Haseem Raja, ST4 ENT Registrar at University Hospital North Midlands, and Edward Balai, ST5 ENT Registrar at Charing Cross Hospital.
The British Society of Facial Plastic Surgery (BSFPS) Annual Meeting took place in the vibrant city of Manchester, with leading experts from around the United Kingdom in attendance.
The Juniors Day programme began with Professor Timothy Woolford sharing his tips, tricks and pearls of wisdom on the paramedian forehead flap. Ms Sadie Khwaja then discussed the topic of facial flaps further, walking the attendees through the important aesthetic and design points that must be taken into consideration. This was followed by the first free paper trainee oral presentation session, where we heard trainee presentations on topics such as establishing local anaesthetic rhinology services and nasal reconstruction in patients with GPA.
After the break, Dr Clare Conlon shared her experiences of running a successful aesthetic clinic alongside working as a consultant anaesthetist in Manchester. Trainees were then given an expert insight into rhinoplasty assessment and the indications for closed versus open rhinoplasty from Ms Nadia Ashraf and Mr Abbad Toma.
The afternoon session highlighted how multiple surgical specialties intersect in the field of facial plastic surgery. Ms Michelle Ting, Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon, gave a fascinating and insightful lecture on upper lid and brow aesthetic assessment and surgery. Mr Hamid Tehrani, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, gave a brilliant talk on his training pathway and career in Mohs micrographic surgery. The session culminated with the second free paper trainee oral presentation segment, with trainees presenting projects on basal cell carcinoma excision and reducing the carbon footprint of facial plastic surgery.
The oral presentation prize was awarded to Eshwar Ganapathy for his work on management of the acutely burnt ear. The final session of the day involved a panel discussion on the topic of how trainees can get training in facial aesthetic surgery within the NHS and beyond. This was a valuable session discussing different opportunities, observerships and fellowship options available for trainees.
Current BSFPS President, Mr Natarajan Balaji, kicked off proceedings for the second day with a warm welcome to all delegates. A basic science-focused lecture from Mr Jason Wong provided great insight into optimising wound healing and scars. This was a fascinating bench-to-bedside talk, highlighting some of the excellent research being undertaken at the Blond McIndoe lab in Manchester. Following on from this, the session moved on to the topics of mid-face rejuventation and private practice, with Mr Tim Blackburn sharing his expertise on the full range of surgical and non-surgical techniques and Ms Pei Pei Cheung discussing the potential pitfalls of working privately.
After an excellent round-table discussion on challenging cases, Professor Woolford returned to the stage to deliver an inspirational keynote speech entitled ‘A retrospective lens on a facial plastic consultant career’, advising delegates to follow their passion and maximise learning through teaching, as well as showcase his musical talents with his latest hit single called ‘Empty Roads’!
The BSFPS Meeting was a huge success, with an inspirational programme that catered superbly for trainees and experienced consultants alike. We look forward to the next BSFPS meeting on 10-11 October 2024.
