Choosing a surgeon

“Cosmetic surgery can be a safe and fulfilling experience in properly trained hands”, says Mr Henley, but a key decision you have to make when thinking about surgery is the selection of your surgeon. How then do you go about your search and what should it include?

The first step is to make sure that your surgeon is registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). You can do this either by their website www.gmc-uk.org or phone 0845 357 3456, giving the surgeon’s forename and surname.

Mr. Henley’s GMC registration number is 2686181. You can search the GMC here

Next, find out if your surgeon is on the Specialist Register and if the answer is yes, which one?  Entry onto this register shows that the doctor has gone through a lengthy training programme in a particular field of medicine or surgery. Again, you can do this through the General Medical Council. However, it is advisable to seek advice from your General Practitioner who will be able to put you in touch with a reputable surgeon for your chosen procedure.

Check that your surgeon is on the correct part of the Specialist Register for your procedure. In addition to surgeons on the Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery, other surgeons may be appropriately trained to perform cosmetic procedures, as long as the surgery is performed in an area in which they specialise.

FRCS (Plast) is the accreditation that proves that that a surgeon has completed plastic surgery training in the UK.

Type of surgeon	Nose reshaping	Eyelid surgery	Tummy tuck	Liposuction	Breast surgery	Face lift
Plastic
Ear, Nose and Throat
Eye surgeon or ophthalmologist						Brow-lift
Maxillofacial
Breast

Make sure that you do not choose a surgeon based on qualifications alone. Experience and personal preference are very important too. You need to feel comfortable with your surgeon’s personal approach. Your surgeon should listen to you, understand what results you wish to achieve and address any of your concerns. If you do not feel comfortable with your surgeon, you should choose another!