There’s no doubt that there has been a surge of interest in cosmetic procedures since the beginning of the pandemic. The so-called ‘zoom boom’ has seen some clinics claiming a 500 per cent interest in demand.
The reasons for this are several fold: firstly, the rise in video conferencing means we have been confronted with our own image far more than is usual over the past eighteen months. Secondly, the ubiquity of working from home has negated any problems with taking time off to let any swelling die down. Finally, lockdown weight gain has left many of us seriously considering weight loss surgery.
But while there’s nothing wrong with any of the above as a spur to undergo surgery, it is important that we don’t throw caution to the wind. Cosmetic or otherwise, all surgery carries a risk, and it is vitally important that you choose your surgeon carefully.
Why qualifications matter
Cosmetic surgery holds all the same risks as any other surgical procedure, but with one additional possibility: if the procedure does not go as planned, then rather than improving your appearance, it could end up having the opposite effect.
Unlike other forms of surgery, cosmetic procedures are fairly unregulated from a legal standpoint. Because cosmetic surgery is not deemed a specialty in its own right, anyone with any kind of medical training can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon.
So, unless you are happy for someone with no formal surgical training to perform your surgery, it does pay to do your research.
How to choose a qualified cosmetic surgeon
It’s all very well to look into a surgeon’s background, but if you don’t know what you’re looking for you could spend hours trawling the internet and be none the wiser. The cowboy practitioners are more likely than anyone to talk up their ‘training’, whilst conveniently forgetting to mention a lack of actual qualifications.
Thankfully, there are some simple ways to recognise if a surgeon is the real deal. Here’s what to look out for:
- The letters after their name – Mr Michael Mouzakis, MD, MSc – meaning he is a medical doctor with 6 years in medical school. He is in the Specialist Register, trained in plastic surgery and he has a master in science in aesthetic medicine from the Queen Mary University of London.
- Membership of professional organisations – whilst the government does not yet see fit to regulate the cosmetic surgery industry, many of the more reputable practitioners have taken matters into their own hands. Organisations like the UK Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (UKAAPS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), both of which Mr Michael Mouzakis is a member, exist to provide accountability. All their members are fully qualified and are answerable to a code of ethics.
Make the right choice
If you’re keen to show the world a ‘new you’, do make sure that you choose a reputable practitioner to perform your cosmetic procedures.
Mr Michael Mouzakis is not only highly qualified and experienced in his chosen areas of cosmetic surgery, he has also chosen to become a member of several professional organisations in order to provide reassurance for patients and help set a standard within the industry.
To find out more, or to book an appointment with Mr Michael Mouzakis at The Private Clinic of Harley Street, call us on 020 3325 6540.
