Plastic Surgery in the UK

october 29 2007


I'm going to "talk" about UK Plastic Surgery.

This morning I've found out that there is a huge difference between Plastic Surgery in the UK and here in The Netherlands.
Here in The Netherlands doctors are allowed to refuse surgery when they consider it not necessary. The oath says they have to heal and cure. And some plastic surgeons don't think procedures like tummy tucks, and liposuction are part of their work.

In the UK the decision is all up to the client/patient.
The Plastic Surgeon is a professional advisor, but that's it. When you want something done, you'll get it done.

I've seen a good article about the subject the times at women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/diet_and_fitness/article2472511.ece.

The way people view thmselves is for a large part dictated by the modern fashion industry.
In the past voluptuous women were s sigh of wealth (there was enough to eat), not slim women are the norm.

I've heard a psychologist complain that she got many young girls and young women in therapy because they had a distorted body image.
"Food for the cosmetic industry", she called them.

It worries me that there's so much money involved that you have to be careful with each step you move into the direction of plastic surgery.

I'm not talking about victims of fires and accidents, but I talk about healthy individual people, who want to give up their appearance to look like a magazine woman who is or is not corrected by Paint Shop Pro, so she has a flat tummy, endless thin pencillegs and a straight short nose... Oh.. and no hips!

It bothers me that about anyone can give advice whether or not to have plastic surgery.

Some or rebuilt human beings themselves, others are psychologically and verbally well developed nurses who know how to make you insecure and then offer the solution: surgery.

At least before you go to an appointment you can look up if your advisor as the proper registrations. He/she should be registered with the General Medical Council (www.gmc-uk.org) and he should have specialised at university. So he has to have
"FRCS Plast" added to the name.
The best surgeons are member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (www.baaps.org.uk) or the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (www.bapras.org.uk).

Some people forget that all surgery, even minor surgery has a risk.

One never knows beforehand if the scar will heal nicely and disappear after a while, or will start growing and build up more scartissue, or will stay red or shining silver forever.
Do you know that some people need to have new surgery 5 times just to cover the problems that weren't there in the first place?

OK, surgery seems to be an instant solution for a problem that needs sweat and tears for a rather long time. But often ecercise and diet will do the trick. Hej, the problem didn't appear overnight did it? So at least you should give it an equal chance to disappear when you work out well.

As a psychologist I'm always interested in the reasons why people want to change their bodyimage. Is it to please others? Is it to be able to live up to the expectations of others? Does a little fat here and there really change a life?

I think it's a disgrace that young people are allowed surgery at a time in their life that they're not even completely developed or haven't a proper idea of their own identity.
Surgery is done at places they're not even able to see themselves without mirror, just because the media have made them insecure.

When entering a clinic for cosmetic surgery you have to keep in mind that the people there are very willing to make money from your problems.
Are you an easy target? Why aren't they working in a hospital to give disfigured people a better chance of a pleasant life?

Ofcourse I can't stop you. I won't.
But at least ask yourself a lot of critical questions.
people change during life and it's not about how people look, but about the love they're able to radiate.
Do you want someone who likes your body or do you want a partner that loves you as a person?

But even when you have real problems that can be solved with plastic surgery you have to be careful.
Get a second opinion.
Don't book surgery immediately, but give yourself a week, two weeks to think about properly. Some advisors are booking your surgery as fast that you can't even consider their advice.

Ask about aftercare.
Ask about complications. How many in other patiens overall, and how many in patients that have undergone about the same procedure?
Compare clinics, compare doctors. Talk with others who already underwent the procedure.

When you undress in front of someone who pokes in places where you think you're fat, who looks at you from a reconstructioners eye, you have to be sure that surgery is what you want.

The review of some clinics in the Times was interesting to read.
The journalist didn't expect that she would feel so different just because other people were talking about her body in a way she never thought of it before.
She got insecure just from undressing and people wanting to change her.

Only one surgeon (at MYA/Make yourself Amazing cosmetic surgery) was honest to the journalist. Isn't that interesting.



but it's my opinion.