Nonetheless, they make for interesting reading so we thought you might like a summary of the findings and how they relate to us here at Aurora Clinics:

UK Cosmetic Surgery Last Year:

• Despite the ongoing recession, not one single cosmetic surgery procedure decreased in popularity in 2011!
• In fact, there was a 6% average increase in numbers of all cosmetic surgery procedures combined throughout the year.
• The biggest increasing procedure was the Male Tummy Tuck which increased by a whopping 15%!
• Breast enlargement surgery still remained the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure, followed by Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).
• For men, the most popular procedure of 2011 was the nose job or rhinoplasty.

 Do These Statistics Match Aurora Clinics?

At Aurora Clinics, we would agree that Breast Surgery procedures (particularly breast enlargement) are our most popular surgical treatments. Having a number of top Breast Surgery specialist Plastic Surgeons and because we never used PIP implants, we hope that the PIP implants scandal will not affect the fantastic Aurora Clinics reputation for breast surgery. To the contrary, we have been doing our utmost to help all the ladies with PIPs that we possibly can through cost price removal and replacement, whilst still maintaining our usual high standards of breast surgery for new breast enlargement patients.

The rise in male Tummy Tuck and other procedures like Gynecomastia (man boobs) is interesting. As Clinical Director and Surgeon Mr. Adrian Richards observes, “these are not all men who are overweight with beer bellies: many of them are fit and healthy individuals who are simply looking to shape up”. Whilst men had been catching up with women in the facial cosmetic stakes for a while – as the popularity of male rhinoplasty shows – 2011 was the year that men really seemed to begin to care a lot about their figures.

Other top procedures at Aurora Clinics are, as ever, our specialities like Inverted Nipple Correction and Mini Facelifts – treatments which not all cosmetic surgery centres specialise in.

For more information on cosmetic surgery in general or any of the treatments mentioned in this article, please contact Aurora Clinics on 0800 328 5743 or info@aurora-clinics.co.uk . To read more about the BAAPS official statistics 2011, please visit this link.

You’ve seen our many PIP implants videos; you’ve read our PIP blogs; maybe you’ve already even been for your PIP Implants initial consultation? But if you are considering implant removal and replacement (especially of such highly controversial and anxiety-causing implants as PIPs) you probably don’t just want to hear from us that Aurora Clinics are experts in this field?

So Aurora have collated a selection of our recent Reviews sent to us via email, on our Twitter and Facebook accounts and comments on our Blog. These testimonials are by patients considering PIP implant removal and replacement, those who have already had it at Aurora Clinics and some other industry experts who value our services! We hope it’s helpful

• “I’d like to give my thanks to Aurora Clinics for helping so many of us and for caring when we’ve been left high and dry by both the clinics responsible and by the government. I very much look forward to my consultation appointment with yourselves and am making the trip from Swansea because we think it’s worth it to go with a company you feel you can trust after having been through all this.” – Kate T
• “Thank you for clarifying the situation regarding PIP implants. Your custom care and follow up is second to none – Susan P
• “The entire team were amazing…the quality of care is fantastic. I doubt you’d get better anywhere else” – Cherry J
• “I feel much safer…and I’m actually happier with these results.” – Abbie W
•  “That’s what we’ve come to expect from Aurora Clinic – always there 2 help – good on you!” – Good Surgeon Guide
• “love the new ones Mr Richards has done for me, perfect ” – Leanne P (Implant Replacement, not PIP)
• “Having used Aurora Clinics and fortunate to have Mr Richards as my surgeon it is very reassuring to know that I made an informed choice based on the quality of information, consultation and service and not price.” – Louise B
• “I’m hoping to have PIP replacement surgery with Aurora very soon (I’ve booked my consultation) so was just browsing the site and the more you read on there and more videos you watch the more your respect for the company grows.” – Kate T
• “Is it Mr Richards you’re seeing? …You’re in very safe hands” – Cherry J
• “Fantastic stuff – women with PIP implants need much more support than they are getting from the Powers Above” – Kevin Timms (Garden House Solicitors)

If you are considering PIP implant removal and replacement surgery and would like more information about Aurora Clinics’ support / our cost-price offer, please contact us on 0800 328 5743 or info@aurora-clinics.co.uk. At the moment, you can secure your PIP implant removal and replacement surgery NOW with a fully-refundable £200 deposit. Your free consultation will then be scheduled prior to your procedure.  

Aurora Clinics & PIP Implants

Making another television appearance regarding the current PIP implants controversy, renowned surgeon Mr Adrian Richards of Aurora Clinics appeared on last night’s ITV feature documentary – The Silicone Scandal.

