Since there has been a rise in cosmetic surgery, even with the recession in full swing, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, also known as BAAPS, notes that procedures have exceeded 36,400 in the year 2009 alone. This means that there has been a 6.7% over all increase since 2008 alone. The largest cosmetic surgery provider in the UK, the Harley Medical Group, has seen an overall growth increase of 4% for the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years. They saw a 23% increase in abdominoplasty and a 13% increase in liposuction procedures.

They have noticed, that regardless of the recession, both non-surgical and surgical procedures are more popular than ever. Also, data from the Sainbury’s Bank shows that consumers and patients are looking at and comparing personal loans more and more to pay for these procedures and medical surgeries.

Sainbury’s Bank shows that Britons have borrowed £11.57m in personal loans last year alone. There were over 800 loans, which totaled £5m of the amount above that were used for cosmetic surgeries. The other portion, the £6.8m covered elective and medically necessary procedures, such as hip replacement. Procedures such as joint replacement is covered by the NHS, however the wait list is too long, many patients are serious pain and discomfort and many patients decide to pay the £7,000 to £9,000 themselves.

Sainbury’s Finance departed commented that although many loans are taken out for home improvements, buying cars, buying other luxury items and vacations, there is a high number of loans that are used strictly for cosmetic expenses that people feel they need.

Financial advisers note that loans should be compared when looking to cover medical and cosmetic procedures before any loan paper work is filled out. In the long run, this could save a person anywhere from hundreds to thousands of pounds in repayment fees and interest.

At present, the minimum allowable age for gastric weight bands is 18 years old. Only those who are seriously obese are approved for the procedure. With new technology and increased success rates, only one percent of those having the surgery have died in the last few years since approval.

Obese adults whose bodies successfully accepted the lap bands are discovering improved health results and a renewed joy of life. Of course, after the lap band, for a required period, patients must adhere to stringent monitoring, follow requirements and guidelines provided.

The Journal of the American Medical Association published that lap band surgery successes were significant in a group of teens studied. The study also found that the group lost a high amount of weight from the lap bands than normally found when dieting or exercising. Of course, a healthy diet and exercise are recommended. However, the obese teen like any other obese individual needs additional help. 

The study was successful. The teens lost a whopping 76.2 pounds on average. This means that of the group, eighty four percent of those studied lost more than half the weight desired and recommended based on their height and age

According to senior lead, Dr Paul E Obrien, the study was considered to be “highly successful.” According to Professor Susan Sawyer who co authored the study, “Adolescents are as deserving as adults when it comes to accessing clinical interventions that work. Until we can find more successful behavioural and medical approaches to treat those with severe obesity, the results of the study unequivocally favour lap banding in terms of weight loss and therefore are really suggesting that it needs to be at least considered.”

Others spearheading the study, Sue Kimm, Debbie Lawlor and Hoan Han suggest nothing should be just tossed out there. Before surgery is used as a weight loss method, extreme causation must be taken and make sure all means of losing weight naturally are exhausted.

Even with the success of these findings, some still are very guarded in allowing surgery as a means of weight loss. The medical community is holding firm and not faltering when inundated by retailer before giving their stamp of approval on weight loss surgery.

Recent studies show that people in all age groups receive laser hair removal treatments, because of the ease and effectiveness of the treatment. The highest group of men and women receiving the treatment are in their 20′s to their 40′s. Because of their age they may have more disposable income to spend on personal grooming habits and luxuries of this nature. London, Brighton and Leeds have seen the most treatment done.

Their procedure is most common between February and August as people get ready for summer. It is the most common non-surgical procedure that is offered. As such it is popular all year round.

They use a class 4 laser for the areas have lighter colored skin and a YAG laser for the darker colored skin. The lasers go beneath the skin surface and the heat stops the hair from growing. The laser finds the dark color of the hair and destroys the hair root. Laser hair removal does create permanent hair reduction.

Laser hair removal does require multiple treatments, since the hair must be growing to be removed. Treatments only take 20 minutes and hair anywhere on the body can be removed, from the face to the bikini line to the arms and legs. The treatment is not painful, there may be only slight discomfort that does not last long.

Laser hair removal is now one of the largest cosmetic surgery non surgical treatments in the UK with one highly regarded cosmetic surgery company treating thousands of patients wanting hair removal from varilous parts of the body. They up hold a level of standards in both the surgical and non surgical procedures. They have been a leader in ensuring that the government continues to regulate laser use and treatments to protect all patients.

2. Chemical peels go deeper into the skin to remove uneven pigment, improve the texture of the skin and reduce wrinkles. The skin will be red and peel later. Alphahydroxy and trichloroacetic acid are the most common chemicals used.

