Here in the UK, studies suggest plastic surgery is more popular than ever. Mintel reports that 37% of women would be interested in having a surgical cosmetic procedure in the future, and the number increases to 52% in women aged 18-34. The most common ones? Liposuction (14%) and tummy tucks (11%), with surgeons also counting rhinoplasty and facelifts among the surgeries women book in for often.
If you're considering plastic surgery of any kind, you've no doubt done your research, so you'll know that one step in particular is instrumental: the initial consultation. Whether it's 30 minutes or two hours, the time spent in front of your potential surgeon is an opportunity to ask every single question you've ever had about going under the knife – it's a chance to dispel fears, debunk myths and possibly take the next steps.
So what should you bring up? It may sound obvious, but check that they are actually a plastic surgeon first, says Mr Naveen Cavale, of Real Plastic Surgery London. "Are they on the GMC Specialist Register – the equivalent to board-certified? Are they a member of the 'proper' organisations such as BAAPS, BAPRAS, ISAPS?" Internationally certified plastic surgeon, Dr Roberto Viel agrees.
"Additionally, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all surgeries and clinics in the country. You want to be treated by a surgeon who specialises in your desired treatment," says Viel. "I would always ask your prospective surgeon how frequently they perform the procedure. If they perform it often, or specialise in the procedure, they will be more likely to be up to date with the latest technologies and will probably be more skilled." He continues: "Also, see if your doctor is confident they can give you the results you want. Before and after pictures are a good way to check this. Your doctor should always be honest with you about what they can, and more importantly can’t achieve – this will avoid complications in the future. And always ask if you’re a good candidate for the procedure, and if not, what else could they recommend?"
It's also important to ask yourself questions, suggests Cavale. "Did you feel properly informed? Did your surgeon tell you what was involved with your procedure and all the potential risks and complications? If not, then this isn’t a surgical consultation, it is a sales meeting," he says. "We are talking about surgery here, with real risks, not the equivalent of buying a new car – you can always swap a car for a better one, surgical scars are permanent. Then ask, did you feel pressured or rushed? Your consultation with your surgeon should never feel like this. It's also a bad sign if your surgeon tries to up-sell surgery. A surgeon who suggests 'While you're at it, have you thought of this, too?' or someone who says something like, 'You really could do with having this done' or 'You’ve definitely got a problem with this part of your body, haven’t you noticed?' is someone to be wary of," adds Cavale.
It's typical to pay anywhere between £150-300 for one consultation, so other important pointers Viel suggests remembering are: aftercare – being responsible with your recovery is key to a good result; cleanliness – you're well within your rights to ask about the surgical areas; qualifications – don't be afraid to ask to see them; and respect. "If a doctor doesn’t listen to you and respectfully answer any questions you have, you might want to look elsewhere. As long as you are comfortable with the conversation, one consultation is fine to have ahead of a procedure," he says, while Cavale suggests a two-week cooling-off period between your initial consultation and booking in, to make sure you don't rush into things.
Overall, both surgeons hit home the importance of trusting your gut feeling. "I am thinking about the same thing from my point of view, too," says Cavale. "Don’t have surgery with someone you don’t feel good about. I won’t operate on someone who I don’t feel I can help. I can technically operate on anyone, but if our 'relationship' isn’t right I will say no and suggest you find someone else who can make you happier."
Ahead, four women lift the lid on their experiences of surgical consultations.
I had a consultation for a nose job on Harley Street in 2016, which I went ahead with a year and a half later. The consultation itself cost me £150 and the procedure £7,000.
I'd always hated my Turkish nose. The bridge was just a big hook and I often got bullied at school, so once I got a job, I started saving up. I found my surgeon after doing extensive research online. His before and after pictures were impressive, so I called the number on the website and made an appointment through his receptionist for a month's time.
We discussed what I didn't like about my nose (mainly the bridge) and he took pictures of me head-on and from the side. He then took me to a corner of the room where there was a computer and he digitally altered those pictures to different shapes with my direction. The first nose was straight and the other had a slight sloped effect. I preferred the first picture because it looked much more natural. He explained that my nose wouldn't necessarily look exactly the same and that it was just a guide. He then went on to talk me through the type of surgery he performed – 'open' surgery, which meant my nose would be cut at the base, lifted up to be worked on, and stitched back when he'd finished. It sounds absolutely gross when you really think about it.
The surgeon was open, honest, kind and knowledgeable. I came with a list of questions: How painful would it be? How long would the swelling last? He answered them in depth and made me feel comfortable and reassured. He didn't put an ounce of pressure on me at all and I could tell it wasn't just a money-making scheme. I actually saw another surgeon before him and got a bad vibe, like he was really trying to sell the surgery to me – I didn't trust him at all.
Salime*, 31
I had two consultations on the NHS for a breast reduction. My breasts were so big and pendulous that I'd regularly get split skin and subsequently infections.
