1 in 5 misinformed by someone other than a surgeon

London – 18 March, 2013 – As the country gears up for the results of a Government enquiry into cosmetic surgery due out later this month, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons ([You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] unveils today the results of an internal poll of its members, which highlights the importance of true ‘informed consent’ on the part of the patient. The survey reveals how dangerously misinformed people undergoing cosmetic surgery can be when their consultations are held with brokers, salespeople, ‘customer advisors’ or even other medical professionals, rather than with the surgeon who is performing the operation.

The poll reveals that BAAPS members – all of whom only perform consultations themselves, and abide by the two-week ‘cooling off’ period – regularly turn away a high proportion of their own patients. The commonest reasons given for this are the procedure desired being unsuitable or unnecessary (for example being too young for a facelift), unrealistic expectations – such as wanting to look like a specific celebrity or movie star – and medical reasons including smoking, obesity or a heart condition.



Practically all BAAPS surgeons (97%) have seen patients whose consultations elsewhere were held with customer advisors, brokers or salespeople and the information they were given had been inappropriate. The most common problems were risks not fully explained, procedure or technique recommended unsuitable, and advice on the surgical plan being incorrect.

According to consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS President Rajiv Grover;

It is not surprising that patients seem wildly misinformed when their consultation is performed by someone other than the surgeon responsible for the procedure. Customer advisors, brokers, salespeople, patient liaison or whatever fancy name is being used, have an agenda which is too often financially motivated. Our survey demonstrates that BAAPS members, all of whom perform consultations personally, in fact turn away a great number of patients from unnecessary surgery, due to coexisting medical conditions or psychological reasons that salespeople (even nurses who may be working on commission) are neither equipped to properly identify nor subsequently deal with.


At this seminal time in our sector, we call upon the Government to establish and enforce regulations that will prohibit consultations taking place with anyone other than the surgeon who will be operating. This will instantly reduce the problems stemming from ‘fly-in-fly-out’ practitioners who depend on local brokers, and also have an impact on patients undergoing surgery in the UK whose safety is being compromised by the unsuitable – and outright dangerous – advice of people just seeking to increase their sales commissions.”

Survey highlights

The entirety (100%) of the BAAPS membership only perform patient consultations themselves; all offer a 2nd consultation for free, and all abide by the minimum two-week ‘cooling-off’ period recommended by doctors’ regulatory body the General Medical Council
The vast majority - four out of five (79%) - of BAAPS surgeons’ initial patient consultations last between 30mins to an hour (some even more than an hour)
More than three out of five (63%) turn away between 10%-30% of their patients and well over a third (35%) turn away at least one in five (20%-30%)
The top three most common reasons given for turning patients away were, in order of popularity:
Procedure was unsuitable or unnecessary (e.g., too young for a facelift)
Unrealistic expectations for surgery (e.g., wanting to look like a particular celebrity or movie star)
Medical reasons such as being obese, a smoker, or having a heart condition
Practically all BAAPS surgeons (97%) had seen patients who had undergone a surgery consultation elsewhere with someone other than a surgeon (e.g., patient liaison, sales advisor, customer reps) and were misinformed about the surgery they wished to have
The top three most prevalent reasons for inappropriate advice were:
Surgical risks were not fully explained
Procedure/technique was unsuitable for the patient
Advice on surgical plan was incorrect
Rajiv Grover concludes;

“Essentially what our survey shows, is that at the very least one in five patients (on average) is unsuitable for surgery – but surgeons are trained and qualified to spot this and advise them appropriately. The accepted concept of Informed Consent is severely compromised when the patient doesn’t even meet their surgeon until the day of their operation. It’s little wonder that we constantly hear horror stories of bad outcomes and dissatisfied patients when many of them shouldn’t have undergone the procedure in the first place! The reality is that, in the right circumstances, aesthetic plastic surgery can have a positive impact on a person’s life. Under the wrong conditions – particularly in a sales-driven, ‘stack em high’ environment – the results can be no less than catastrophic. We’re handing the Government the scalpel: it’s time to cut out bad practice.”

Source HERE

I've personally seen MANY women here have 'consultations' from sales women or nurses and have been appalled that these people are passing on information they are not medically trained to do. The poll is frightening! But having witnessed this myself here I know it to be true.

Its so important to take advice regarding your surgery from a fully qualified plastic surgeon only. It really is so dangerous not to and well done AGAIN to BAAPS for not standing for this and wanting to protect people from the dangers of doing so.

Wow cookie, that's scary to think so many women don't meet their surgeons until op day! And that so many women are given procedures that they are infact not suitable for! Unfortunately we see this all to often in the media etc!! X

We've seen it all here and have sometimes tried so hard to get women to listen and sadly a lot of the time it does fall on deaf ears.

