There is a huge spectrum with some women finding their pre-pregnancy body will return naturally, often with an exercise and healthy eating regime, while others experience lots of loose skin and stretch marks – particularly if a woman has had 3 or 4 children. The most important piece of advice we can give to women considering having cosmetic surgery to regain your pre-pregnancy body is to wait until your family is complete.

Surgery will not prevent further stretch marks and skin sagging occurring following another pregnancy. Here at McIndoe, the most common post-pregnancy procedures we perform are breast augmentation (enlargement) and breast uplift (mastopexy) and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).

Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty) Abdominoplasty will tighten up loose layers of skin and improve the appearance of stretch marks which can often result from pregnancy. Many women find that after pregnancy, although they can exercise to lose excess weight and tone up muscles, their skin will have lost a lot of its elasticity leaving them with stretch marks and sagging skin.

At McIndoe we would recommend any patient to try and regain their pre-pregnancy weight before having abdominoplasty surgery, to achieve the best result. Some women also find that post-pregnancy their abdominal rectus muscles have separated resulting in an unsightly bulge. This can be corrected during the abdominoplasty procedure by stitching the muscles back together. Breast Augmentation (enlargement) and Mastopexy (breast uplift) Breastfeeding can result in a loss of breast volume and dropping.

For mild drooping, a breast augmentation procedure can boost volume and re-shape the breast. More severe drooping can occur in women who had large breasts prior to pregnancy and then have lost a lot of volume through breast feeding. To correct this a mastopexy (breast uplift) procedure can be performed to remove loose skin and reposition the nipple. It is important that women have stopped breast feeding and post-lactation changes have occurred before cosmetic surgery takes place.

For further information or to book your consultation contact our Helpline on 0800 917 4922 or complete the contact form on our website.

The Nursing Times Top 100 survey celebrates the very best in nursing employment practice including: strong nursing leadership, flexible and family-friendly practices, openness and ability to listen to staff, level of staff involvement, training, development and mentorship. The survey includes both the NHS and the independent healthcare sector.

Matron, Janice Gauld comments ‘I am thrilled the nursing staff have been recognised. This last year has been a very busy year for us and we have seen an increase of patients choosing to have their surgery at McIndoe. The hospital prides itself on good quality nursing care, and attention to detail. I would like to thank the team for their hard work and dedication.’

Why? Is it because the weather is generally dull, the sun rarely shines and we are not necessarily expected to be at our most vivacious?  Well, we can be forgiven if we don’t feel vivacious, and maybe we are all still carrying a few extra pounds from Christmas.  But it’s because we are not exposed to harsh sunlight that treatments such as chemical peels and laser are much better applied at this time year. 

Facial surgery especially eye bag removal (blepharoplasty) and endobrow surgery are great boosts to a tired looking face.  If surgery is well performed, you won’t loose your natural appearance and look like somebody completely different. Instead it should leave your friends envious and curious as to how well you look, a bit like you have been on holiday, but they know you haven’t!!  They will keep trying to steal a glance and the anxiety on their faces as they try and work it out will keep you amused for weeks.

If you are considering any type of treatment we would always recommend you research your procedure as thoroughly as you can.  At McIndoe we hold regular open evenings to aid anyone considering surgery. Further information is available from our helpline on 0800 9174922.  Email info@mcindoesurgical.co.uk or complete the contact form on our website.

We are very excited about the prospect of our commercial being shown following the successful Extreme Makeover series shown on Sky’s Living TV. A number of the programmes for the Extreme Makeover show were filmed at McIndoe and many people may recognise the consultant in our commercial, namely Peter Arnstein.

Peter Arnstein and colleague John Pereira featured in shows which were aired in 2006 and are often repeated on the Living Channel.

The report which investigated a number of clinics in England and Wales concluded that, on some occasions, the industry was putting marketing tactics and sales practices before patient safety. The report cited three problematic areas – the use of aggressive marketing which puts undue pressure on consumers; poor quality information leading to uninformed choices; and extensive rule breaking which goes unchecked because of weak and patchy regulation.

David Irvine, Executive Director of McIndoe Surgical Centre, welcomes the report and is concerned by some of the practises highlighted in the investigation. “It concerns me to read of the poor practices which are employed by a number of cosmetic surgery providers,” said David. “Offering time sensitive discounts, non-medical staff giving inappropriate advice, downplaying the risk of treatments and misleading claims are all serious actions of misconduct and ones which can damage the general reputation of the industry,” he added.

