cosmetic appeal: finding the right surgeon
by Sarah Myers
help and info
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organisations
Action against Medical Accidents (AvVMA)
44 High Street
Croydon CR0 1YB
Helpline: 0845 123 23 52 (Mon-Fri 10am-12pm and 2-4pm)
E-mail: advice@avma.org.uk
Website: www.avma.org.uk
An independent charity which promotes better patient safety and justice for people who have been affected by a medical accident. Offer free practical help and advice to anyone who has suffered injury or harm as a result of inappropriate medical care, poor treatment, or misdiagnosis/failure to diagnose.
British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)
at The Royal College of Surgeons of England
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London WC2A 3PE
Advice Line: 020 7405 2234
E-mail: info@baaps.org.uk
Website: www.baaps.org.uk
Offers information about aesthetic plastic surgery. The website features a search facility for accredited surgeons, gives details of the common cosmetic surgery procedures, and tells you the risks and limitations of each.
British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC)
Meteor Court
Barnett Way
Barnwood
Gloucester GL4 3GG
Tel: 0845 065 9000
E-mail: enquiries@babtac.com
Website: www.babtac.com
The professional body for beauty therapists. You can contact BABTAC to find out whether somebody is qualified or to find your nearest member. The website also has information about the treatments offered by BABTAC members.
General Medical Council
Regent's Place
350 Euston Road
London NW1 3JN
Tel: 0845 357 8001 (general enquiries) (Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm)
Tel: 0845 357 0022 (doctors' fitness to practise)
E-mail: gmc@gmc-uk.org
Website: www.gmc-uk.org
Holds general and specialist registers of doctors practising in the UK. The registration department can provide registration details of specific, named doctors, free of charge. Contact them to check if the doctor or surgeon you have chosen is on their register.
Healthcare Commission
Finsbury Tower
103-105 Bunhill Row
London EC1Y 8TG
Tel: 020 7448 9200 (switchboard 8.30am-6pm)
E-mail: feedback@healthcarecommission.org.uk
Website: www.chai.org.uk/Homepage/fs/en
The independent inspection body for both the NHS and private and voluntary healthcare, set up to regulate and improve standards in healthcare services throughout England and Wales. It also acts as an independent review body for NHS complaints.
Medical Advisory Service
PO Box 3087
London W4 4ZP
General Medical Helpline: 020 8994 9874 (Mon-Fri 6-8pm)
Men's Health Helpline: 020 8995 4448 (Mon, Tues, Thurs 7-9pm)
E-mail: info@medicaladvisoryservice.org.uk
Website: www.medicaladvisoryservice.org.uk
Telephone advice and information service for all general medical enquiries. See the website for details of other helplines.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA)
Tel: 020 7084 2000 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
E-mail: info@mhra.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.mhra.gov.uk
The MHRA safeguards the health of the public by ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are safe. They can provide information about how to complain about advertisements for prescription-only medicines or about the safety of medical devices such as implants. See 'Reporting Safety Problems' in the Safety section of the website.
Patient Advisory Service
29 Harley Street
London W1G 9QR
Advice Line UK: 0800 068 4031 (Mon-Sat 9.30am-8pm; Sun 10am-5pm)
E-mail: info@patientadvisory.co.uk
Website: www.patientadvisory.co.uk
Provides information, advice and support to people considering cosmetic surgery, and through each stage of the process. The advisory team at PAS will provide informative notes regarding the procedure of your choice, will only recommend consultants or surgeons who are on lists held by the UK General Medical Council and can put you in touch with patients who have had similar enhancements.
Patients Association
PO Box 935
Harrow HA1 3YJ
Tel: 0208 4239111
Helpline: 0845 6084455 (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm)
E-mail: mailbox@patients-association.com
Website: www.patients-association.com
Represents the consumer voice in UK healthcare.
websites
Advertising Standards Authority: how to complain
www.asa.org.uk/asa/how_to_complain
The Advertising Standards Authority judges advertisements, direct marketing and sales promotions against a set of codes. Their website contains an online form if you want to submit a complaint about misleading or offensive advertising (including TV, radio, newspaper, magazine and internet adverts).
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
www.plasticsurgery.org
Has extensive information about different types of cosmetic operation and up-to-date procedures being carried out in the US.
British Association of Cosmetic Doctors
www.cosmeticdoctors.co.uk
Aims to represent cosmetic practitioners and maintain standards to benefit doctors and the public. Can search for suitably trained and experienced doctors online and read about different non-surgical treatments.
British Association of Plastic Surgeons
www.baps.co.uk
The professional representative body for plastic and reconstructive surgeons in the UK, based at the Royal College of Surgeons. The site offers authoritative advice on the different clinical areas of plastic surgery and has a reading list of up-to-date articles on treatments.
British Association of Cosmetic Surgeons (BACS)
www.b-a-c-s.co.uk
This organisation represents surgeons who undertake cosmetic surgery but who may not have completed the specialist training now required for new cosmetic surgeons in the UK. To join BACS, surgeons need to show that they have cosmetic surgery experience but they do not need to be qualified plastic surgeons. BACS represents many of the surgeons working for private clinics or hospitals that advertise directly to the public.
Choosing a Cosmetic Surgeon
www.embarrassingproblems.com/cosmeticsurgery.htm
Advice on what to think about when considering cosmetic surgery and on choosing a reputable surgeon.
The Consulting Room
www.consultingroom.org
UK site that provides a wide range of impartial and independent cosmetic and medical information and demystifies the world of cosmetic treatments.
Healthcare Commission: Cosmetic Surgery
www.chai.org.uk/ ..
Information and advice on cosmetic surgery and the Healthcare Commission's involvement in ensuring patients' safety within this sector.
Royal College of Surgeons: Questions about cosmetic surgery
www.rcseng.ac.uk/patient_information/faqs/ ..
Includes questions about the differences between plastic and cosmetic surgeons, and how to find out if your doctor is properly qualified for surgery.
reading
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The Lowdown on Facelifts and Other Wrinkle Remedies by Wendy Lewis (Quadrille Publishing, 2002) |
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Making the Body Beautiful by Sander Gilman (Princeton University Press, 2001) |
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The New Facercise: Give yourself a natural facelift by Carole Maggio (Pan, 2002) |
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Plastic Fantastic: A complete guide to safe cosmetic surgery by Dai Davies and Judy Sadgrove (Metro Publishing, 2002) |
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Turn Back the Clock Without Losing Time: A complete guide to quick and easy cosmetic rejuvenation by Rhoda Narins and Paul Frank (Crown Publications, 2002) |
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(July 2004, resources updated Februrary 2005)