The show, presented by reporter Chris Choi, highlighted the fear and confusion caused to women worldwide by recent revelations that PIP (Poly Implant Prothese) brand implants contain sub-standard industrial grade silicone and may have an unusually high rupture rate. These implants (removed from the market in 2010) were placed in approximately 300,000 women from 65 different countries.

Aurora Clinics never used PIPs; our surgeons always questioned the cheap price and quality of the implants. In the ITV programme, Mr Richards is seen performing one of many implant removal and replacement operations Aurora Clinics are now providing for a PIP implant patient unable to get the help she required from her original breast surgery provider.

Who Is To Blame For PIP Implants?

Hers is a commonplace story across the UK and one which is attracting much media attention. The issue of “who is to blame?” in this PIP implants controversy is causing the biggest scandal of all. The founder of PIP implants, Jean-Claude Mas, who instigated the use of the industrial grade silicone has long since fled France and cannot be traced for prosecution, leaving behind him ‘the biggest fraud case of a medical product on this scale’ that most surgeons have ever seen. We still do not know exactly what chemicals are in the PIP silicone so all sorts of wild theories continue to surface, causing more anxiety for the ladies involved.

Meanwhile, whilst most European countries have funded routine precautionary removal of PIP implants, the UK have not followed suit. Our MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) are adamant that there is no need to do so because there is not enough evidence to support a direct link between PIP implants and severe health problems. Questioned by Chris Choi, the Government Health Minister promised that the issue would be kept under constant surveillance but that “all we can do is deal with the information we have to date”.

The clinics who used PIP implants are coming under heavy criticism for using a cheaper product. They claim that PIPs weren’t the cheapest on the market: but as other surgeons have noted: ‘if well trained, reputable surgeons never used them and saw problems when removing them which made us question why they were so cheap’, why did these larger firms not do the same? Now they are in a genuine dilemma: if they were to remove every single PIP implant they put in for free (13,900 at the Harley Medical Group alone) they would go out of business. They argue that is senseless and wouldn’t help their patients anyway. Incensed campaigners argue the opposite – that it is morally better to go out of business having at least tried to do the right thing.

These clinics claim it is the fault of the MHRA for having regulated PIPs as safe in the first place, so it should be down to the Government to pick up the pieces on the NHS (obviously this comes at cost to the taxpayer so the general public are not very happy at this suggestion!) But the MHRA say they couldn’t have known because it was a case of fraud….so it all comes full circle…

Patients Need PIP Situation Sorting!

In all this finger-pointing, the real victims are the women left with PIP implants in. Whether PIP implants pose an immediate health risk or only if they rupture, these ladies have now been made irrevocably anxious by all the scary talk of cancer and ill-health symptoms in the news. After having to listen to the constant media hype and TV shows about ‘scandals’, they now live feeling all the time that there is something inside their body which feels like ‘an alien inside’.

Those were the actual words used by Aurora patient Abbie Webb, interviewed alongside Mr Richards in the ITV ‘Silicone Scandal’ documentary. After Mr Richards performed her PIP implant removal and replacement surgery, he showed her the silicone that he had taken from her body: her PIP implant had actually ruptured. Abbie described the sheer relief at having the silicone out of her body as an “emotional experience”.

From patients like Abbie to celebrities like TOWIE’s Lauren Pope, all sorts of women with different backgrounds, reasons for having had breast implants in the first place and experiences with PIP implants are now feeling scared, confused and unsupported. Some larger cosmetic surgery groups like BMI, Spire, Nuffield and MYA have stepped up and offered to fund free implant removal and replacement for any women who had PIP implants with them. In other instances, it is being left to the smaller groups and clinics – like Aurora – to pick up the pieces even though they did not use PIPs themselves to begin with and provide support, advice and treatment for these ladies.

For more information about Aurora Clinics’ cost price PIP implant removal and replacement offer please call 0800 328 5743. We also offer free expert advice and support via telephone or on info@aurora-clinics.co.uk and have a designated PIP implant page with FAQ videos and PIP latest news at http://bit.ly/vufuUV .  Special thanks to Abbie Webb for allowing us to use her PIP implant removal and replacement footage in the ITV Silicone Scandal documentary – best of luck for the future Abbie!

Our nomination category? Best Clinic Website! Vote HERE.

The old Aurora Clinics website design won this award in the past, so there is everything at stake in defending our title…but we need your help and support! Voting closes on the 21st October, SO Don’t delay vote today!

The http://www.aurora-clinics.co.uk site is the largest, most comprehensive source of plastic and cosmetic surgery information in the UK. Not just a “pretty” clinical sales site, Aurora aims to make researching your cosmetic surgery procedure easy. We try to make information accessible to everybody through a wide variety of sources on the site – videos, before & after photographs, procedure fact files, audio podcasts, social media community links, Live Chat with our experts, a fantastic Blog…& much more! With over 3,500 frequently updated high quality pages, if you think Aurora is the best as well as the biggest, please please visit the Voting Form & take a moment to share your opinion!