“I’d like to reassure consumers that this isn’t common practice across the industry and at BMI McIndoe Surgical Centre we operate the highest standards of patient care. We don’t employ sales teams, all patients will see their consultant two to three times prior to surgery and we don’t charge cancellation fees. Our hospital is fully licensed and registered with the Healthcare Commission, regulated under the Care Standards Act 2002 and we endorse an annual quality improvement programme. We’re also recognised by the Royal College of Plastic Surgeons as a training centre for cosmetic procedures, “he concluded.

McIndoe has 19 regular cosmetic and plastic surgeons, all of whom hold or have held NHS consultant posts and are on the specialist register of the General Medical Council. As a specialist centre the surgeons provide cover and support for each other, alongside support staff with dedicated skills in nursing and theatre. More than 3,000 procedures each year are carried out at the clinic in East Grinstead and a recent patient survey revealed that over 98% of patients would recommend McIndoe. At McIndoe Surgical Centre we have put together the following guide for people who are considering having a cosmetic surgery procedure:

Do Your Research
Research the procedure you are planning to have. This will ensure you are well-prepared, know all the pros and cons, and can assess whether it is right for you. Also, choose a hospital or clinic that is fully licensed and registered with the Healthcare Commission or equivalent and find out more about that hospital. Your GP may be able to make recommendations but all clinics are now required to provide a patient’s guide detailing the services they offer, the cost, as well as information on making comments, complaints or suggestions. Ask the clinic for a copy of their patient’s guide.

Have a Consultation
Choose the right consultant. If possible, get a referral from your GP as, with your permission, he or she can provide any relevant patient history that may assist your surgeon. Make sure your consultation is with the consultant who will perform your procedure. A sales rep is not qualified to assess your surgical needs and reputable practices do not use sales teams to assess patients.

Ask Questions
What standard of care can you expect from support staff? Ask about the training of nurses and if possible ask to see the room and other hospital facilities that you will be using before and after surgery. Ask the consultant to talk you through all aspects of the procedure including aftercare and make sure any queries you have are answered before you proceed.

Ask your surgeon about his or her experience in performing the specific procedure you are planning to have. It is important particularly if you are having an unusual or complicated procedure that you are confident about the skills of your surgeon.

Reputable clinics will not charge a cancellation fee so check the clinic’s policy regarding this. Also, know what to do if something goes wrong. Ask the clinic at the outset what their procedure is in correcting any problems or offering further treatment if you are unhappy with the result. Cosmetic surgery clinics and hospitals are required to have a written policy and procedures for handling complaints and they should be happy to explain these to you.

For further information on McIndoe Surgical Centre, call 0800 917 4922 or visit www.mcindoe-surgical.co.uk

Both sides and the rear doors of the Sprinter 313CDI feature striking images of an attractive young model, whose obvious charms are now helping to promote the McIndoe Centre as a leader in the fast-growing field of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

A totally self-contained, specialist private hospital, the McIndoe Surgical Centre stands in the grounds of the NHS Queen Victoria Hospital, in East Grinstead. It is named after the father of plastic surgery Sir Archibald McIndoe, who is renowned for his pioneering treatment on the same site of airmen burned and injured during the Second World War.

The McIndoe Surgical Centre offers a wide range of services, including plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery maxillofacial surgery, cataract surgery, ear, nose and throat surgery and paediatric surgery. It has 65 shareholders, the majority of them consultants and medical staff working at the Queen Victoria Hospital and other NHS Trusts in the region. Prominent among their number is Peter Arnstein, one of the world’s top plastic surgeons, who has also starred, with colleague John Pereira, on Living TV’s popular series Extreme Makeover.

The McIndoe Surgical Centre is managed by the BMI Healthcare Group – and that’s where its new Mercedes, which was supplied by Crawley dealer Rossetts Commercials, comes in.

An integral part of the hospital is its Sterile Services Department, which specialises in cleaning instruments used in surgery. It is a facility that many other hospitals do not have, so the McIndoe Centre has begun marketing this service to other hospitals within the BMI Group. First to take advantage was The Princess Margaret Hospital in Windsor, which awarded the McIndoe team a contract to clean its own instruments and now receives regular daily visits from the Mercedes Sprinter.

