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From PIP to DC-CIK to the Sorcerer’s Apprentice: a medico-political minefield

Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) was a French company that manufactured silicone breast implants that were surgically implanted mainly for cosmetic breast augmentation. Of note, ‘cosmetic’ is used in the strict sense of the word meaning false and artificial and does...

Immediate versus delayed post mastectomy breast reconstruction

The authors review and analyse the current literature comparing the psychosocial outcomes of immediate versus delayed post mastectomy breast reconstruction. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women and has a lifetime incidence of one in nine. Mastectomy may...

Safety and risks of local anaesthesia and regional blocks in plastic surgery

The current COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unprecedented risks associated with intubation and general anaesthesia with the potential transmission of a novel and potentially fatal airborne disease. Local anaesthesia, when used appropriately, can provide safe and effective analgesia without the risks...

Cord lining mesenchymal stem cell exosomal proteins and their effects on hair follicles

Umbilical cord lining (UCL) mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) produce proteins and growth factors that, when packaged into exosomes in fixed proportions, can stimulate repair and regeneration in recipient cells. The pleiotropic properties of UCL-MSC have been shown to be effective...

Mercy Ships’ hope and healing in Madagascar

Since my last article on the mission of the Mercy Ships in 2013, the current vessel, the Africa Mercy has continued to bring hope and healing to the people of West Africa. Having completed a very successful eight-month visit to...

Encouraging results on treating thinning hair with PRP

Over the last few years platelet rich plasma (PRP) has made a big splash in the aesthetics world causing much excitement. It has been used for skin rejuvenation, softening lines and wrinkles, as part of an anti-ageing process. With the...

The role of skin camouflage and micropigmentation in the fields of burns and plastic surgery

Many patients who survive major burns, suffer a traumatic injury or undergo reconstructive surgery following cancer are left with both physical but also psychological sequelae. Sometimes early psychological difficulties improve with the passage of time with support from friends and...

Response to the Keogh Review

On 13 February 2014 the UK Government published its response to the Keogh Review of the regulation of cosmetic interventions (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulation-of-cosmetic-interventions-government-response). This response has been much anticipated by the fields of plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine and inevitably has provoked...

The First World War and the Development of Facial Surgery

Facial surgery has a history stretching to antiquity, but its success depended on luck until medical science had advanced enough to deal with three major issues – infection, surgical shock from blood loss and good anaesthesia. It was not until...