I was appointed as Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon at the Royal Devon University Healthcare and Torbay Hospital nearly 10 years ago.
I have been practising in reconstructive breast surgery, including micro-surgical breast reconstruction in my NHS practice and have also been working in the independent sector, both in Exeter and Mount Stuart Hospital in Torquay; this has included all areas of cosmetic surgery, comprising facial, breast and body contouring surgery.
I am the Chairman of the Specialist Training Committee for overseeing the training of Plastic Surgeons in the South West. I am also a member of the Peninsular Network for the treatment of skin cancers. I am a full member of the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS).
I think with any patient making a decision to undergo cosmetic surgery or any procedure which is not essential for their physical health, then the key to this process is information and consent. Only by explaining in detail the likely outcome of surgery, and any possible risks, complications or side effects, can a patient make a decision which can be regarded as an informed consent.
This reflects GMC guidelines on best surgical practice. There should be no pressure from any surgeon or provider to encourage patients to have surgery as this is a decision they must make on their own when they have had a full explanation of everything which is involved. Importantly, this discussion must be with the surgeon who will perform the procedure.
Attention from the media can be both positive and negative. The cosmetic surgery industry has been unregulated for far too long and it is generally the unregulated side of cosmetic surgery, in particular the injectable treatments, that have come under increasing scrutiny and rightly so.
There has also been considerable publicity with regard to the PIP breast implant scandal and obviously legislation may be brought in to increase the regulation of manufacturers of any medical device.
Plastic surgery is a highly variable specialisation. Procedures range hugely in complexity from operations involving highly complex micro-surgical techniques to relatively straightforward excision of skin lesions.
Plastic surgery also involves all areas of the body, all sections of the community, including the very young and very old. Plastic surgery is the most general of all the surgical specialties in this regard. The ability to use experience and surgical techniques, tailored to each individual’s problem, is the challenge in plastic surgery in order to achieve the optimum outcome for each patient.
This range of procedures and variability was one of the main attractions to the specialty as no case is ever exactly the same as the one before or after it.
A situation is only stressful if an individual is unable to cope with the stresses and strains placed upon them. With good training, experience and a good team around you, including anaesthetist colleagues, nursing staff and office staff then there is no reason for the job to be stressful.
Most patients do not want to see stress in any healthcare professional, as this undermines confidence and really nobody should be doing a job which they find too stressful. As in all walks of life a little stress can focus the attention but too much stress will start to negatively impact on performance and can be avoided with good training and experience.
Living in this part of the West Country there are so many activities to do in away from work such as sailing, kayaking and enjoying the outdoors so there is plenty to do to get away from medicine. The coastline from the Exe estuary across to Torbay and Dartmouth are all my favourite locations, particularly for sailing.
Now we have a first class rugby team with Exeter Chiefs, there is also premiership rugby to watch.
There are also fantastic restaurants and the emergence of new micro-breweries in the region can only add to the attractions.
The reassurance of a quality service can not be understated, and you should not be rushed into making a decision with any sales tactics or incentives to commit within a certain timescale, and should ensure that you meet and have a full and thorough consultation with the surgeon who will be performing your surgery.
To help you make the decision ensure that:
Whatever procedure you chose that is suitable for you, you can be assured that Mr Oliver's team will be friendly, spend time with you and at no stage put pressure on you to proceed with surgery. We will ensure you are able to make an informed decision.
Cosmetic surgery procedures will take place in partnership with local private hospitals where you would have an en-suite room for your comfort and privacy.
Key note speakers included Dr Hall-Findlay from Canada, and Professor Hamdi from Brussels who are both specialists in breast reduction and have international reputations in this field. Different options for breast reduction were discussed.
Dr De Bruijin from the Netherlands showed his results for mastopexy using an internal supporting mesh with excellent long term results using his technique.
Breast Augmentation talks focused on the latest 5th generation style of breast implants and micro-polyurethane coated foam implants. In addition there were sessions on the latest advances in breast augmentation and how to minimise risks and complications. There were specialist presenting work on fat transfer in breast reconstruction and a variety of other topics covering every aspect of cosmetic breast surgery from breast implant selection to surgical techniques and long term follow up.
“No matter how many times that a surgeon performs an operation there are still areas that can be refined and techniques modified to try and do each procedure even better.
Continued medical education, with courses such as these, is the cornerstone of appraisal and revalidation for doctors in the future. Patients can then be reassured that their surgeon is always up to date with the latest advances in their field of surgery”
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