3. Laser treatments are a newer form of facial treatments, but they are very popular. They have numerous uses for them. There is laser resurfacing of the skin that goes deep into the skin and it is not painful. However, it does not work on dark skin tones. There is also laser scar removal which uses the laser to vaporize the scar and new skin grows in it places. It can look very natural and the scar is not as noticeable. Also, laser tattoo removal uses lasers to remove tattoos through multiple sessions. Lastly, there is laser hair removal that kills the hair at the root, for a more permanent hair removal affect.

4. Injectable fillers are available in numerous forms. They are used on the cheeks and lips usually. There is Botox that is effective, but can be deadly if done incorrectly. Or there is Collagen injections. The collagen has been collected from animals and turned into human collagen. It can be used on most areas of the body. Lastly, there is the option of using the patients own fat to fill in wrinkles, lines and scars. This is the safest method to use.

5. Surgery can be done on eye lids, ears and chins. These surgeries improve drooping eye lids, fat pockets around the eyes, reduce the size of ears and increase the size of the chin.

6. Nose jobs are done for both aesthetic and deformity reasons. Nose jobs can either increase or decrease the size of the nose.

7. Face lifts lift the facial tissue, due to sagging from age. The procedure is very invasive and there is a very long healing process associated with it, which is at least a month, if not longer. Face lifts remove years from a person’s face in one procedure.

8. Facial implants fill in sagging areas of the face.

9. Permanent makeup can be added to eyes and lips.

10. Liposuction can be done on the chin, neck and cheeks to remove pockets of fat that has built up over time.

Laser Removal

Lasers are used to create a high amount of heat to break down the ink in the tattoo. The ink is then removed through the bodies own functions. Laser tattoo removal may cause blistering of the skin, because of the high temperature. The skin is numbed, but laser removal can still be uncomfortable. Multiple laser treatments may be necessary to remove the tattoo depending on the size and color of the tattoo.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion entails taking a sanding disk or wire brush and removing the top layers of the skin. Dermabrasion has been around for years and the process can be very painful and does usually scar. The area is numbed and the skin is brushed and sanded away until all the ink is gone.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy, also called IPL, is another laser version of tattoo removal. The source of light is different and it is less painful than standard laser treatment. Fewer treatments are needed to remove the tattoo, however it is mush more expensive to have done.

Surgical Removal

The tattoo is surgically cut away. Once the area has been removed, the skin that surrounded the tattoo is sewn together to cover the opening. However, this only works on small tattoos. Larger tattoos can result in a skin graph to cover the removed skin. This procedure is very painful and is usually used as last resort.

Scarification Peels

A chemical peel is when an acid solution is used on the tattoo area, which results in the skin peeling away. Trichloroacetic acid is used when doing a chemical peel. The acid damages the skin, which results in the peeling. This does require a few treatments and as the top layer of skin peels away, the layers below with the ink began to peel away as well. However, it is not always very effective and many times the tattoo can still be seen and is only faded.

Removal Creams

Tattoo removal creams have Hydroquinone in them and can be risky if used for a long time. Hydroquinone can result in the darkening of the skin. These creams can take a year or more to remove the tattoo and and does become costly.

The MHRA- Medicines and Healthcare regulatory Agency is the government body “designed to ensure that Medicines and Medical devices are acceptably safe”.  As such it regulates the use of all prescription only (POM’s) including Botox.

The MHRA’s guidelines state that Botox “can be administered by an appropriate practitioner or under the guidance of an appropriate practitioner”.  By this they mean a Doctor, Dentist or Nurse who has completed extra training to allow them to prescribe Botox.

Mr Richards however feels that the MHRA phrase “under the guidance of an appropriate practitioner” is unnecessarily woollen and can be interpreted in many different ways.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have stated that they do not consider it good practice for nurses to administer Botox via a remote consultation.  They recommend that each patient is reviewed in person by a Doctor or Dentist prior to treatment.

This is not specifically stated as a recommendation by the MHRA.  This has resulted in some Nurses abiding by the NMC recommendations but many ignoring them completely and administering Botox injections with no contact with an “Appropriate practitioner”

Mr Richards stated that the MHRA guidelines are being widely ignored with impunity because no Nurse has yet been prosecuted by the MHRA for repeatedly ignoring their recommendations.

Likewise advertising prescription only medicines such as Botox is illegal.  However many websites feature Botox heavily on their home pages.  The MHRA’s role is to enforce this but again Mr Richards said that these companies were ignoring the recommendations because the MHRA have never taken any legal action against them.

Mr Richards urged the MHRA to clarify both of these issues as soon as possible to ensure that Botox treatments are as safe as possible and administered by appropriate practitioners.

In his video on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUI1L5WJPj0) Mr Richard explains that the bug originated in the Indian subcontinent and has caused concern amongst medical professionals as it resistant to known antibiotics.  There have been 50 cases reported in the UK, all from people who have undergone surgery within India or Pakistan and have since returned to the UK for further treatment.

Mr Richards reassures patients thinking of undergoing plastic surgery in the UK by explaining those susceptible of contracting the infection are those who are immuno-compromised, very young or very old.  If you have an open wound and have come into contact with someone who has recently visited India you should refrain from undergoing further surgical treatment.