Reading through the March newsletter, I noticed you were looking for people to report back on their experiences of surgery with Aurora.

I met Mr Richards just before Christmas to discuss the possibility of breast enlargement surgery - something i’d been considering for years, but had been too scared to pursue.

Mr Richards and his team were great – from the first meeting right through to aftercare.

They treated me kindly and with respect and made everything as pleasant and lighthearted as possible – even when Mr Richards was running a little late, the ladies at The Paddocks Clinic, Princes Risborough, chatted to me and tried some new bareEscentuals mineral cosmetics on me! It all helped to calm my nerves and added so much to the experience.

My surgery took place during the awful snow in December, which brought the country to a standstill. One of the nurses who was looking after me walked from Speen to High Wycombe and back to do her job – dedication I could hardly believe!

And, at my aftercare appointments, the nurses recognised me and were really friendly.

I can’t recommend Mr Richards and his team enough, I thought they were amazing and I wouldn’t think twice about recommending him. I would be more than happy for you to use my story to encourage other people to have this surgical procedure. At 37 , I feel like a new woman – the one I’ve always wanted to be!

It’s really helped to change my life and I’m happy to do what I can to help others.

My question is, is it possible to treat girls who are born without breast nipples. What are the options and outcomes for their future?

Answer :

Thank you for your question.

Yes it is possible to treat girls who were born without nipples. This is normally performed by a combination of treatments.

A nipple reconstruction, using your own tissue to recreate the raised area of the nipple is usually performed first.

The brown or pink area around the reconstructed nipple is then normally tattooed to create a normal looking areola.

Although the condition of being born without nipples is quite rare, the combination of the above techniques is often used to reconstruct the nipple and surrounding areolas for women who have lost the nipple following surgery for breast cancer.

We have a specialist in Medical Tattooing at our clinic who would be happy to discuss the options for restoring the colour to your nipple. If you would like to schedule a free appointment with our specialist Pauline Kneller please ring us on 01844 214362 or email us at info@aurora-clinics.co.uk.

With best wishes,

The Aurora Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Team.

Hello, I am 12 years old and I would like to get a Breast Reduction.

I am 5ft and size 32c. I don’t suffer from any health problems due to their size, so I understand that i don’t really need it: i only want it because I feel my breasts are too big and I want to be able to exercise and look good in clothes I wear. What are the risks that i will be taking if I had a Breast Reduction?

Thank you for your advice.

Answer :

Thank you for your enquiry.

Unfortunately we do not usually perform Breast Reduction surgery on people who are 12. This is because your bust has not fully developed. Most Plastic Surgeons prefer to wait for you to be 18 before thinking about possible surgery.

In some cases Breast Reduction surgery can be performed earlier- this is normally when your bust develops very quickly to a G or H cup which causes back and neck ache as well as difficulty wearing clothes.

In terms of risks and side effects of Breast Reduction surgery, although Breast Reduction procedures are normally safe, any Surgical procedure carries an element of risk which is why it must be thought through very carefully and discussed at length with your Surgeon. By researching and going to a good, BAAPS-registered Surgeon and equally competent anaesthetist you significantly decrease these risks. You should expect to need 1-2 weeks off work to recover, and approximately 6-8 weeks to return to your maximum normal daily activities. The slight possibility of not being able to breastfeed after breast reduction (though this is not always the case), decreased sensitivity in the nipples and extent of scarring should also be discussed thoroughly with your surgeon and carefully weighed up.  Aurora Clinics offer FREE consultations with our surgeons to discuss your options and talk about the Pros and Cons of surgery in more detail.

Please feel free to contact us on 01844 214 362 if you feel we can be of any more help.

With Best Wishes,
The Aurora Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Team.

Monday Evening

Sue, Mr Richards Business manager, arranged for me to be admitted the night before my operation as I live quite some distance away. I arrived at the hospital at 9pm and was immediately seen by the RMO who did a routine ECG and blood test. The nurse who also explained what would happen the next morning gave me an orientation of my room. I was really pleased how quick and efficient the staff worked from the moment I stepped through the hospital entrance. They wanted all the tests completed as quickly as possible for me, so that I had time to relax, ensuring I had a good nights undisturbed sleep.

Tuesday

The next morning, my allocated nurse came in to see me and explained that the Anaesthetist and Mr Richards would be round to see me shortly. I had a shower and put on my theatre gown. Pura, Mr Richard’s lovely Anaesthetist went through some paperwork with me and explained that I was first on the theatre list. Mr Richards marked my eyes and breasts for incision points. He made me feel totally at ease and assured me that he would get the result I wanted. I happily signed the consent forms.

