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Plastic Surgery Ruined My LifeTuesday 13 May 2003Considering surgery?There are a variety of reasons for undertaking plastic surgery, including the correction of abnormal' features caused by an accident or at birth, for the treatment of health problems, for aesthetic or lifestyle reasons, for example to reverse signs of ageing or features a person is unhappy with such as nose or breast size.

If you are distressed by some aspect of your appearance, cosmetic surgery may bring a real improvement to your self-image. However, it won't change your life and is not without risks, or emotional, physical and financial costs. So before you proceed, it's important that you seriously consider all the pros and cons of having surgery, as well as what you think it can really achieve for you. To help you make up your mind, get as much information as possible, and speak to different people, including your GP. If you don't know anyone in the same situation as you, it might help to make contact via the internet where message boards and chat rooms can offer a wealth of information. The financial sideIt's unlikely that your surgery will be carried out on the NHS, unless it's for important health or psychological reasons. Most NHS plastic surgery focuses on the reconstruction of defects caused at birth or through accidents. However if a psychiatrist is convinced that cosmetic surgery will relieve serious psychological distress, it may be possible to receive treatment on the NHS. So in practice, most cosmetic surgery needs to be paid for privately. Consultation or sales pitch?When seeking cosmetic surgery privately, bear in mind that private practices can be like any other commercial service. Advertising and consultations may present options in the most favourable light, and advice on treatment options may not be entirely objective. The key is to inform yourself as much as possible. The British Association for Aesthetic Surgeons can give you objective advice on cosmetic surgery including what can be done, consequences, limitations, risks, and information about specific operations and recovery from them. For information about particular operations visit their website at www.baaps.org.uk and go to About Plastic Surgery', then select Individual Operations'. Organisations and LinksThe International Plastic Surgery Support Site contains a wealth of information on cosmetic surgery, including on-line monitored chat and message forums hosted by qualified counsellors. The Medical Advisory Service runs a helpline that will try to answer questions regarding any medical problem, including ones on cosmetic surgery. Write to them at The Medical Advisory Service, PO Box 3087, London W4 4ZP. Or phone the helpline which is run by nurses on 020 8994 9874 on Mondays to Fridays from 6pm to 8pm. The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors is a private practice working for efficient and safe practices in cosmetic surgery. The website offers information on different cosmetic surgery techniques including advantages and side effects. Write to The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors at 95 Harley Street W19 7JU. Or phone 0207 224 2465. Going for surgerySo you've decided to go for cosmetic surgery. Here's some preparatory homework to help you on your way. Be clear with yourself about what you want to achieve through having plastic surgery. Weigh up all the pros and cons realistically. Speak to your GP first, even if you know you will be going private for the surgery. Your GP will be able to advise you on the surgery you are considering, as well as being able to refer you to a reputable cosmetic surgeon. Find out as much as you can about the type of plastic surgery you are going for, including benefits, risks and side effects, and what to expect as you recover. Consider seeing a counsellor before having surgery. You may get a referral or recommendation from your GP or you can find a local counsellor through the British Association for Counselling. Try to get a recommendation on a surgeon, either from someone you know, or through your GP. Investigate potential surgeons including their training and qualifications, as well as their experience not just of plastic surgery, but of the exact operation you are having. Check your surgeon's credentials. If practising in the NHS, plastic surgeons should be registered with the British Association of Plastic Surgeons (BAPS) and cosmetic surgeons should be registered with the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). Cosmetic surgeons working outside of the NHS should be registered with the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) Insist on a consultation prior to surgery and make sure the procedures are fully explained to you. Make sure you see the surgeon, and not a nurse or administrator. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions: you could prepare them beforehand on a piece of paper to make sure you cover all your concerns. It may help to take notes as well. Get a second opinion. If you have any concerns at all about the surgeon you have seen, don't be afraid to get a second opinion. Don't be taken in by glossy information, or a consultation that makes the surgery sound like a beach holiday. Find out more elsewhere. Find out whether you should be insured for private treatment, and whether your surgeon is insured against things going wrong. The British Association for Aesthetic Surgeons can give you objective advice on cosmetic surgery including what can be done, consequences, limitations, risks, and information about specific operations and recovery from them. For information about particular operations visit their website at www.baaps.org.uk and go to About Plastic Surgery', then select Individual Operations'. Organisations and Links British Association of Plastic SurgeonsThe Royal College of Surgeons of England35-43 Lincoln's Inn FieldsLondon WC2A 3PNTel: 020 7831 5161/2websiteUseful information on types of surgery, accessing surgery within NHS for psychological reasons, and related associations and charities.The Association is the professional representative body for plastic and