3,268 is the number of tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) performed in 2009 according to the BAAPS website (The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons). That’s approx 9 operations every day across the UK! While breast augmentation is still the UK’s favourite procedure for women, plenty still have their lives enhanced by abdominoplasty and gain enormous self-confidence through the procedure. Reasons for the operation differ but childbirth and weight loss are the top motivators for patients nationwide.

Mark Pickford, a consultant plastic surgeon at the award wining McIndoe Surgical Centre said “sometimes called “tummy tuck” , abdominoplasty is designed to address problems with lower abdominal laxity and spare skin.  Those patients who are suitable candidates for this kind of surgery will have often been through pregnancies with or without caesarean section, and occasionally patients will have had other abdominal procedures such as hysterectomy, the scarring from which has contributed to the variable appearance.  In the last few years, abdominoplasty has become a relatively common intervention for patients who have experienced significant weight loss, either as a result of lifestyle changes, or bariatric/ weight control surgery.”

Abdominoplasty surgery involves removal of all the skin and subcutaneous tissue from the knicker line to the tummy button.  Patients are left with a long, low scar, but a greatly enhanced appearance of the abdomen and the surgery also provides a valuable opportunity to repair the muscle layers of the tummy wall, and restore an improved profile to the entire tummy, and also enhance the waistline definition.

Most patients having a tummy tuck will be in hospital for two nights, and will be up and about before they leave hospital, and expected to manage with light activities at home. Serious complications are remarkably infrequent, and the vast majority of patients benefit enormously from the procedure, and are delighted with the results.

If you are interested in talking to Mark Pickford about abdominoplasty or any other surgical procedure please call our helpline on 0800 917 4922 or visit www.mcindoesurgical.co.uk for more information. Alternatively you could attend one of our free open evenings. Details are on the Events page on our website.

Women across the world want to look their best and when Mother Nature hasn’t provided all you want cosmetic surgery can be an effective and viable option. However as Channel  4’s new show The Ugly Face of Beauty with Dr Christian Jessen shows, not every cosmetic surgeon and clinic will construct their business under the regulatory bodies that we have in the UK and Europe, allowing women to be sucked in with the promise of beauty, when instead they receive substandard care and dangerous procedures which do nothing to improve their already fragile situation.

Peter Arnstein from the award winning McIndoe Surgical Centre in East Grinstead, was heavily involved in the making of this new show, highlighting surgeries gone wrong, and working hard to correct the botched surgery the patients had suffered at unregulated surgeries.

Mr Arnstein said, “Rescuing patients when cosmetic surgery has gone wrong can be the most challenging and at the same time an enormously satisfying achievement, but this series “The Ugly Face of Beauty” is not about us surgeons, it shouts a powerful message:  Be fully aware of what you are getting into.  Every action in life comes with risk and cosmetic surgery is no exception.

I was fortunate to be able to help 3 of 6 candidates of the programme who presented with a variety of problems.  The successful reparative/corrective surgery was all carried out at the McIndoe Surgical Centre, the Specialist Plastic Surgery Hospital in East Grinstead.

Although surgical complications are distressing enough, it is their description of the awful clinical environment these people found themselves trapped in which is truly worrying.   Despite all the apparent regulation quality control provided by the U.K. and E.U. bodies, there still appears to be ample lea way for opportunistic cosmetic clinics to pressure sell surgery and operate in dangerously sub standard conditions without backup or guarantee.”

Let the ladies speak for themselves in the Ugly Face of Beauty, every Tuesday starting 13^th July at 8pm on Channel 4 for four weeks.

With obesity reaching epidemic numbers and far too many people gaining excess weight, McIndoe Surgical Centre have embarked on laparoscopic banding surgery with a dedicated weight loss team consisting of specialist laparoscopic general surgeons, anaesthetists, physicians, dieticians and counsellors.

