IMPORTANT! Please check yr surgeons qualifications

I just looked up some surgeons from one of the large commercial clinics and just wanted to share my findings with you girls in the hope that BEFORE booking to have surgery you PLEASE research the surgeon and check their qualifications.

I think you'll all be as shocked as I was to find only 2 of the 12 surgeons they have listed are on the specialist list for plastic surgery.

Breast Augmentation IS plastic surgery.

A surgeon may be on a specialist register for general surgery and it is actually legal so far in the UK for a general surgeon to perform cosmetic surgery.....but, they have had no training at all in plastic surgery. They have no qualifications in plastic surgery. It seems wrong that is allowed to happen in this country doesn't it. But it does, so PLEASE do check your surgeons out!

Of the rest of the surgeons:

3 are registered on the specialist list for 'general' surgery.

1 is on the specialist list for gynaecology

5 surgeons were not registered on a specialist register at all

And 1 could not be located at all on the GMC register

If you are concerned at not finding your surgeon is not on a specialist register for 'plastic surgery' you can double check the findings by contacting the GMC directly.

That is quite frightening - I know that when I need my next operation I will thoroughly checking credentials.

Do you if anyone has ever questioned the qualification of a surgeon in a consultation?

Wow that is some scary statistic.  I cannot believe that is allowed to be the case in this country!

Just as a point of interest what are your views on surgeons that have specialised in Oncoplasty?

Is this THG's surgeons Cookie? xx

I couldn't say Princess....

Just bumping this up - my surgeon is qualified in Oncoplastics. I knew that he specialised in reconstruction and revision surgery. However does this mean he is not qualified in particular for plastic surgery?

I'm curious really, I am very happy with my surgery and my aftercare package.

That is awful!!!   Thanks for bringing it to everyone attention Cookie!!!

Have looked up my surgeon, Mr Mark Solomos , and he is a qualified plastic surgeon, registered on the GMC's specilist register in plastic surgery, just to let other people know if they have had or are thinking of having him
xox

Hi there, I just did a search, even though I did do a lot of researching before. My surgeon is on there, on there since 1988....... So that's good. I'm happy.... Not saying I wasn't before. But it did make me feel better.....

Forgot to say thanks cookie, for having our best interests at heart........

LJR wrote:Just bumping this up - my surgeon is qualified in Oncoplastics.  I knew that he specialised in reconstruction and revision surgery.  However does this mean he is not qualified in particular for plastic surgery?.

Not at all babe.

Onco = tumour and plastic = to mould, its a combination of dealing with tumours babe and the plastic surgery involved to reconstruct the breast. So don't worry hun. They are qualified to do your surgery. Xx

Bizzyboobs wrote:Forgot to say thanks cookie, for having our best interests at heart........

Always hun  

I know which surgeons you are talking about now, it is quite worrying!

omg! thats really scary!!! ive just been on the gmc website & typed in some names, the one ive liked the best so far is on the specialist register but how do i find out what specialist register? does it mean in plastic surgery or is there more? xx

For breast augmentation you'll want a surgeon who is on the specialist register 'plastic surgery' Ange. Xx

I've just typed into the GMC register the name of the surgeon who did my lift for me. As you can see where the arrow points it clearly states he is on a specialist register for plastic surgery in the 'More Details' section of information.

This is where you'll find this information when you type your surgeons name into the GMC register



If you want to know more about qualifications then take a read through this thread [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Why did I not even notice that??? Ha:doh: im such a pleb sometimes!!! Yeah, he's is the same, yay! startin to feel a bit more chilled about it all now & feel i may be nearly ready to actually book  . thanks cookie xxx

Yup, mines on there :) important for people to check, although I did check out all his credentials Before my op, which I think is the best advise to anyone looking at a BA Check out their qualifications, history and work

That's really scary that this is allowed! I checked my surgeons before I went to see him, but it's really good of you to highlight this for people that haven't or haven't even thought to/didn't know they could xx

That's pretty scary stuff! However, it's worth noting that surgeons only need to register as a specialist if they work for the NHS. Some surgeons may have never worked, nor intend to work for the NHS and will continue to do private work.
Here's a link if anyone's feeling worried:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

It doesn't always mean that they are unqualified in plastic surgery, and they may hold additional qualifications in plastic surgery which do not need to be on the GMC register.
This definitely highlights how it's always worth asking your surgeon about his clinical experience and qualifications.
Hope this helps girlies xxx

Its not unknown of for a surgeon or a clinic to tell porky pies, which is why its so important to extend your research beyond the resume shown on clinic websites.

Guidelines from the NHS suggest as I stated above:

NHS Guidelines wrote:A cosmetic surgeon should have the appropriate training and qualifications to carry out your procedure. Find out the relevant qualifications, and what questions to ask them.
First, check online that your surgeon is registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), or you can call 0845 357 3456.

"Preferably, you need to find someone with a surgical qualification, who's registered in the UK, and ideally has a specialist qualification in plastic surgery," says Professor Simon Kay, consultant plastic surgeon and member of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons.

"But it's also OK if your surgeon has a specialist qualification in an area relevant to the procedure you're having, rather than in plastic surgery. For example, in ear, nose and throat surgery if you're having something done to your nose."

Source HERE

Which as I stated.... You should be looking for a surgeon who is on the specialist register for plastic surgery. Or as in LJRs case, her surgeon is a breast specialist in oncoplastic, so again following the guidelines of the NHS this is a surgeon that's fine because they specialise in the area you're wanting operating on.

We, as a support forum will ONLY ever suggest the best for women coming here looking for our help and we will guide them as suggested by the NHS guidelines.

And I said earlier... If you're at all unsure if your surgeon has the qualifications to operate on your breasts - just call the GMC and check. Xx

I agree hun, I think that it's really important to make sure that your surgeon is qualified and shocking to see some aren't even GMC registered!  
I was just saying that as the register is for NHS consultants post 1997, there may be some very qualified surgeons out there who are not on the register. It really is a minefield, particularly private surgery. I reckon the best bet is to do further research and speak to your surgeon.
xx

It's only a mind field if you don't do your research and dont get a surgeon who is a specialist on the plastic surgery register. A surgeon can tell you the sky is pink and some girls will believe them and ive read stories of girls in comas because surgeons lied about there qualifications so I agree with u cookie to follow all the advise that's out there to keep us safe and if you don't after knowing about it here because cookie tries dead hard to help everyone get good surgeons then its on their head if things go wrong. The guidelines are there for a reason and cookie your right to make everyone know about that 

Love Maisy.

Everyone needs to just be smart and make sure they have done everything they can to make sure they are making the right choices...research, checking, consults, recommendations, examples of your surgeons work if you can, and more research. 

You're putting your body in someone else's hands, and it shouldn't really take a post like this for some girls to realise that they need to actively check these things out, no one is going to do it for you. Not scaremongering, just saying that this is a major decision we all make, a major life choice, a major operation, that changes your body, and if all you do as a minimum is go for a consultation and not check facts and figures and qualifications then that's a dangerous game you're playing. 
 Completely agree with flowergirl  research! 
X

Maisy_Ann wrote: A surgeon can tell you the sky is pink and some girls will believe them.

Exactly!

And this is why its not as simple as just asking a surgeon/clinic for their qualifications.

Unless your surgeon is a member of BAAPS/BAPRAS whereby they have been voted in to the membership by their peers based on their quality of surgery in the specific area then you need to research beyond what you're told which is what I'm trying to do here. X