re-constructive surgeons in the United Kingdom. British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons [ie plastic surgery for cosmetic looks]Royal College of Surgeons of England35-43 Lincoln's Inn FieldsLondon WC2A 3PNAdvice Line: 020 7405 2234website emailThe British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) is concerned with plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons. It provides information and advice about plastic surgery and a database of surgeons who are registered with BAAPS. BAAPS members are fully trained plastic surgeons. The National Care Standards CommissionHelpline: 0191 233 3556 Monday to Friday 8am-6pm.website emailThe National Care Standards Commission an independent public body set up to regulate social care and private and voluntary health care services throughout England. The National Care Standards Commission has a national helpline to provide advice on all matters relating to registration. General Medical Council178 Great Portland StreetLondon W1W 5JETel: 020 7915 3630 Mondays to Fridays 9am-5pmwebsiteThe General Medical Council is the professional doctors' governing body. The GMC holds general and specialist registers of doctors practising in the UK. The registration department can provide information on specific, named doctors, free of charge. You can always check whether a surgeon is on the Specialist Register by telephoning the General Medical Council Registry line given above. Dr websiteDr is a web based independent advice service on NHS and private health services. The site tells you which local NHS and private healthcare services are available and how good they are. The Doctor Consultant Guide can help you find a plastic surgeon, offering information on qualifications, year of graduation, areas of specialism, hospitals they work at (NHS and private), and likely waiting times. You can also ask questions on line or phone the Dr Help at Hand Service on 0906 190 0212. There is a charge for these two services, but the online searches are free. If things go wrong No surgery is risk free, and there are potential complications with cosmetic as any other surgery. However the majority of cosmetic surgery cases are successful and without problems. General risks in having any plastic surgery include possible allergy to anaesthetic, pain, infection, scarring, muscle or nerve damage, post-operative depression and unhappiness with the results. Recovery and risks will depend on the particular procedure, as well as the individual the bigger the operation, the longer recovery can take. Damage can't always be reversed. If you are not satisfied with the surgery, you will need to approach the surgeon and the hospital where the surgery was undertaken in the first instance, and discuss rectification of the problem. You might want a second opinion from another plastic surgeon prior to this. If this does not resolve the problem, there are a number of places where you can get advice on making a complaint or taking legal action. It is important to get advice as soon as possible after you have realised that something is wrong. Organisations and LinksMaking a complaint about a surgeon or healthcare The Patients' AssociationTel: 0845 608 4455websiteThe Patient's Association can help if you are considering making a complaint about healthcare you have received, or you need to talk to someone about your experiences. Action for Victims of Medical AccidentsTel: 020 8686 8333websiteAction for Victims of Medical Accidents can offer practice help and advice if you think you may have suffered injury or harm as a result of inappropriate medical care, poor treatment, or misdiagnosis/failure to diagnose. General Medical Council178 Great Portland StreetLondon W1W 5JETel: 020 7915 3630 Mondays to Fridays 9am-5pmwebsite"The General Medical Council is the professional doctors' governing body. The GMC holds general and specialist registers of doctors practising in the UK. It deals with complaints about individual doctors and may remove or suspend a doctor from the register. Making a complaint about treatment received within NHSIf you are unhappy with the service you have been provided within the NHS, check out the Department of Health's website for details of formal complaints procedures. A leaflet, Complaints: Listening ... Acting ... Improving is available in a variety of languages free of charge from the Health Literature Line on freephone 0800 555 777. It explains in more detail how the NHS complaints procedure works. If you want any assistance or advice about making a complaint then you can contact your local Community Health Council. The number will be in your local telephone directory. You can get free, confidential help and advice on making a complaint. Health Service OmbudsmanwebsiteThe Health Service Ombudsman investigates complaints about the National Health Service (NHS). Before asking the Ombudsman to look into your complaint, you must first take it up locally with the body you are complaining against. Your hospital, clinic or surgery can tell you how to do that. Making a complaint about treatment received privately The National Care Standards Commission Head OfficeSt BuildingSt StreetNewcastle upon Tyne NE1 1NBNational helpline: 0191 233 3556 Monday - Friday 8am-6pmwebsite emailThe National Care Standards Commission is an independent public body set up to regulate social care and private and voluntary health care services throughout England. The public can lodge complaints about services that are regulated by the Commission. The British Association for CounsellingTel: 01788 550 899websiteYou may benefit from receiving counselling if things have gone wrong, to help you cope with what's happened. The British Association for Counselling offers information and advice on all matters related to counselling and can give you details of counsellors in your area by phone or from the website. Prevention of Professional Abuse Network (POPAN)1 Wyvil CourtWyvil RoadLondon SW8 2TGTel: 020 7622 6334website emailPOPAN helps people who have been abused by health or social care professionals and works towards preventing future abuse. Alternatives Non-Surgical AlternativesIf you are