London Bridge Plastic Surgery Blog

The British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)  has been calling for tougher industry regulations for some time now, and on Friday, the Department of Health will issue new guidelines on the use of Botox and fillers.

So why isn’t BAAPS happy? Because many surgeons feel that the Department of Health (DOH) has not gone far enough. The guidelines will ask the industry to take the lead on improving safety and regulate itself. It is understood the DoH will be proposing a voluntary system whereby clinics join a register run by the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services.

Chris Inglefield, from London Bridge Plastic Surgery, said: “Everyone will welcome the New Guidelines on the use of BOTOX and fillers from the DOH, but there is a call for tougher action from BAAPS and other organisations. But is legislation the right approach?  I do not support legislation as a means of improving standards of care. All medical professionals should adhere to the principles of Good Medical Practice and the tenet of “is the treatment or procedure in the best interest of the patient?” The filler and toxin industry has a duty to regulate practitioners who use their products – they make huge profits off of this!  The DOH should put pressure on the manufacturers of the fillers and toxins to ensure that patients receive a high standard of care at all times.”

The Irish Medical Council is currently dealing with the case of Dr Marco Loiacono, the Italian plastic surgeon who last Friday was found guilty of professional misconduct in relation to his treatment of a 33-year-old Dublin woman who attended him for a breast augmentation operation.

The inquiry has drawn attention to a range of questionable practices at some private cosmetic surgery clinics, including giving surgeons commission depending on how much business they can generate. Dr Loiacono’s contract stated he would get 8 per cent commission if he earned the ACS clinic more than €25,000 a day.

Chris Inglefield, surgeon at London Bridge Plastic Surgery, said: “This highlights the need for patients to consider seriously the nature of any cosmetic surgery. Choosing a plastic or cosmetic surgeon is the most important step in achieving a good outcome and patients should not compromise on this by selecting the least costly option. They must expect to pay a fair price for expertise, good care and quality implants. Surgeons must always adhere to the principles of good medical practice, and perform surgery which is in the patient’s best interest and not in their own financial best interest.”

According to the latest audit figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) there were more cosmetic procedures performed in 2009 than ever before.

The number of surgical procedures last year exceeded 36,400 –a slow but steady rise of 6.7% from 2008, despite the financial downturn. The most impressive stats have been recorded specifically in male surgery, the demand for which has grown by 21% overall, with the number of gynaecomastia (or ‘man-boob’) ops alone having shot up by 80%.

The BAAPS data for 2009 show an interesting trend. Rhinoplasty and browlift surgery has increased by over 20% in the recession, suggesting that may patients will give themselves a boost in self-confidence at this time. Surprisingly, blepharoplasty did not follow this increase. The big ticket surgery - facelift and tummy tucks showed a reduction in demand as patients avoided major surgery and likely opted for non-invasive treatments instead.

According to Mr. Nigel Mercer, consultant plastic surgeon and President of the BAAPS, “It’s encouraging that more people are choosing surgeons with excellent training and credentials from the BAAPS website. In the current climate it is even more important that patients seeking cosmetic surgical procedures do not make decisions based solely on price.”

2009 figures in order of popularity:

◦Breast augmentation               

◦Blepharoplasty (eyelid ops)     

◦Breast Reduction                     

◦Face/Neck Lift                                

◦Rhinoplasty                                    

◦Liposuction                                                          

◦Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)  

◦Browlift                                            

◦Otoplasty (ear correction)         

President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), Nigel Mercer, spoke out today about the lack of regulation in the UKs cosmetic surgery industry. He demanded the creation of a watchdog and said, “There is a British Potato Council so why not an OffCos? Surgeons can do more harm than potatoes!”

He was concerned about the level of marketing the British public are subjected to and warned them to be vigilant. “The public must also beware the marketing that goes on in the cosmetic industry and the outrageous claims that can be made by the PR machines of some businesses and some surgeons,” he said.

“A ban on advertising would be practically impossible, but regulation is eminently feasible. ‘Two for One’, time limited offers and non-refundable deposits put pressure on patients to embark in haste on a course that they may regret.”

Check your cosmetic surgeon’s qualifications on the Internet (www.baaps.org.uk/ and www.gmc-uk.org/).

Prices for cosmetic surgeries in the UK have decreased slightly throughout 2009 despite an increase in popularity and the number of services and products introduced into the market in recent years.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons  have found the UK experienced a 5% increase in demand from 2007 to 2008, and a 9% increase from 2008 to 2009.

