Informed Decisions
Cosmetic surgery is becoming
increasingly commonplace in the wake of
media coverage and film and TV drama.
When considering it, you may perceive
it to be expensive, but what I believe
is more important, is that you perceive
it to be dangerous when performed badly
or inappropriately. Cosmetic procedures
may scar, and blight your life permanently,
so it is vital that you choose an appropriately
qualified surgeon and receive expert and
impartial advice, followed by appropriate
treatment from someone who will see you
through good results and bad ones.
I operate a very personal
practice. Every surgical or non-surgical
treatment is planned and administered
by me – not a nurse or an aesthetician.
If you entrust your treatment to me, then
you and your well being, become my personal
responsibility.
The Consultation
for cosmetic
or reconstructive surgery:
The initial consultation is the first
step for any patient who is contemplating
surgery. It is where you will start making
the right decisions for your care. I see
my role in this process as helping you
in make informed decisions about undergoing
treatment – so you will find a great
deal of detail on this web site before
even scheduling an appointment to see
me. Consultations are scheduled to last
as long as required (which in part, is
why you will be asked which area concerns
you, when making an appointment to see
me). During our consultation, I will take
a full medical history and perform a complete
examination – addressing all of
you, so as not to miss medical conditions,
which might not seem immediately relevant
to you, but which may be very relevant
and dangerous if missed. I will spend
the necessary time in order to ensure
that I understand your aims and concerns.
I will explain all procedures carefully
using diagrams and literature that you
can take away with you to re-read later.
Specifically, I will ensure that you understand
fully what is involved with any treatment
I advocate, and that you understand fully
any potential risk associated with surgery.
At the end of the consultation,
my aim is for you to leave with realistic
advice about treatment and with clear
knowledge of results that can be achieved
– good or bad. Often this cannot
be completed in an hour. In that case,
rather than over-running and keeping another
patient waiting, I will arrange for you
to see me again (and again, and again
if necessary) so that you know all that
you need to. Any subsequent appointments
are covered by your initial consultation
fee – you pay only once.
Finally, for patients in the public eye,
consultations can be arranged with privacy
assured.
- for skin
cancer:
Often with skin cancer,
the issues are not so complex and consultations
can be combined with surgical treatment
in one 'see and treat' appointment which
minimises the time and money you spend.
That said, there are often complex decisions
to be made about how the wound that is
left after a skin cancer is closed –
simply with stitching, or with a skin
graft or a skin flap – I will allow
enough time to ensure that you fully understand
and participate in these decisions completely.
Surgical and Non-surgical
Cosmetic Treatments
In today's environment
of commercialised, cosmetic care, patients
should have available to them all treatments
that are of proven value – and if
they don't, they should wonder why?
I am a fully qualified
and vocationally-registered Plastic Surgeon
in New Zealand having also passed the
Specialist Intercollegiate Fellowship
to become Board Certified in the UK and
Europe. I have a recognised aesthetic
training and experience with qualifications
to prove it and I have been elected into
the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic
Surgeons and the American Society for
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery as an International
Active Member. My philosophy is to approach
my patient's care holistically and to
tailor treatments alone and in combination
to achieve each patient's goal.
Many patients do not
require surgery, but can achieve the cosmetic
restoration and aesthetic enhancement
they desire by judicious administration
of non-surgical treatments. I administer
the full range of non-surgical cosmetic
treatments, such as Botox ví, facial
peels or dermal and soft tissue fillers.
I also administer laser and intense pulsed
light treatments where appropriate.
For those patients who
are suitable for cosmetic surgery, I plan
and perform such surgery with care and
expertise in order to improve your appearance
and restore the natural beauty of your
youth. I believe surgery should achieve
natural, attractive results that avoid
an 'operated look', whilst giving you
a restored, or aesthetically enhanced
physical beauty.
Surgical and Post-operative
Care
Your surgery will be
performed by me. On occasion I will arrange
to have qualified assistance in theatre
– especially during larger procedures.
These will be qualified doctors or nurses
who are present at my expense in order
assist me operate and to minimise your
time under anaesthetic. On the other hand,
there will also be times when trainee
and qualified surgeons have asked to observe
me operate. In these circumstances, I
will ask you whether you are willing for
them to observe (but not assist in) your
surgery and make it clear that you are
absolutely free, indeed encouraged, to
decline their presence during your surgery
unless you are totally comfortable with
their presence.
All my surgery is performed
in modern, state-of-the-art facilities.
Each is registered and has been inspected
and is compliant with all relevant legislation.
When General Anaesthesia
is required, it is administered by a Consultant
Anaesthetist, hand-picked by me –
not just for technical expertise, but
for sympathetic patient care too.
Specialist nursing and
physiotherapy staff will care for you
post-operatively and optimise your recovery
time. You will have post operative support
24 hours a day, 7 days a week allowing
you the peace of mind and the confidence
you need to make a rapid recovery so that
the 'enhanced you' is back leading your
life to the full as soon as possible.
