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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...

Threads in rhinoplasty: to thread or not to thread?

Polydioxanone (PDO) and poly-L-lactic / poly-caprolactone (PLL / PCL) threads are presently accessible for facial rejuvenation, and they enjoy significant popularity within aesthetic clinics worldwide, especially in Southeast Asia [1–3]. Often proposed as risk-free with minimal downtime, these threads now...

Acid attacks: part 1

In the first of a two-part series, Andrew Burd takes us through the background to the development of his protocol for the acute management of chemical assault burns (see Part 2 here). I have maintained a long-term interest in how...

IN RESPONSE TO: Plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine - specialties and specialists

I read with great interest the article ‘Plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine: specialties and specialists’ by Professor Andrew Burd published in the Feb/Mar issue of PMFA News. Prof Burd brings up many valid points about the specialty of plastic surgery...

A Reaction to the ‘Keogh Report’

In April 2013, the British Government’s report on regulation and safety issues in the cosmetic surgery sector was produced, authored by NHS Medical Director Prof Sir Bruce Keogh. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the British Association of...

When does a non-surgical procedure fall within the scope of CQC registration? An update on cogged PDO thread lifts

In December 2018 the CQC ruled that any healthcare professional performing thread lifting now has to meet its full requirements for surgical procedures. Dr Bea Brookes takes a look at the decision. Non-surgical thread lift with dissolving threads has been...

Skin transition during the menopause

Menopause, which begins one year after the last period, can bring with it some noticeable changes to skin and hair. As hormone levels drop, skin can become dry, slack, less elastic and thin. It can also cause more facial hair...

From PIP to DC-CIK to the Sorcerer’s Apprentice: a medico-political minefield

Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) was a French company that manufactured silicone breast implants that were surgically implanted mainly for cosmetic breast augmentation. Of note, ‘cosmetic’ is used in the strict sense of the word meaning false and artificial and does...

Bottoms up

Surgeons say no to Brazilian buttock lift (BBL) but yes to superficial gluteal lipofilling (SGL) as real time ultrasound technology allows gluteal fat grafting to be performed safely. In 2018 the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS www.baaps.org.uk) dissuaded...

Facial nerve palsy and Facial Palsy UK

The term facial palsy is most commonly used to describe a paralytic lower motor neurone (LMN) dysfunction of the facial nerve. Upper motor neurone facial palsy, for example due to strokes and intra-cranial tumours, spares the forehead muscles and will...