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The flora of Culloden Field: Healing plants of a wounded land

The Battle of Culloden, fought on 16 April 1746, marked the end of the Jacobite uprising in Scotland. It was a devastating clash between the Jacobite forces led by Charles Edward Stuart (‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’) and the British army under...

Hormones, ageing and skinspan

Skinspan refers to the years of life during which skin remains healthy, youthful and attractive and is influenced by genetic, metabolic and lifestyle factors. While ultraviolet (UV) exposure is a potent environmental driver of skin ageing, our hormones play a...

Laser and light based hair removal

Laser hair removal is a popular, and constantly evolving, treatment. Professor Paolo Bonan and colleagues provide us with a comprehensive overview and some ‘top tips’ for how to make the procedure as safe and effective as possible. Hair removal, also...

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...

Cryolipolysis: a review of published clinical data

Definition: Cryolipolysis is derived from the greek language, describing ‘cold’ and ‘fat breakdown’. History The actual phenomenon of cold induced adipocyte necrosis was originally described by Epstein et al. in 1970 who had reported the presence of a “red indurated...

Facial contouring with fillers

With the advent of hyaluronic acid fillers, safe and effective non-surgical facial rejuvenation has been advanced. Hyaluronic acid fillers are becoming increasingly popular amongst patient who seek facial enhancement. In 2013, there were over 1.8 million treatments using hyaluronic acid...

Body contouring surgery following massive weight loss

There are many different perceptions about what defines the term ‘overweight’. The reality is however that, for many, being overweight is a condition that brings with it significant health and social problems. It is estimated that almost two thirds of...

Female Cosmetic Genital Surgery: lifestyle or science?

The demand for female cosmetic genital surgery (FCGS) has increased over the last decade [1]. This rise is difficult to quantify, as the majority of these procedures are performed in the private sector. However, this trend is also obvious within...

Do You Know Your Advertising Standards?

Over the last couple of years we have seen many organisations, including the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) seek to ban or at least rein in some of the advertising practices which go on in this industry [1]....

Multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer conservation – therapeutic mammoplasty

Edinburgh-based plastic surgeon Ewa Majdak-Paredes provides us with a comprehensive review of therapeutic mammoplasty, a multidisciplinary approach to breast-conserving surgery with an emphasis on oncological safety and good aesthetic outcomes. Breast cancer Each year over 55,000 women in the UK...

Overview of non-invasive treatments for submental fat reduction

Submental fat (SMF) is a growing aesthetic problem that is colloquially known as a ‘double chin’. It is a concern for both younger and older male and female patients. The 2017 American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Consumer Survey on Cosmetic...