Within a few seconds I was on my way to theatre, and given an intravenous ‘champagne cocktail’ by his Anaesthetist.

I woke up with a drip in my left arm (purely for a couple doses of prophylactic antibiotics). I was given some cold pads to put over my eyes to help reduce any swelling. I also applied some auridermXO cream under my eyes to help eliminate any bruising. I drank copious amounts of water to help flush out the anaesthetic and was encouraged to get up hourly and walk about (this helps reduce the risk of DVT which is a complication which can occur following any operation) At no time at all was I in any pain, I can only say minor discomfort , and I only needed paracetamol tablets to alleviate this.

The attention from the nurses was frequent and regular and I felt totally looked after.

Wednesday

All is well, the immediate relief of the weight taken from my breasts is so apparent, I do not know why I never considered the operation sooner. My breasts feel so much lighter. I cannot really tell what my eyes will look like yet as they are still swollen. I can see, but they feel a little too sensitive to read yet. I watch some television in between covering my eyelids with ice cold pads. Mr Richards speaks to me on the hospital telephone and reassured me all went very well and confirms I can leave hospital later today, as previously arranged with him.  I do doze off occasionally as it takes around 3 days for the anaesthetic to work its way out of my system.

I am given an appointment to come back and see the nurse next Monday for suture removal and clipping of dissolvable sutures and an appointment to see Mr Richards in two weeks. I continue to take paracetamol which is all I need to reduce the slight discomfort for my breasts as they are now slightly bruised and swollen. I am given written instructions to follow for the next 6 weeks regarding changing tape and wearing of a special bra night and day for gentle support. I continue with the AuridermXo cream and have to say that I have no bruising under my eyes at all, this is partly the cream but also reflects on how well Mr Richards performs his operations.

I am told to rest for two / three weeks but I am back at work by the end of week two, my eyes look fabulous and everyone has remarked how well I look – all those who know me well have said ‘ Mr Richards has done a perfect job’

With all my thanks to Mr Richards and his team.

Tina.

 A “litigation tidal wave” is causing the alarm. That is: journalists, hot on the heels of Cosmetic Surgery Today website, reckon that the spiralling compensation culture in the UK could force Cosmetic Surgeons to up their prices in order to cope with huge (and often unfounded) lawsuits.

 Admittedly, there are a growing number of unscrupulous companies out there, preying on people in the Recession. You may have seen their adverts in the back pages of glossy women’s magazines, luring you with riches if you set-up your surgeon and claim compensation for the slightest thing. Whether you were honestly unhappy with your cosmetic procedure or not, somebody desperate for money could be tempted by the promise of all that money for a few white lies.

 But it is the repercussions of doing so that the Daily Mail article focuses on. The costs involved in legal battles over cosmetic surgery claims can be colossal – businesswoman Penny Johnson recently launched a lawsuit of £54million against her surgeon for an alleged botched facelift, and has already run up £3million in legal fees. If increasing numbers of patients decide to go down this route, many Surgeons would indeed have to pay out for much more substantial legal insurance policies and, in order to recoup their costs, would probably raise their prices considerably. Others could be forced out of business entirely.

 The real victims, therefore, would be all the prospective patients who might need surgery in the future but could no longer afford it. Those surgeons who could afford to pay the much higher insurance and continue in business would inevitably be far more cautious about which cases they treated, so many people who might benefit greatly from surgery could find themselves turned away.

 The surgeons themselves are making no greater profit and, in many cases if the allegations are proven to be bogus, the claimant will not gain anything either. Even when the award is given, if the surgeon cannot pay it and is forced into bankruptcy, the claimant will still gain “justice” but not full cash compensation. It is the lawyers who therefore stand to benefit most , capitalising on their ‘no-win-no-fee’ promises and exploitation.  

 Aurora Clinics completely supports and upholds the view of cosmetic surgeon Mrs CC Kat, that “it is every patient’s right to be protected by the law”: in cases that are genuine, it is perfectly acceptable to expect justice and compensation. However, the problem is of patients being encouraged to claim compensation in cases that are not truly negligent. Or, as Aurora’s Mr Adrian Richards points out, the disproportionately large amounts that they are being awarded. “How does £54 million compare to £15,000 awarded for soldiers who loose both legs in Afghanistan?” Mr Richards marvels.

 It is therefore in the hands of the patients and how they decide to behave as to how this matter evolves. Patients’ rights have always been protected in the UK, and will continue to be so, but the amounts paid have always been reasonable. Rest assured, however, Aurora fans, that we certainly have no plans to start doubling the price of procedures just yet…