·         Surgery can provide a weight loss solution for people who have a large amount of weight to lose and who have been unable to lose weight by other methods

·         Weight loss surgery reduces the amount of food that can be eaten by reducing the size of the stomach

Gastric Band

·         Usually for patients with a BMI of under 50

·         Hospital stay of one night

·         Recovery time approximately 2 weeks

·         An adjustable procedure

·         Average weight loss 65% of excess weight within 2 years

The McIndoe Weight Loss Offer:

·         Pre-operative Consultation with the Surgeon

·         Pre-Assessment with McIndoe’s Team

·         Pre-operative Psychological Assessment

·         Consultation with Endocrinologist (if required)

·         Laparoscopic Surgery (approx 45 minutes in Theatre)

·         1 night Hospital Stay

·         Post-operative Consultation with the Surgeon

·         Band Adjustments (unlimited during 1^st year)

·         8 sessions with a Dietician

·         6 sessions 1:1 support with an Emotional Support Practitioner

·         Structured monthly Support Group at McIndoe Surgical Centre

McIndoe Surgical Centre, East Grinstead has been awarded the fantastic accolade of the most improved non NHS organisation on the Healthcare 100 list organised by the HSJ (Health Service Journal) and the Nursing Times! Visit www.healthcare100.co.uk, or  www.mcindoesurgical.co.uk to see why we are in the top 10 for patient care this year.

In addition to the coveted ‘most improved award’ McIndoe has also moved up to 6th place on the top 100 list of registered health care providers for outstanding patient care! This is a huge improvement from the still very respectable 22nd place in last year’s results and shows the wonderful commitment from staff to making McIndoe Surgical Centre the very best it can be.

Janice Gauld, Director of Nursing at McIndoe told Healthcare 100 there was no one particular action which contributed to the win, but staff are motivated and have such a great support system within the hospital framework, that their work/ life balance is respected and gratitude is shown for the impressive levels of patient care which has all contributed to the wonderful news.

Staff also complimented the senior management team, saying they are approachable and supportive, but also allow staff to deal with daily issues and decisions without “interfering”, which allows for a much happier work force who feel valued and appreciated.

Now entering their 12th year, McIndoe Surgical Centre will keep striving for improvement with a single goal in mind. To be the UK’s number 1!

Breast enlargement is an increasingly popular procedure that women of all ages choose to undergo to improve their confidence in the way they look. The recent news about PIP implants and the newly associated dangers will no doubt be extremely worrying for many women who have elected to have this surgery.

John Pereira, a consultant plastic surgeon at McIndoe Surgical Centre said, “It is of great concern to us as a group of Plastic Surgeons to hear of the problems associated with PIP implants as recently reported in the Press.  These implants were amongst the cheapest on the market and unfortunately have been extensively used by many clinics where cost has been the only issue in implant selection.  At the McIndoe Surgical Centre we have never used these implants as we have always suggested quality over price - which in this case has again been borne out.”

 All surgery poses a risk, however this news will have led women all over the country to worry about their implants. What should they do if they are concerned that they may have received these implants?

John Pereira continued, “For those ladies with PIP implants there should be no immediate panic.  We will happily see patients for clinical examination and to give advice.  A scan may be recommended in some cases and we are working with the other implant companies to provide replacements, where necessary, at a highly competitive price. Unfortunately PIP as a company have gone into liquidation but we are exploring what legal avenues may exist for patients requiring implant changes.”

If you would like to speak to anyone for more advice please call our helpline on 0800 917 4922 or visit www.mcindoesurgical.co.uk for other methods of contacting us.

With the focus on skin cancer during Melanoma Awareness week, Melanie Poole, a patient of  McIndoe Surgical Centre shares her story.

“I have been a patient of Mr Banwell’s since 2006 when I had an insitu melanoma removed. I am very sun aware as I am fair skinned and burn easily and also mole aware but I was still shocked discovering I had a melanoma.

Even being sun aware before this, it’s still been quite a life changing experience. I stay covered, stay out of the sun wear a hat and of course wear sun protection.  I also wear a selection of UV protection clothing which may not be the height of fashion, but I can stay covered and protected and still enjoy being outside.

It can feel quite daunting having to stay out of the sun and covered up especially when you see people sunbathing and wearing summer clothes and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with checking your moles regularly for any change. I usually get round these feelings quite quickly but I do have my ‘poor me’ moments but not for long as I am very fortunate that I am in the care of Mr Banwell.

I have regular mole checks with him and am monitored closely for any moles that may need removing. I use a selection of Rational products that Mr Banwell recommends including a very nice and easy to use sun lotion which makes life a lot easier staying protected throughout the year. 

Having had skin cancer you have to make changes to your lifestyle but with regular visits to Mr Banwell and using the products he recommends along with simple things like the UV clothing etc life can still carry on as normal.”

Botox these days is widely used and freely available from a variety of practitioners. However there are certain Do’s and Don’ts that should be followed to ensure you get the most from your Botox experience.

