The history of Mt Vernon Cosmetic Surgeons
During the second world war many serviceman were severly disfigured and burned. It was during this time that plastic
surgery as a surgical specialty developed and a centre was opened at Hill End in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Patients
were cared for under the direction of Sir Rainsford Mowlem, one of the pioneers of plastic surgery. Many servicemen
underwent ground breaking procedures to rebuild their faces and other bodily deformities. The Hill End Unit was subsequently
moved to Mt Vernon Hospital in Northwood, Middlesex. Over the subsequent 50 years the reputation of the Mt Vernon Unit
grew to be the leading Plastic Surgery Unit in the country and developed an international reputation. Surgeons from all over
the country and indeed the world came to Mt Vernon for training as Plastic Surgeons. In 2006 the plastic surgery unit
moved to the Royal Free Hospital in London. The Mount Vernon Plastic Surgeons now continue their work, teaching and
research from the Royal Free Hospital although satellite clinics are still based at Mt Vernon Hospital.
Mt Vernon Cosmetic Surgeons is a service which is run by the Mt Vernon Consultants to offer private Cosmetic surgery.
All cosmetic surgery procedures have been developed from reconstructive surgical procedures and therefore patients
undergoing cosmetic surgery have the reassurance that their surgeons are highly experienced and have a breadth of
training. Our consultants perform cosmetic surgery in large numbers on a routine basis in a number of private hospital
locations. Moreover, all our consultants are members of BAAPS, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons,
and are required to have their safety data audited on an annual basis. This ensures that patients are offered the
highest possible level of care.
Common Plastic Surgery Procedures
Mt Vernon Cosmetic Surgeons offer the complete range of cosmetic surgery procedures. Remember that that there
are various refinements and combinations of these procedures which may be suitable in individual circumstances.
The common procedures are listed below and you can navigate the website for further information.
- Breast Augmentation (breast enlargement, breast implants)
- Breast Uplift (mastopexy)
- Breast reduction
- Abdominoplasty (tummy-tuck)
- Liposuction
- Facelift
- Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
- Brow-lift
- Rhinoplasty (nose-reshaping)
- Pinnaplasty (otoplasty, ear pinning)
Breast Augmentation
Your natural breast size is genetically determined. However, your breasts may also shrink after pregnancy and weight loss.
Having small breasts can be the source of extreme unhappiness because of concerns about loss of femininity. As a result,
breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures. The aim of surgery is to increase the
size of the breast while maintaining the natural shape and contour of your chest. In most cases, an implant is placed beneath
the tissues of your breast through a small incision placed in the skin crease just below the breast. The implant is made of a
silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or a salt-water solution. Our surgeons usually recommend the
use of silicone-gel filled implants since they provide a more natural shape and consistency. The safety
of silicone implants for use in breast augmentation has been extensively investigated over the past
decade and most of the concerns previously reported in the media have now been disproved by careful
scientific study. Nevertheless, your surgeon will discuss the merits of the different implants
which are available and will make a recommendation based on your particular requirements. The surgery will require a general
anaesthetic and can be carried out either as a day case procedure or with an overnight stay.
Breast Uplift
Drooping of the breasts (ptosis) is a normal consequence of ageing and is due to the effects of gravity.
However, it can also occur in a young woman after pregnancy or weight loss. When this happens, a woman may
feel that she has aged prematurely. To reverse these changes an uplift procedure may be necessary. This
cosmetic surgery does not change the size of your breasts. It changes their shape and position (especially
the position of the nipple) to give them a firmer more youthful appearance. For most women, the scars after
surgery are similar to those following breast reduction. In some cases they can be more limited – for example
to the area just around the nipple. Occasionally, an uplift procedure may be combined with breast enlargement
using an implant because the breasts may have become very small and droopy after pregnancy or weight loss.
This surgery requires a general anaesthetic and a one night stay in hospital.
Breast Reduction
Women with large breasts often experience a number of physical problems such as neck, shoulder and back pain.
They may also experience social and psychological problems. For example, difficulty in finding clothes to fit
and extreme self-consciousness. If this sounds like you, then breast reduction surgery may be a way to improve
your quality of life. The surgery removes excess skin and breast tissue, moves the nipple upwards and moulds the
remaining breast tissue into a more pleasing shape. The resulting scars are shaped like an anchor - extending around
the nipple, vertically downwards to the skin crease under the breast and then to either side within the crease.
Occasionally it is possible to leave more limited scarring. Your surgeon will discuss the technique which meets
your specific requirements. Breast reduction is carried out under general anaesthesia and you will need to stay
in hospital for one to two days.