The message for UK patients is that if they should discuss any concerns they have with their surgeon.  However, we should be reassured that healthy adults will have nothing to fear by being treated by reputable UK-based plastic surgeons who operate in highly sterile conditions.

Trying to research plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgeons is not always so easy. Looking through the phone books or online depicts this immediately. Many surgeons and even non surgeons call themselves cosmetic surgeons, cosmetic specialists or cosmetic surgeons that specialize in certain areas of the body. You may even come across listings that the doctors state they are certified cosmetic surgeons, but never say what they are certified in.

This has caused confusion with consumers who go to doctors and find out later that they were not a certified plastic surgeon. This is only found after the outcome of the surgery has been botched or had unfavorable results.

A plastic surgeon should have surgical skills and training, as well as be able to make surgical judgments during a procedure. Plastic surgeons should also be continuing their education and their skills even after graduating. Surgeons should attend conventions and be completing their required CME hours. The symbol of excellence should be seen which certifies that they have board certification to be a plastic surgeon.

Furthermore, when visiting a plastic surgeon for a consultation, talk with the staff and find out about their backgrounds as well. Watch the dynamics of the office and find out about their training and position within the staff as well. Find out about the coordination of care, clerical duties, nurse and technician care as well, since these can be performed by trained staff. Know where the doctor does his procedures and who will be with him.

Check into the location, the equipment used, inspections and maintenance performed there and safety within the facility. As well as making sure there is emergency equipment and medications on hand as well in case of an emergency.

Ms. Catherine McCormack underwent a breast augmentation at an Advanced Cosmetic Surgery (ACS) clinic in Dublin, with Dr. Marco Loiacono as her surgeon. A few days after the procedure her left breast became infected and Dr. Loiacono failed to arrange for adequate post-operative treatment. He did not remove the implant in a timely manner, kept inaccurate records, and failed to treat the infection properly. The inquiry team also found that he did not apply adequate standards of clinical competence or judgment.

Ms. McCormack had undergone the procedure to move from a B cup to a D/DD cup, and was initially happy with the results. When the left breast became infected Dr. Loiacono stitched up the wound and gave her an antibiotic. He did not remove the implant and thus the antibiotic was ineffective. Instead of ending up with enhanced breast, Ms. McCormick ended up deformed.

Dr. Peter Meagher, a reconstructive breast surgeon at Dublin’s St. James’s Hospital, gave evidence to the enquiry team. He said that Dr. Loicono’s handling of Ms. McCormack’s case was “fundamentally flawed” and “suboptimal”. His refusal to hospitalize her was negligent and inevitably harmful. He also attacked Dr. Liocono’s choice of operation facility. The ACS clinic did not have the proper post-operative facilities. The clinic has actually gone into liquidation.

Criticism was also lodged because Ms. McCormack was not seen for the first time until 20 days after her surgery. This follow up was not even effective because at that time the infection was observed but not treated correctly. Also she was not seen until eight days after that follow up .

Dr. Loiacono represented himself and said that given the chance he would not have done anything differently. He claimed that he was available to Ms. McCormack within 24 hours after her procedure. He claimed that when he saw her for the follow up appointment, she only had a mild infection and he put her on antibiotics. He said that he would have had her admitted to the ACS clinic if he had found it necessary.

The inquiry team recommended that Dr. Loicona keep his license to practice provided that he meet certain conditions. He must undertake an appropriate professional development program, however the decision must be ratified by the full council.

There is controversy to it though. Antibiotics are running low due to the increased medical tourism. 1 in 20 people go over sees or outside of Britain or considering doing so to have medical procedures done. Countries such as Poland, Czech Republic and Bulgaria are increasing their medical tourism numbers, due to NHS cut backs and European currencies. With even more cuts planned for the NHS, more tourism medical procedures are seen in the future.

The British Medical Association or the BMA says do thorough research of any hospital or clinic that is over sees. The GP should be talked with as well and a patient should look into every aspect of the treatment they are looking at having done. Patients should consider the safety and health standards of the companies and what long distance travel will mean after a procedure has been completed.

Hospitals in Asia and India many times have doctors that have trained in America or Britain. These qualifications can easily be verified and they will speak clear English. Make sure English is spoken, this is very important when talking with nurses and other staff.

Also, treatments such as obesity, fertility, addition and hair transplants are being done abroad as well. Some procedures are less at first glance, however in the long run they do not save any money. A crown is less expensive in Spain, but the x-rays are more and are needed before and after the procedure is done. However, this cost can be recouped because an oral exam and consultation is free in Spain.

Furthermore, make sure that post care is covered as well. Have arrangements made or make sure they are part of the procedures package. This care is just as important as the procedure itself. Follow up visits and appointments should be clearly laid out with the over sees doctor, so that patients understand what they are receiving and how the procedure will be handled once it is completed.