First consultation Sunday 28th July...eek

Hi ladies

Just booked my first consultation with Transform. They advised a make a list of questions I want to ask. I know the basics to ask (think it will be an uplift I'll need) Any unusual questions spring to mind that I may not think of asking?

Thanks:)
Thanks :)

We keep speaking today!! Haha :)

On the right if you click on the first part under 'im new where to begin' theres a great notebook that many of us take to consultations with us that have lots of questions we can ask xx

We do dont we ha....

That's great, thanks Jennifer. Feel such a nuisance. It's not as easy as it looks navigating around the site on your phone!!! Will have a proper root round on laptop when I get home. I've not done hardly any work today. ..ooops hehe. Sssshhhhh ha x

We have our own Breast Buddies consultation notebook that is filled with questions to ask if you'd like me to email it to you Sharon?

Do be aware that your first consultation at transform will be with a 'patient Care Co-ordinator' or PCC for short. This women will have had no medical training at all and is basically a saleswoman for transform Sharon.

She will go over the procedure you want with you and may throw offers for a limited time only at you or any other kind so sales techniques to draw you in. You may even be pressured to sign on the day. They will be absolutely lovely!!!! This is what they're paid to do... To make YOU feel good so that YOU book with them. They'll then find you the surgeon they think will be best for the procedure you're wanting (this is just generally the next surgeon with a free space on the list  ) They're very good at what they do Sharon so do just have your wits about you when you go.

You will then after seeing the PCC have to make an appointment to go back to them to see a surgeon. After seeing the surgeon on our second appointment you'll again see this ever so lovely lady again who will again go through everything with you.

No matter what though Sharon please do not take any advise regarding which procedure is right for you from a PCC . As you can see from this BAAPS release [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], 1 in 5 women are wrongly advised about their procedure by someone other than their surgeon, so do please take anything regarding the procedure you're having from a PCC with a pinch of salt babe. The ONLY person to advise about your procedure should be a fully qualified surgeon.

If you go back to see a surgeon do also be sure to check all qualifications on the GMC register babe. Xx

Thanks cookie for your up front advice...

Im a little scared now tbh. Is transform not the best? Does this happen with every cosmetic clinic? I just dont want to make the wrong decision :(

Don't be scared... You'll be fine as long as you are fully informed and have your wits about you.

Transform are one of the larger commercial clinics and they are very competitive so the sales tactics used are there to draw you in. Their surgeons should all be at the very least on the specialist register for plastic surgery, but its important for you to check this for yourself babe.

Not all clinics behave in this way. BAAPS members will have you see only them. They'll give you a thorough consultation and these surgeons are all at the top of their game. They will all be on the specialist register for plastic surgery and will have a FRCS qualification in addition at the very least. They will have worked within the NHS at consultant level for at least 6 years and will have studies under their BAAPS peers in training before being accepted for a full membership and even then, they undergo ongoing checks to ensure their work is up to standard.

You can see a BAAPS member for as little as £25 through MyBreast. Or you can locate a BAAPS surgeon in your area HERE through their website if you wanted to. Just click on your location and when clicking on the surgeons names it will show their qualifications and places of work. Xxx

Most of the big commercial clinics do have these sales women, like cookie said there job is to get you on board but you just have to beware of this!
A few company's such as my breast and spire do not have these women and you see the surgeon right away... The big clinics have hundreds of thousands of women have procedures with them it's just the way they run... Business orientated.

Also the companies such as spire use surgeons that have an extra qualification known as baaps/bapras
xx

BAAPS ? Sorry cookie I'm a bit overwhelmed with this. So is there an alternative to Transform where I can see a sugeon and bypass the sales pitch? Is mybreast a clinic?

Sorry for being do dull ha x

Jennifer you answered my question just as I posted my question ! Oops x

The PCC i saw at Transform was very pleasant and not pushy at all so it really does depend on who you get.  I would definately recommend going to Transform but also seeing a BAAPS registered surgeon as well.  Its all part of your journey experiences the different consultations, and nothing to be scared of. 
You don't have to book anything until you are completely 100% happy with the surgeon.
Good luck and enjoy your experiences xxx

SharonM wrote:BAAPS ? Sorry cookie I'm a bit overwhelmed with this. So is there an alternative to Transform where I can see a sugeon and bypass the sales pitch? Is mybreast a clinic?

Sorry for being do dull ha x

Yes, MyBreast is a cosmetic clinic also, but ONLY uses BAAPS/BAPRAS members. They will charge £25 for a consultation fee but you can have 3 consultations for this price.

Spire also will ONLY use BAAPS/BAPRAS surgeons, they will charge about £100-£150 depending on the surgeons status to see a surgeon. You will also get 3 consultations for this price.