Anita Hazari, a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the McIndoe Surgical Centre in East Grinstead, is an experienced practitioner in the use of Botox and offers the following important tips for your readers.

Do’s

·        Do ensure you are seeing a trained medical professional.

·        Do find out how the procedure will be of use to you.

·        Do inform your trained professional of any allergies or medication you are taking as some antibiotics and drugs may interfere with the action of Botox.

·        Do refrain from having Botox if you suffer from any Neuromuscular conditions such as Motor Neurone disease, myasthenia gravis or Easton-Lambert syndrome.

·        Do remain upright for at least 4 hours after a Botox injection.

·        Do exaggerate facial expressions in injected areas for 1 hour after injection to allow spread of the Botox within the targeted muscle.

·        Do be aware that some tenderness, bruising, temporary headaches can occur which will resolve quickly.

·        Do report any serious and or immediate allergic reactions. These reactions include itchy rash, swelling, and shortness of breath. Get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.

Don’ts

·        Don’t use Botox if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

·        Don’t take ibuprofen, aspirin, or vitamin E for 24 hours after injection.

·        Don’t massage or manipulate injection sites for 48 hours after injection

·        Don’t have any corrective injections within 14 days if the Botox does not have the effect you expected. Once you have the treatment, be aware that it may take a few days to 2 weeks to have the desired effect and any repeat treatments should be after 3 months when the effect has worn off or started to wear off.

·        Don’t exercise for at least 4 hours as lying down or bending down may cause the Botox to spread to an undesirable neighbouring area causing droopiness or double vision.

There are many benefits to be had from Botox and it can be

a very rewarding and beneficial procedure to undergo, but as with any cosmetic procedure you need to ensure you understand exactly what you are undertaking.

Anita’s set of top Do’s and Don’ts should make the whole process much more informed and positive for you and if you would like to discuss Botox or any other cosmetic procedure further with her please do not hesitate to contact our helpline on 0800 917 4922 or visit www.mcindoesurgical.co.uk

Your weight-loss journey begins with a Gastric Band!

Have you been trying to lose weight but nothing is working? Do diets leave you hungry and fed up? Well we may have the answer for you!

If you have a BMI of under 50 and want to lose weight in a supported, structured and friendly way, then you need to come along and see us.

We have a network of dedicated team members to see you through your journey from start to finish. Starting with a consultant surgeon to assess if surgery is right for you, then followed up by our specially trained dietitian and weight loss emotional support practitioner, to help and support you on the next step of your journey.

Laparoscopic gastric banding, sometimes known as “lap banding”, is a highly effective procedure to help overweight people achieve substantial and long-term weight loss, by limiting how much food you can eat.

An inflatable band is placed around the stomach to divide it into two parts, creating a smaller pouch at the top which takes less food, to make you feel full. The food then passes slowly through the opening left by the gastric band into the lower part of your stomach. This will restrict the amount of food you eat, and make you feel fuller for longer.

If you decide surgery is the right choice for you, you will be supported throughout your journey. You will receive further sessions with both the emotional support practitioner and the dietician. These can be extended if needed. We also host a monthly support group for our patients. No one will let you feel alone on this road to the new you and you will be supported every step of the way by McIndoe Surgical Centre.

If you would like to speak to us or book a consultation please contact us on 0800 917 4922 or visit www.mcindoesurgical.co.uk for more information.

With summer creeping up on us again, we need to be extra careful about our sun awareness and protection regimes. However many of us may have spent several summers completely exposed to the sun’s harmful rays without realising what risks we have been inadvertently taking.

Tania Cubison, a Consultant Plastic, Burn & Reconstructive Surgeon, gives us the low down on what to look out for when thinking about skin cancer.

·        Melanoma usually presents itself as little brown spots (like moles). To know if they are friendly or not you need to keep an eye them.

See a GP or Skin Cancer Specialist if any of the following occur:

·        If they get lumpier across the surface or change in size.

·        If the border of the area changes in shape.

·        If they itch or bleed.

·        If they change in colour – particularly turning patchy.

·        If the texture changes at all.

No one is excluded from the attention of the sun’s dangerous rays and everyone should be AWARE and PROTECT themselves from an early age. A habit for life that may well save it.

If you are worried about skin cancer or have a mole that you would like to be checked please contact McIndoe Surgical Centre on 0800 917 4922 or visit www.mcindoesurgical.co.uk for more information.