Thanks to an 8.7% increase over the previous year, the UK plastic surgery industry reached a total market value of GBP536 million by the end of 2008. The reason for this is believed to be the addition of a number of new products and services that offer effective results with shorter recovery periods. A portion of the growth is also attributed to advancements in technology, which have improved a number of the current procedures being offered.

Dame Helen Mirren understands why so many women turn to cosmetic surgery to slow down the ageing process.

“You go, ‘I don’t want to look at that face anymore,’ and I understand that, absolutely,” the actress told British morning show GMTV.

The 64-year-old star added, “I think people should be allowed to do whatever they want to make themselves feel happy.”

The Daily Mail published pictures today of the Girls Aloud and claims it looks like she has had collagen injections because her lips looked “suspiciously plump”.

Collagen is a natural protein which can be injected into the lips as a way of making them fuller. Implants are becoming increasingly common with patients as it is a relatively cheap and simple procedure.

The singer spoke about being in favour of cosmetic surgery. She said that she would always be honest over whether she had indulged and that if it makes people happy and more confident, then there’s no reason people shouldn’t. She said: “I’ve got nothing against cosmetic surgery. I mean, if someone hasn’t got any boobs and having them done is going to make them a happier, more confident person, then go for it. I wouldn’t deny it if I had cosmetic surgery. I wouldn’t just come out with big boobs and say, ‘No, I haven’t had an operation!’”

Men – and especially gay men – are the largest growing segment of patients signing up for elective reconstructive surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a growing percentage of gay men have had some type of surgical procedure performed on their body or face. An even larger percentage of men said that they would like to have some work done.

Men are now much more knowledgeable about plastic surgery. They’re into aesthetics and they want to look good. Gay men are not afraid to tell their friends about their surgery and help spread the word.

Dakota Calloway, a spokeswoman with the ASPS, said: “Often, a man is judged by his outward appearance – just as much, if not more than a woman. If he is obese, he may be perceived as lazy or incompetent at his job, because he is unable to take care of himself properly. An overly aged man may not seem appropriate for some jobs and he may have difficulty meeting single people. The point is that men seek plastic surgery for the same reasons that women do – to boost their self-esteem and allow them to appear on the outside as whom they are on the inside.”

Over time, the age of desirability for gay men seems to get younger and younger. The age discrimination and lack of attention older or mature gay men receive is synonymous to the pressure some women feel to get married or have children by a certain age.

More people from the West Midlands have gone under the knife to shed their fat than anywhere else in the UK.

New figures, reported in the Daily Telegraph, show that 2,046 pints of excess fat have been removed there in the last five years. London came second in the poll with people having 1,725 pints taken out of their bodies followed by the south west losing 1,404 pints.

Regions where the most people have had liposuction (Pints of fat removed in total over five years)

1.West Midlands (2,046)

2.London (1,725)

3.South West (1,404)

4.North West (788)

5.Wales (638)

6.South East (528)

7.East Midlands (471)

8.North East/Yorkshire and the Humber (387)

9.Scotland (383)

10.Northern Ireland (131)

Scientists reckon women with larger lips are seen as more youthful than those with thin lips. But if you’re not naturally plump in the lips there’s help at hand. Here are three options which can turn thin lips into a red carpet smile!

INJECTABLE FILLER

WHAT IS IT? Chemical fillers, such as Restylane and Juvederm, are injected into the lips to make them appear fuller and plumper.

DOES IT WORK? Yes. Product is injected into lips, avoiding the edges where it can form a ridge. Hyaluronic acid acts like a scaffolding to support and lift the lip from the inside.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST? As lips are so mobile, fillers last only between six months and a year. Collagen-based fillers last a couple of months.

LIP IMPLANT

WHAT IS IT? A longer lasting solution, Permalip, is injected like fillers while silicone is used as an implant.

DOES IT WORK? Yes, but they are difficult to remove if the patient dislikes the effect or if something goes wrong.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST? Though described as permanent, they last only up to five years.

FAT TRANSFER

WHAT IS IT? Fat is removed via a syringe from the thighs or stomach and injected into the lips. So the patient’s own tissue is used rather than foreign materials.

DOES IT WORK? Yes, but not for long.

HOW LONG OES IT LAST? It tends to break down over a few months. This means the process may have to be repeated up to four times.