cosmetic appeal: finding the right surgeon
by Sarah Myers
No longer the preserve of the rich and famous, cosmetic surgery has become a more socially acceptable way to hold back the years or amend your appearance. The past five years has seen a 50 per cent increase in cosmetic surgery procedures carried out in the UK. However its popularity has unfortunately meant the rise of unprofessional clinics and the introduction of aggressive marketing techniques to entice customers.
© getty
Cosmetic surgery may be big business, but its offerings – from breast reductions and liposuction to the seemingly straightforward botox injections – are potentially dangerous medical procedures that need to be carried out by experts. Going for the clinic with the gift of the gab can have serious consequences.
where do I start?
Your GP should be your first port of call if you are considering surgery. He or she can recommend a reputable surgeon in your area. While certain operations can be carried out on the NHS – for example, a breast reduction if the size and weight of your breasts is resulting in back problems – it is more likely that your GP's referral will be to a local surgeon in a private hospital or clinic.
Although a GP should be happy to talk to you about cosmetic surgery, some people don't like to ask as they are worried about wasting a doctor's time when they're not ill. If you feel embarrassed to discuss surgery with your GP, it can be tempting to answer an advert in the back of a magazine or on the internet – you're anonymous, these clinics will be used to requests like yours, and the adverts picturing amazing transformations can be incredibly persuasive. But according to Douglas McGeorge, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), responding to this type of advertising is definitely not the best way to find your surgeon:
"Most reputable clinics don't use adverts in the back of newspapers encouraging people to come along. If you see any adverts with pictures of 'before and after', be very wary of going there because the chances are they are not mainstream plastic surgery."
(July 2004, resources updated Februrary 2005)