Abdominoplasty
Patients with good muscle tone and minimal excess skin and fat in the lower abdomen may benefit from a
mini-abdominoplasty procedure. This removes the excess skin and fat from this area without needing to
reposition the belly-button (umbilicus). The amount of scarring is also much less compared with a formal
abdominoplasty (tummy-tuck) procedure. During your consultation, the surgeon will be able to decide whether
you are a candidate for this type of plastic surgery. This cosmetic surgery is performed under general
anaesthesia and usually requires admission to hospital for 1-2 nights.
for each of these 10 subheadings I would duplicate the text from the procedure pages.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a procedure to remove/reshape localised deposits of fat which are resistant to diet and
exercise. It is important to note that this procedure cannot be used to help you lose weight – this is only
possible with careful attention to your diet. The fat which is removed by liposuction is removed permanently.
However, if you increase your weight after surgery, the remaining fat cells will increase in size and you will
lose the benefits of the liposuction completely. Liposuction may be performed on its own or in combination with
other procedures such as abdominoplasty, breast reduction and thigh, buttock or body lifts. It leaves very small
scars compared with other types of surgery. Surgery is usually carried out under general anaesthetic but smaller
areas can be treated under local anaesthetic with sedation.
Facelift
As we age our skin loses its elasticity, it becomes thinner and the muscles slacken. This causes unsightly
folds of skin and wrinkles to appear on our faces. The corner of the mouth can also droop and the jaw may sag
forming 'jowls'. Excess folds of skin may appear under the chin and on the neck. All of these changes can be
accelerated by excessive exposure to sunlight, smoking or massive weight loss. A face lift tightens the facial
skin and underlying muscles using an incision hidden around the ear. The main effect of the face lift is to
redefine the contour of the jaw line and neck. The skin on the cheek is tightened in the process giving you
a smoother, fresher and more youthful appearance. Often, face lifts are carried out in combination with a
blepharoplasty procedure or brow lift to rejuvenate the whole face. A face lift requires a general anaesthetic
and an overnight stay in hospital.
Blepharoplasty
With increasing age, the skin around your eyes loses its elasticity causing folds of excess skin to form on
both upper and lower eyelids. The fat behind the eyelids can also bulge forwards giving the appearance of 'bags'.
These changes may give your face a sad and tired look. Blepharoplasty surgery removes the excess skin and fat
on the upper and/or lower eyelids to give you a more youthful appearance. As the eyes are the focus of your
face your surgeon may advise you that blepharoplasty surgery should be combined with a face lift to achieve
the best result. In certain cases, where the eyebrows have dropped, your surgeon may also advise that you
should have a brow lift in addition to blepharoplasty. This surgery can be carried out under a local or
general anaesthetic and usually requires a one night stay in hospital.
Brow Lift
A brow lift helps reverse the effects of gravity by lifting the upper third of your face. With age, the
forehead can sag. As a result, your eyebrows may sit at a lower level than they did when you were young.
This may combine with an excess of skin on the upper eyelids resulting in a constant appearance of sadness
or tiredness. A brow lift is commonly carried out in combination with an upper eyelid reduction and a face
lift to rejuvenate the whole face. Two techniques are used. An ‘open’ or ‘closed’ brow lift. An open brow
lift results in a scar across your scalp within the hairline.A closed or endoscopic lift leaves much smaller
scars on your scalp. With both techniques, your eyebrows are lifted and some of the small muscles that cause
frown lines are removed. The surgery is carried under general anaesthetic and requires an overnight stay in hospital.
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is the most frequently performed facial procedure. The most common request is to reduce the size
and shape of the nose. However, your nose can also be increased in size or straightened after an injury.
During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss your exact requirements in detail. Every effort will be
made to meet your specific needs while keeping your nose in balance with the rest of your face. In most cases,
the operation is performed through the nostrils so that visible scarring is avoided. The nose is re-shaped by
re-moulding the underlying cartilage and bone. If the nose is very flat, a graft of cartilage or bone can be
used to build up the size of the nose. The operation is carried out under general anaesthetic and requires a
one night stay in hospital.
Pinnaplasty
Prominent ears are a source of constant unhappiness for some individuals. Concerns about the appearance
of their ears can lead to severe problems with low self-esteem beginning in childhood but going on to adult
life. Surgery to correct prominent ears is usually simple and produces an instant and potentially
life-changing result. We recommend that surgery should not be performed before the age of five because
younger children are unable to co-operate with the postoperative care. The surgery leaves a scar behind
the ear. For children, a general anaesthetic is required but in adults it can be carried out under local
anaesthetic.
Contact Us
Suite 3, 30 Harley Street
London, W1G 9PW
Main: 08452266007