With both of these clinics if you choose a surgeon from the clinic, the cost of the consultation comes off the overall cost of surgery. Xx

Just to add, you also have the option of seeing a BAAPS/BAPRAS member through their private clinics also, but you may find the cost for this a little more expensive. Xx

But if I see a BAAPS registered surgeon am I not wasting my time if he/sge doesn't work for Transform...

Bloody hell im confused haha x

BAAPS is the British Aesthetic Association for Plastic Surgery I think, and surgeons that are members have to be recommended by other surgeons in the profession, but they are monitered and do follow stricter regulations than the commercial clinic surgeons.  That isn't to say the commercial clinics surgeons are any less qualified etc, but it just gives you that little extra assurance that they are recognised in the field of plastic surgery.

They will also not take any payment from you until close to your surgery, and if you need to cancel or rearrange they have a duty to refund your money if you change your mind etc, as ultimately the surgery is your choice and if you change your mind you would get your money back.

I am sure someone else will explain it better to you than this though!!!
xxx

I would recommend biting the bullet and paying for a consultation, I did this and am sooooooo happy I did.  I saw the BAAPS surgeon last and did the free consultations first, it really set me up well for the one where I was paying.  By then I felt like I really knew what was being talked about and being offered to me.
xxxx

Many of us here go for consultations with different surgeons in different companies. I saw transform x2 my breast Harley medical and the hospital group. We normally do this so we can compare notes and therefore we know 100% which surgeon and company we are most confident with... It's recommended to see a baaps/bapras surgeon just because of the extra qualification they have... You don't have to do this obviously but it just helps to be 100% certain! Xx

Can I request at my initial consultation to see a BAAPS registered surgeon?

Sorry guys for the million questions. .. x

SharonM wrote:But if I see a BAAPS registered surgeon am I not wasting my time if he/sge doesn't work for Transform...

Bloody hell im confused haha  x

There's a lot to think about isnt there.... Lol.

It depends what you want hun... If you're wanting the VERY best, then you're going to use a BAAPS/BAPRAS member. Their stringent testing really does keep them at the top of their game.

Surgeons working at the larger commercial clinics such as Transform are qualified surgeons and there are some good surgeons out there. But with the possibility of needing an uplift hun, if you want my honest opinion...

Look to a BAAPS/BAPRAS member.

An uplift is a VERY technical procedure and you will be wanting the best you can get to perform this for you Sharon. Im not at all saying that the commercial surgeons are bad in any way, just that you benefot from the extra qualifications and as this is after all your body we're talking about and you're ultimately looking for the persona who's going to be taking a scalpel to it and changing its shape forever!

I've used a large commercial clinic myself, I'm now on my third surgeon because the foreign surgeons they use tend to move on a lot so I've had no continuance at all. If I've learned anything from what I've been through Sharon its to Take your time! Research! And GET THE BEST SURGEON YOU CAN!

But its entirely up to you hun. Transforms consultations are free, so maybe go just for the experience if you wanted to? Its up to you hun and what you're wanting for yourself from this surgery. Xx

SharonM wrote:Can I request at my initial consultation to see a BAAPS registered surgeon?  

Sorry guys for the million questions. .. x

Transform don't have any full BAAPS members babe.

Only MyBreast, Spire and BMI have them but you have to request specifically from them.

At MyBreast, Spire and BMI you won't be seen by anyone but a BAAPS/BAPRAS surgeon. Xx

Transform and the other bigger clinics don't have full baaps/bapras surgeons.

At your consultation ask the surgeon how many uplifts they do, ask to see pictures etc! It's got to be who you feel most confident with because you can still have a complication going with a baaps surgeon of course! 

It does take time, mine was around three months of having consultations and I decided on transform because they were my personal favourite xx

Are the procedures at these clinics more expensive?

You've all been great on this thread by the way ; ) x

You'll maybe pay a little more for a BAAPS surgeon yes Sharon, but nothing significant hun. By the time you get your consultation fee deducted from the overall costs it not much more at all.

Of course for the very top surgeons in the UK, you will pay a lot more for those surgeons.but all this is to be expected isn't it babe Xx

Hi girls...

Just booked a consultation with MyBreast at St Helens. They have told me I will be seeing a Mr Liew.

Now I really dont know what to do about Transform :o

Since I've found out about BAAPS registered surgeons I'm warying of clinics that don't have them. I know I'm most probably being unfair...x

Jennifer, I note that your having your op with transform. Is your surgeon BAAPS registered? I've looked on their site and none of the surgeons at my clinic aren't :( x

Nope he's not. I did meet a baaps member but he wasn't for me. I've researched my surgeon over a year and seen his work, plus spoke to lots of girls and not heard a bad word about him. So the fact he isn't baaps registered isn't important to me, he does thousands of BA every year and I trust him :) ... Because you can have a complication with any surgeon, you just have to go with who you personally have the connection with and just because they don't have the baaps certificate doesn't mean they arnt a great surgeon ... If they do then it's an extra qualification on the cv great, but for me i can't wait to have mr M :) ! Xx