Katy Muir, Marketing Manager for the McIndoe Surgical Centre, explains: “The crucial job of sterilising surgical instruments is a science in its own right. For example, not only can our specialists tell you exactly when each piece of equipment was cleaned, they can also tell you what type of detergent, and precisely how much of it, was used.” She continues: “We wanted a vehicle that would be comfortable, safe and reliable, as well as exuding an image of quality. The Sprinter ticked all of the boxes in terms of its specification and, of course, as everybody knows, vans don’t come any better than a Mercedes-Benz.”

Launched last year, the new-generation Mercedes Sprinter combines dynamic good looks, ‘bullet-proof’ build quality, comprehensive specification and ingenious technology. Highlights of the range include best-in-class side-loading door widths, outstanding ergonomics and comfort, a powerful and clean CDI diesel engine line-up and a comprehensive armoury of safety features, including an advanced new version of the remarkable ESP® anti-skid system called Adaptive.

Excellence in private healthcare
Our hospital, McIndoe Surgical Centre in East Grinstead has an international reputation based on the work of Archibald McIndoe a pioneer in plastic surgery and as specialist plastic surgery hospital we are probably one of the largest on the world.

Our main area of expertise is plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, followed by Maxillofacial surgery, Ophthalmology and Ear Nose and Throat Surgery. We are also fortunate to be able to provide a paediatric service by a dedicated team of paediatric nurses for children over the age of three. A service that many private hospitals are finding difficult or unable to provide.

Why are we different? Small enough to care, big enough to cope!
Because we have chosen to concentrate on specific surgical specialties, our patients can be confident that our consultants, theatre, ward and outpatient nurses are truly specialists in their fields. In this way we can promise them the highest standards of care always delivered with a friendly smile!
Our hospital offers all the discreet comfort and style of a respected private hospital. But what makes it unique is our relationship with the Queen Victoria Hospital, which under a formal agreement, provides emergency medical back up in the rare event of post-operative complications. That’s extra reassurance for our patients and their families.
The team is small and we are like one big work family. We each have our own departments but are happy to share new ideas with each other for the benefit of the hospital and our patients. It is often commented on by visitors that our hospital has a really lovely homely feel and family atmosphere, not at all sterile and cold.

Passionate People
Many of the staff working here have been in post since day one and are truly passionate about the hospital and its continuing success. The consultants respect the staff and value their input, thoughts and opinions. It is this team approach which I feel makes this a very special environment to work in. Many hospitals are driven purely for profit and patient care is almost left as an afterthought. The work we do at McIndoe is patient and quality driven by an enthusiastic team which I am proud to be part of.

Peace of Mind is essential
For additional reassurance for our patients, we are registered by the Healthcare Commission.

All of our consultants are fully accredited and are on the specialist register of the General Medical Council.

Those consultants who specialise in plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery are also members of leading professional bodies such as BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons) or BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons).

At McIndoe we have a further peace of mind guarantee for our patients who self fund their treatment. We recognise how stressful being handed an invoice for a stunning array of extras can be! So we recommend patients opt for a fixed price package so there are no hidden extras, or nasty surprises. We believe in being open and honest with our patients. Unlike many other providers especially in the cosmetic industry we do not charge a cancellation fee or use sales advisors. This to me personally is a really strong commitment and testament to our patient care. We would rather a patient withdraw from surgery than proceed and be unhappy. We recognise that a fair proportion of our surgery is effectively ‘elective surgery’ so our patients have to be confident they are making the right choice.

Our offer to you – try before you buy!
Our hospital holds free informal open evenings which are a great way for anyone considering surgery or wanting to know more to come along and meet some of our surgeons and staff and see the hospital at work. If anyone would like to visit our hospital before they commit to a consultation I would urge them to contact our helpline in the first instance so one of the team can be available to show you around and take time to answer any questions you may have.

It’s a big step
Surgery of any sort is a big step and we want to extend a helping hand and welcome people who research their options rather than jumping in and being unhappy. I always say you wouldn’t buy a car without a test drive (well maybe the majority of us wouldn’t) then please don’t do that surgery. Check us out, we have nothing to hide and would be proud to show you around.

So…. surely all this combined with a relaxing and caring environment really is a superb place to be.