practice in Cosmetic Surgery” Guidelines state that the patient must be asked to give consent to inform their GP of any planned surgery. A GP may be able to provide important information about the patient and so if the patient refuses to give consent to contact their GP this should instantly raise suspicion. So, if a practitioner decides to proceed, the patient must be made aware of the implications of not informing his/her GP and should be asked to sign a disclaimer to that effect.

It is an unnecessary risk to provide invasive cosmetic surgery without information about the patient’s medical history and every effort should be made to obtain confirmation from their GP that there is no known medical reason not to operate.

Although not mandatory, there are psychological screening processes available which are designed to provide a more thorough investigation into the patients reasoning for wanting cosmetic surgery. These screening processes can offer a strong indication of whether or not surgery is the appropriate choice for a patient before they go ahead.

The consultation that a patient has with his/her surgeon is a very important part of the cosmetic surgery process and should never be underestimated. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a significant mental disorder which causes great distress to sufferers.

However, it also creates particular problems for cosmetic surgery practitioners with a higher risk of claims and potentially large awards of damages if an existing condition is exacerbated by the very surgery that was undertaken to make the patient feel better about themselves.

Filed Under: Blog, Features, News Tagged With: cosmetic, cosmetic surgery, cosmetic treatment, facial plastic surgery, plastic, plastic surgery

Knowing Cause of Hyperpigmentation Is Essential to Treatment, Say Plastic Surgeons

April 23, 2014 by Laura Casewell

11948059_xxlAccording to a plastic surgery group, correcting hyperpigmentation is often a complex process, and it should always begin with an in-depth consultation to understand the cause before treatment.

Surgeons and skin care professionals at LIPSG treat a variety of patient concerns, but among the more difficult to address is hyperpigmentation.

To get the most out of skin pigmentation treatment, the LIPSG doctors say patients must first undergo a comprehensive skin evaluation. By doing so, skin care professionals can assess potential causes of the dark skin discoloration and whether it was influenced by genetics, medical history, or other lifestyle factors. The LIPSG team notes that each of these can play a role in skin cell function, and by relating hyperpigmentation to a specific cause, the most effective method of treatment can often be identified.

Most treatment options for the skin condition utilise heat, light, chemicals, or lasers, and the LIPSG doctors emphasise the need for a thorough skin analysis to determine if the patient’s condition is treatable.

Common procedures performed for these patients include chemical peels, IPL therapy, microdermabrasion, and laser skin resurfacing. In addition, the aesthetic professionals at the Aesthetic Center can also recommend camouflage makeup for the temporary concealment of dark spots.

Overall, the surgeons and aestheticians at LIPSG believe successful treatment of hyperpigmentation relies on a thorough skin analysis. For patients who wish to address their uneven skin tone, they recommend seeking a qualified professional who understands how various factors affects skin and how potential treatment methods will affect the condition.

Filed Under: Blog, Features, News Tagged With: cosmetic, cosmetic news, cosmetic treatment, cosmetic treatments, facial plastic surgery, hyperpigmentation, news, plastic, plastic surgery, skin, skincare

Top surgeon opens High tech clinic in Cheltenham

April 22, 2014 by Laura Casewell

15941575_xxlA new clinic has opened in Cheltenham, offering surgical and non-surgical procedures, carried out by top consultant Robert Warr.

Look Amazing was launched nine months ago, bringing specialist skin and laser treatment to Cheltenham. The clinic boasts the latest technology to deal with lines, wrinkles, unwanted hair and other skin issues.

Although he covers all cosmetic surgery, he specialises in breast reconstruction and skin cancers, including reconstructive surgery following operations.

“I also do a lot of non-surgical treatments such as Botox, lasers and fillers, which are incredibly popular these days,” said Robert, 47.

“Following the review regulations are being tightened up for non-surgical procedures, which is good for us as our unique selling point is that people will be having treatments performed by a consultant plastic surgeon,” he concluded.

Filed Under: Blog, Features, News Tagged With: cosmetic, cosmetic news, cosmetic treatments, facial plastic surgery, news, non-surgical, plastic, plastic surgery, surgeon, surgical

International Symposium of Facial Plastic Surgery in New York

April 11, 2014 by Laura Casewell

7961111_xxlThe American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the 11th International Symposium of Facial Plastic Surgery- and surgeons from all over the UK will be there representing the industry.
Every four years, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and the International Federation of Facial Plastic Surgery Societies (IFFPSS) host an international symposium that brings together facial plastic surgeons from all over the world and in the specialties of facial plastic surgery, oculoplastic surgery, dermatologic surgery, plastic and cosmetic surgery.

The New York gathering features the latest trends and technologies in facial plastic and cosmetic surgery. It’s a mixture of lectures, panels, workshops and instruction courses led by leaders in the field followed by an exhibition of hundreds of companies showcasing and introducing their latest products and services.

Mr Aftab Ahmed, an ENT Surgeon based in Doncaster, said attending the event will be an insightful and important date for his busy diary.

“I am thrilled to be representing the UK at this unique conference,” he said.

“It’s important that we carry on learning and understanding the latest techniques and treatments on offer in order to offer patients the best procedures and the finest results,” he concluded.

The conference will take place May 27th-31st at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: America, cosmetic, cosmetic news, cosmetic treatment, facial, facial plastic surgery, New York, news, plastic, plastic surgery

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