I was referred by my GP to my local hospital but, initially, I was laughed at and turned away by the surgeon and the nurse, who told me that the only way I could have my breast reduction done on the NHS was if I had "won the lottery". I remember feeling so low, hopeless and silly, like my problem was insignificant. I went back to my GP and told him what had happened. He was utterly shocked and appalled at their response. He referred me a second time, this time to St. Barts in London, and the surgeon was so sympathetic.
The nurse was so sweet and caring, too, and couldn't believe that I'd suffered like this for such a long time. When I lifted up my breasts and showed them the extent of my problem, they were understanding. During the consultation, the surgeon asked me to put my arm down to see how far my breasts reached, and if they went past my elbow, then that was a cause for concern. They did reach this point and he immediately said I was a candidate for the operation.
I was both relieved and elated. The surgeon then talked me through the planned operation step by step, and drew a diagram to explain the procedure, for example the pieces that would be removed and how my breasts would be stitched back together, as well as the anchor shape of the scars that would be left behind. We discussed which cup size would be appropriate for my body frame. As I'm petite, I opted for a B cup. The surgeon also talked about how there was a chance my nipples could actually 'die' due to the cut nerve endings, and about the aftercare – how I'd need to come back to get my stitches removed and would need to purchase a sports bra and wear it constantly for a few weeks afterwards, but I wasn't fazed at all; I just wanted it done.
The consultation was free because it was on the NHS and lasted for about half an hour. I was put on a waiting list for a year before actually having the procedure done, but I'm so glad I did it. The medical photographer who took my before and after pictures said they were the best he'd ever seen, which still makes me laugh today!
Andrea, 33
I went for a consultation for a nose job in 2015 – it cost me £200. I chose him because he was touted as one of the best in a glossy magazine and his before and after pictures were brilliant. I read reviews, too, and couldn't find a bad one. The consultation was in a very large building on London's Harley Street. It was stately and pristine with expensive art on the walls, comfy armchairs and stone busts for decoration. Strangely, the posh decor put me at ease, almost like it matched his expertise...
When I entered the surgeon's office, he gave me a firm handshake and made me feel very welcome with a cup of tea. He took pictures of my nose on an iPad and used an app to 'digitally enhance' my nose so I could get a feel for what it would look like if I went ahead with the surgery. I wanted the bulbous tip minimised, the sides pinched in slightly and a bump shaved from my bridge. When I saw the final image, I didn't recognise myself and it was actually really scary. He told me that's because what I wanted wouldn't really suit my face at all, and so proceeded to tweak the shape himself. I was really happy with the final look and grateful that he told me that the image I had in my head for my new nose was unrealistic. That made me trust him a hell of a lot more. What he said next was actually a little bit boastful, come to think of it, but I quite liked that. I asked if I would need my nose taped for weeks after surgery to prevent swelling like I'd seen online and he told me that wouldn't be necessary, because he was a good surgeon who knows what he's doing and that other surgeons only tape noses because they're bad! Something I wasn't keen on was how he tried to sell me a chemical peel to "get rid of the blackheads". That made me feel uncomfortable.
He explained his technique – 'closed' surgery, which involves doing the procedure from the inside out, so there's minimal scarring. I was pretty much sold as it was obvious he knew his stuff, so didn't bother wasting any more money on consultations with other surgeons, but thinking about it, I wish I had another consultation with him a month or so later, just to ask some more questions, because I was absolutely terrified. I guess I just needed more reassurance. I wanted to know more about aftercare for sure.
I didn't want to dilly-dally any further and consultations are expensive, so I booked in for surgery a month later, but had to wait for a year to actually get it done. I'm happy with the results.
Jasmine*, 25
I had a consultation for gastric band surgery back in 2014 but I didn't book in for the procedure.
I've struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember and felt my lowest in 2014, two years before my sister's wedding – I wanted to look my best in the pictures and to finally address my unhealthy eating habits. I heard the band restricts the amount you can eat and had seen that a handful of celebrities had had gastric bands fitted, so was spurred on by their success stories.
My private consultation lasted an hour and cost me almost £200. The surgeon weighed me and asked me lots of questions about my lifestyle and eating habits before going into detail about the procedure. He showed me a replica of the 'band' that would be fitted around my stomach to restrict the size, making me feel fuller quicker and ensuring I could only eat small plates of food, and explained that I would have a 'port' fitted in which saline solution would be injected to adjust the band's tightness. It was all so technical.
He said that if I were to go ahead with the procedure, I'd be bed-bound for quite a few days and could only manage liquids for a good few weeks before moving on to smaller morsels of solid food. He said that the weight loss would be gradual and steady. I asked what would happen if I overate while the band was fitted and he told me I'd probably just bring up the food that wouldn't go down. It sounded pretty awful, to be honest.
I went back home and did some more research and came across some horror stories about band slippage, which, apparently, can cause internal complications further down the line. This put me off and I gave up on the idea. One of my friends who was also interested around the same time actually ended up going for a gastric bypass (where they cut away a section of your stomach) instead.
Zoe*, 30
*Names have been changed
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