Under the knife

No, I'm not going for plastic surgery! Or cosmetic surgery to give it its proper title. But increasing amounts of men are doing so - which is why I'm indebted to consultant cosmetic surgeon Dr. Jag Chana of Spire Healthcare Bushey for writing this excellent common-sense guest blog on what to do if you think it's for you.

According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), male cosmetic surgery is more popular here than in the US. Men are increasingly opting for cosmetic procedures in order to improve their appearance and this is set to continue to grow next year. 

There are many reasons why we’re seeing an increase but perhaps one reason is media awareness.  We are surrounded by stories in papers, magazines and on TV of people having surgery and this has made people feel more aware and comfortable with the concept of enhancing our physical selves for the better.   

But perhaps even more surprising is the growing impact of “someone we know” having cosmetic treatments and this is particularly true of men. Most of the new male patients I see in my practice are the husbands and partners of my female patients. The majority of these men were always curious about surgery but it was only after seeing the positive results in their wife or girlfriend that they decided to bite the bullet and book a consultation.   

Surgery isn’t the easy option. There are always risks involved and it’s vital that anyone thinking about surgery does their homework and picks their surgeon very carefully.  If you are considering having something done, here’s my advice for selecting the right surgeon:    

Make sure the surgeon is qualified and recognised

Begin by looking for the right qualifications. Good surgeons will have an FRCS (Plast) qualification in Plastic Surgery and  should be a member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) which is the only association recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons to represent cosmetic surgery.  It’s also the only society which audits the safety figures of each of its members. And consider if the surgeon has also consulted for the NHS as he or she will then have the highest level of training in their field.

Don’t be pushed

There’s so much information on the web making it difficult to decipher and choose the right surgeon.  There is a very simple fact with this marketing - the more commercial the clinic is, the higher the visibility, the more likely you are to see it.  But remember, this does not necessarily equate to the quality and level of experience and expertise of your surgeon.  It’s also very important not to be pushed into surgery by sales tactics, such as seeing nurse ‘advisors’ who may offer free consultations or give discounts on an immediate booking. Your consultation should always be with a surgeon who is actually going to be carrying out the surgery.  

Don’t go abroad for surgery

It’s not a good idea to travel abroad for surgery. Not only do you have no idea about the qualifications or experience of the surgeon, it’s likely that there will be no follow up or after care.   I’m increasingly seeing patients coming to me with complications from surgery carried out abroad.  Sometimes it’s correctable but it can be disastrous if it’s not.  It’s also important to realise that the NHS will not carry out corrective cosmetic surgery.

My current top male procedures are:

·       Liposuction

·       Male chest reduction (Gynaecomastia)

·       Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping)

·       Blepharoplasty (eyelid reduction)

·       Facelift

If you would like more information or considering surgery and would like to book a consultation with Mr Chana, please visit  www.spirebushey.com or telephone 0208 901 5505.