Private Medical Care
Cosmetic Surgery
Some links on this page have been colour coded to make it easier to find the information you need:
As the NHS suggests
“Cosmetic surgery is not routinely provided on the NHS.”
Cosmetic procedures – When it’s on the NHS – NHS
There is further detailed explanation of why and what procedures may not be funded under
NOTE: Skin lesions which are considered to be possible skin cancers will always be referred urgently by your GP practice on the NHS.
In the topics below, if you decide you want to proceed with private cosmetic surgery there is both detailed general information on cosmetic surgery but also more specific information on making the decision to proceed with cosmetic surgery and the process of having cosmetic surgery.
Finally, there is a link to the websites of some local private hospitals. These are not a recommendation but just provided for convenience.
A good overview is available in the following links.
From the NHS
This is an excellent large guide with multiple articles covering most areas
Cosmetic procedures – NHS
From Patient info
Cosmetic Surgery | Patient
From the Royal College of Plastic Surgeons
Cosmetic Surgery — Royal College of Surgeons
From British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)
Cosmetic Surgery | BAPRAS
From the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Procedures Procedures | The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
You do not need to see a GP for a referral
Most patients will proceed with a private appointment without seeing their GP. However, it is worth considering what areas a GP might cover in a consultation (time permitting), so if you decide not to see your GP you have insight into what to consider and access to some good information which covers most of what would happen in a GP consultation.
They will potentially cover 4 areas:
1. DISCUSS IF COSMETIC SURGERY IS RIGHT FOR YOU
They will likely pose questions similar to the excellent questions from the NHS website
- Before you have a cosmetic procedure – NHS
- Is cosmetic surgery right for me? Ask yourself some questions Cosmetic procedures – Is a cosmetic procedure right for me? – NHS
In the questions posed in the NHS article, two particularly important questions are:
- “Am I expecting the procedure to change my life as well as my appearance?”
- “Am I expecting the procedure to improve my relationship, social skills or job prospects?”
It is worth considering these questions in the context of your mental wellbeing. If you are going through a period of anxiety or depression, or stressful change in your life a GP will pose the question is this the right time for you do a procedure which you may not be able to reverse.
2. Direct you to INFORMATION ON THE PROCEDURE
There is good information available on most of the possible procedures in each of these links:
From the NHS
Cosmetic procedures – NHS
From the Royal College of Plastic Surgeons
About your Procedure — Royal College of Surgeons
From British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)
Procedure Guides | BAPRAS
From The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)
Procedures | The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Your GP is unlikely to have any more knowledge than there is in these links (including on the risks of each procedure) and will point you in the direction of your surgeon for further information.
3. SUGGEST THE PROCESS OF FINDING A CLINICIAN TO COMPLETE THE PROCEDURE
GPs only have access to information which is already in the public domain (such as private hospital websites and qualifications of private consultants) and their experience of a particular clinician doing a specific procedure will be very limited and as such most GPs will not make a judgement on any private clinician on such limited data.
However, they may suggest you check the qualifications of the clinicians available and that you ask some specific questions of the clinician and the procedure. Many patients find it helpful to print out some questions and take to the consultation.
The following links cover this process and offer good questions to ask your surgeon and print off.
From the NHS
Cosmetic procedures – Choosing who will do your cosmetic procedure – NHS
From the Royal College of Plastic Surgeons
- Choosing a Surgeon and Hospital — Royal College of Surgeons
- Your Consultation with the Surgeon (includes a helpful checklist you can download) Your Consultation with the Surgeon — Royal College of Surgeons
From British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)
- Considering cosmetic surgery | BAPRAS Recommended – includes the 5 C’s cosmetic surgery checklist
- What to ask your surgeon | BAPRAS
4. PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ON YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY
The private clinician seeing you has a responsibility to go through any relevant medical history and any medication you are taking. With online access to your medical notes, you can now print off information on your medical history and present medication to assist you in this process and bring that to your consultation. You can find out how to do this, see under
Or
On linked practice websites see page “online access to your records” under the heading “Getting help” on the main menu.
Contact details for local private hospitals can be found under