unhappy with an aspect of your body, there may be less drastic ways to make changes. The options will depend on the feature in question, and it could help to speak to your GP, look through health and beauty magazines or search the internet. For example, non-surgical alternatives to face lifts are widely available; and special bras can create a look of breast enhancement. Body ImageWe're always told we should be improving our bodies. In reality the perfect' bodies of models are the unusual ones and all people actually have a variety of lumps, bumps, and wrinkles in their diversely shaped bodies. The cheapest, and perhaps possibly the most satisfying alternative to cosmetic surgery is, of course, to learn to accept, or even like, all aspects of yourself. Ignore the pressure to look like a model perfect bodies only exist in the media. People with a poor body image can often benefit from help in building up their confidence and self-esteem. Check out your own body image on the Net Doctor quiz, where you can also pick up some tips on giving yourself a boost. Counselling may also help. You can ask your doctor for a referral or find a counsellor through the British Association for Counselling. Other ways of boosting your self-esteem, or finding ways to make decisions in life can come through life coaching, assertiveness training or hypnotherapy. Try searching on the web for something local to you. Body Dysmorphic DisorderBody Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a debilitating condition in which an individual is seriously distressed and constantly pre-occupied by their appearance. They may go to great lengths to change their body through exercise, diets or surgery. BDD can be exacerbated by plastic surgery. Once an operation is carried out to rectify a feature, there could be dissatisfaction with the results, or subsequent obsession with another part of the body. Cognitive behaviour therapy and anti-depressants can help BDD. These links offer further information on symptoms and treatment.linux.butler.org/bddwww.obsessive-action.demon.co.uk/mlist/bdd.htmThe British Association for CounsellingTel: 01788 550 899websiteThe British Association for Counselling offers information and advice on all matters related to counselling and can give you details of counsellors in your area. The Eating Disorders AssociationYouthline: 0845 634 7650adult helpline on 0845 634 1414websiteThe Eating Disorders Association offers advice, support and information for anyone with an eating disorder, or anyone wanting to help. There are self-help groups, with meetings, by phone or by post. The website has lots of useful information for young people and adults including explanations of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia and how to get help. Specialist support Breast implantsConsiderable research has been carried out into the risks of silicone breast implants. There is a lot of information available for people considering a breast enlargement, as well as support for those who have had implants and have concerns about complications. Information For Women Considering Breast ImplantsThis comprehensive Department of Health brochure gives information for women seeking breast implants for any reason. Copies can be downloaded from here or ordered from: The Department of Health, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH. Please quote document reference: 21218 1P 80k. The brochure contains details of a variety of specialist support groups. Medical Devices AgencyHannibal HouseElephant & CastleLondon SE1 6TQTel: 020 7972 8000To report an incident: 020 7972 8080websiteThe Medical Devices Agency aims to protect public health by ensuring that medical devices and equipment meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and performance and that they comply with relevant Directives of the European Union . Silicone Support UKwebsite emailSilicone Support UK offers a free advisory service to anyone who is considering having silicone implants or needs to have their existing implants removed and replaced. The group also offers support to anyone who has become ill since having silicone implants. Breast Implant Information SocietyTel: 07041 471 225website emailThe Breast Implant Information Society is an independent non-profit making organisation which provides information on breast implants and breast enlargement surgery. Specialist support groups Disfigurement Guidance CentrePO Box 7CuparFife KY15 4PFScotlandwebsiteThe Centre offers support and information for disfigured people and their professional advisors including information on treatment, compensation, and other relevant services and facilities. Write sending a stamped addressed return envelope to the above address. Changing FacesTel: 020 7706 4232website email Changing Faces offers help face to face, and by phone and letter for people who have disfigurements and professionals working with them; also self-help contacts, booklets, and help in making informed decisions about medical and surgical treatment, and school and employment matters. Additional support groups can be found through these web links.Let's Face It (UK), the network for the facially differentThe Cleft Lip and Palate AssociationBurns Survivors UKBritish Association of DermatologistsBirthmark Support GroupAcne Support Group BooksYou should be able to order any of these books from any good book shops. Alternatively you can find out more about them, and order them online at www.amazon.co.uk. When Women Stop Hating Their Bodies: Freeing Yourself from Food and Weight Obsession by Jane R. Hirschmann & Carol H. Munter. Fawcett Books; ISBN 044991058X The Broken Mirror: Understanding and Treating Body Dysmorphic Disorder by Katharine A. , M.D. Oxford University Press; ISBN 0195083172 Plastic Fantastic by Dai Davies FRCS, Judi Sadgrove & Barry . Metro Publishing Ltd; ISBN 1843580144. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Cosmetic Surgery but Couldn't Afford to Ask: A Complete Look at the Latest Techniques and Why They Are Safer by Alan Gaynor. Broadway Books; ISBN 076790172X. The Unofficial Guide to Cosmetic Surgery by E. Bingo Wyer.MacMillan Publishing Company; ISBN 0028625226