I just hope women do take notice of this poll and realise the dangers of rushing into surgery. X

Great article cookie, and very true. The saleswomen are selling a cosmetic procedure to unsuitable patients , and give out misleading information and ultimately that's exactly what they are SALES people. Which I think in this industry is wrong. Women looking to have a cosmetic procedure should not be consulated or have metering with Pccs or sales women. A good surgeon will always do what's best for a patient even if it means turning the patient down for surgery not seeing how many girls they can cram in to see a surgeon and pack their days out with patients.
It's pound signs they see rather than an individual and as I say it's totally wrong in this industry it's not like buying a car or a new sofa where after a while if you don't get along with it or decide its not really For you it's a little too late to late.

I also hope women take notice cookie and again Great article :-)

When I had my consultation my surgeon was amazing, he wasn't pressuring me at all into going with him, at the end he said something along the lines "lovely to meet you, hope to see you seen but if you do go elsewhere I wish the best of luck and happiness with your operation" and he didn't BS me, with the big clinics I had the feeling the surgeons were telling me what they thought I wanted to hear "yes you can have a big implant this size" etc when he was like "no. Anything over 380 on you will be too big and the risks of complications will outweigh benefits"

I really do think everyone should have at least one consultation with a baaps/bapras surgeon they are well worth the money and such a big difference from the big clinic consultations

newboobz wrote:I really do think everyone should have at least one consultation with a baaps/bapras surgeon they are well worth the money and such a big difference from the big clinic consultations

Agreed.

I've actually had the privilege of sitting in on a consultation with a BAAPS member (Douglas McGeorge) and it was amazing. Such a difference to the consultations you get in the large commercial clinics, although if you stand firm with those surgeons and demand a full consultation, some will give you their time. Most however won't.

My daughter was actually one of the women turned away for breast augmentation. She was 18 and told she should give her body more time to mature. I KNOW had I took her to the larger commercial clinics there would be no doubt in my mind her breast would be augmented now. As it turned out Mr McGeorge was right. My daughters body did develop further and she's now more than happy with what she has and so thankful to the surgeon who made the right choice 'for her' in turning her away. X

I never once met a patient coordinator or advisor. I saw my surgeon (BAAPS/BAPRAS) only from start to end whenever I want that to be :)

That's the thing Cazzy, your surgeon is the only person that matters. I don't get why a 'middle man..or woman' in this case is needed other than to keep you sweet and push for the sale! X

This is really interesting Cookie and thanks so much. I saw a Patient Coordinator first who did tell me alsorts about the operation (including that I should definitely have unders as they look more natural as well as what cup size I would be with certain size implants) To be honest at the time I was so excited to be there that I kind of "fell for her" She then wanted to see me after my consultation with the surgeon too which i refused as I was in a hurry. Didn't think of it at the time, thought she was just being friendly.. but that was surely just to push me in to the sale.
I've said 100 times on here that I wouldn't change my experience for the fact that my surgeon was fantastic and gave me lots of time at the consultation. I literally couldn't be happier with what I have. But other than that, the patient coordinator and nurse just don't have the right frame of mind as far as I'm concerned. You are just a number to them. there is no personal service. Any questons that you ask are answered parrot fashion as if every woman is the same. They are also waaaaaaay less feiendly AFTER you hand over your cash
Thanks again Cookie x

This is really interesting. Thanks for sharing this. I've seen my surgeon from the start and he has never been pushy in any way, the only thing he did say was that my body would look in more proposition. i have big hips and small boobs, and I completely agreed with him and was happy that someone was finally seeing it from my side, were as all my friends and family were saying I didn't need to change. Xx

This is an interesting article. I've had a similar experience with a PC. The first PC I met at THG was brilliant. She basically told me to meet with lots of surgeons and get lots of advice before committing to anything. She hasn't bombarded me with calls either and has only made me feel comfortable.
I saw another PC at Transform who basically told me that having unders was stupid and definitely not the right thing to do!! They are there to sell and will say whatever they need to get you booked in with that surgeon on that day. The guy I saw that day doesn't do unders so that was clearly her motivation! I've since been advised by three more surgeons that unders would be best for me!
Lucky I knew the system and didn't fall for her 'charm' or I could have ended up with completely the wrong surgery for my frame!x

Absolutely CAB!

Any surgeon that only does one placement has no care for what's right for their patients, only what's right 'for them'. Its shocking surgeons like that are allowed to continue to work! Can you imagine their complication rate!

Too many PCCS think saying what they think you want to hear is whats going to secure the sale with no though to the consequences this could cause.

I read so many times how lovely the PCCS are how they go above and beyond their work to help the person..

No... They don't!

They paint on that plastic smile and will say all the same things to you as they do to EVERY woman that walks through that door and will go above and beyond to secure that sale! That's all that matters. Always remember, they aren't ever working 'for you' they're working for the clinic and what's what's best for the clinic. Xx