Is point of care ultrasonography just an inscrutable snowstorm or is it here to stay?

To non-radiologists ultrasound may always look like a snowstorm . . . so unless you are the one holding the scanner and moving it over the patient with some idea of their history, it is difficult to know what you...

Building sustainable global partnerships – the BFIRST perspective on future-proofing global plastic surgery

The British Foundation for International Surgery and Training (BFIRST) marks their 10-year anniversary this year as an organisation. As the international outreach arm of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), BFIRST focuses on supporting surgeons in...

Empowering tomorrow’s surgeons: PRASSA UK’s commitment to advancing plastic surgery awareness within the student population

In the dynamic world of medicine, one organisation stands out as a beacon for aspiring plastic surgeons – the Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Student’s Association of the United Kingdom (PRASSA UK). Born out of a passion for excellence and...

Management of ruptured breast implants

Breast augmentation is a widely sought-after cosmetic procedure and has empowered individuals seeking aesthetic enhancement or reconstruction following mastectomy for breast cancer. Amid its popularity, the occurrence of implant rupture stands as a critical concern, impacting both physical wellbeing and...

OPINION - Raising awareness of the dangers of local anaesthetic misuse in aesthetic procedures

This article will explore local anaesthesia (LA) and how its misuse can have severe negative consequences. We will also look into how we can address this important issue and help make the industry safer for patients. In the last few...

The impact of COVID-19 on aesthetic plastic surgery in the UK: a survey of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons

Introduction Devastating pandemics have occurred throughout human history, including the Antonine Plague (AD 165-180), the Justinian Plague (AD 514-549), the Black Death (AD 1347-1351) and the Spanish Flu (AD 1918-1919). The COVID-19 pandemic began in Wuhan, China in December 2019,...

Lipoedema awareness – the current state of play

Why do we need awareness? Around 40% of women in the UK are overweight or obese. Yet, within that 40% statistic, is a sub-set of women for whom that is not the full story. They suffer from a condition called...

Skin antisepsis and the prevention of infection: where tradition, science and guidelines collide

“…the quality of the studies was not good enough for the committee to make a strong recommendation for the choice of antiseptic preparation.” NICE Guidelines NG125 Skin preparation before an invasive procedure is a part of all surgical procedures and...

A world-first in cosmetic surgery. All eyes are upon Australia.

The past three years have been tumultuous for cosmetic surgery in Australia. Media reporting on the poor practise of a small number of medical practitioners led to multiple administrative processes including the Independent review of the regulation of medical practitioners...

Body dysmorphia disorder in the cosmetic clinic: a novel encrypted screening approach

In the following article and case study, the condition of body dysmorphia disorder (BDD) is examined in the context of its pathogenesis and the role of the cosmetic practitioner. BDD is a problem that affects patients on a deeply personal...

OPINION - Impact of the Paterson Inquiry on the cosmetic and aesthetics sector

On 15 December 2022, The Department of Health and Social Care published the ‘Government response to the independent inquiry report into the issues raised by former surgeon Ian Paterson: 12-month implementation progress update’. The reference documents (which apply to England)...

Masculinising chest wall surgery (‘top surgery’)

This article has been verified for CPD. Click the button below to answer a few short questions and download a form to be included in your CPD folder. In this feature article, we discuss our experience in masculinising chest wall...