Frequently Asked Questions About Plastic Surgery

This guide answers the questions patients most commonly raise before a consultation. Where a topic warrants more detail than a short answer allows, we have linked to the relevant in-depth guide. For procedure-specific questions, the individual service pages have full breakdowns.

Choosing a surgeon and a clinic

What’s the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon?

“Plastic surgeon” is a protected title in UK clinical context — it indicates a doctor on the GMC Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery, who has completed the full reconstructive and aesthetic training pathway and holds FRCS (Plast) or equivalent. “Cosmetic surgeon” is not a protected title — any UK doctor can use it, regardless of their specialist training. Full discussion in plastic surgeon vs cosmetic surgeon.

How do I know if a surgeon is properly qualified?

Check three things: GMC Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery entry (free search at gmc-uk.org), FRCS (Plast) qualification, and full membership of BAAPS or BAPRAS. All three are verifiable through public registers, free of charge.

What does the CQC rating mean for a cosmetic surgery clinic?

The Care Quality Commission inspects UK private healthcare providers against five domains — safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led — and publishes inspection reports. “Good” or “Outstanding” ratings indicate the provider has met defined standards in those areas. Full discussion in what a CQC Good rating means.

Is it safe to have cosmetic surgery abroad?

Materially riskier than equivalent surgery in a CQC-regulated UK setting, for structural reasons that include surgeon verification, facility inspection, indemnity, fly-home VTE risk, and access to follow-up care. UK Foreign Office data records 28 British deaths from cosmetic surgery in Turkey alone between 2019 and mid-2024. Full discussion in the dangers of cosmetic surgery tourism.

Suitability and eligibility

Am I a suitable candidate for cosmetic surgery?

Suitability depends on the procedure, your overall health, your BMI, your smoking status, your medical history, your mental health, and your motivations and expectations. The initial enquiry call with our patient coordinator establishes a preliminary view; the in-person consultation with the operating surgeon makes the final assessment. See from enquiry to consultation.

What is the BMI limit for cosmetic surgery?

Under 30 for most body procedures, with some flexibility up to 32 for facial work and post-bariatric body contouring. The threshold reflects evidence linking elevated BMI to higher rates of surgical infection, venous thromboembolism, wound healing problems, and anaesthetic complications. Full breakdown in BMI and cosmetic surgery eligibility.

Is there an age limit?

Most cosmetic procedures require patients to be 18 or over. There is no fixed upper age limit — suitability is assessed on health rather than chronological age. Healthy patients in their seventies regularly undergo facial rejuvenation and selected body procedures.

Do I need to lose weight before surgery?

If you are above the BMI threshold for your chosen procedure, yes. If you are within threshold but not at stable target weight, weight loss before surgery generally produces better aesthetic results and lower complication rates. Rapid weight loss in the immediate weeks before surgery is not recommended — it depletes protein and micronutrient stores. See how to lose weight before cosmetic surgery.

Do I have to stop smoking?

Yes. Centre for Surgery requires complete cessation of smoking, vaping, and all nicotine products for at least six weeks before surgery and six weeks after. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and substantially impairs wound healing, with documented increases in skin necrosis, wound dehiscence, and infection. This is a non-negotiable requirement for surgery to proceed.

The consultation process

How does the consultation process work?

Four stages: initial enquiry, telephone screening with a patient coordinator, in-person consultation with the operating surgeon, and a statutory two-week cooling-off period before surgery is booked. Full breakdown in from enquiry to consultation.

How much does a consultation cost?

£100 for a primary consultation, £250 for a revision consultation (where you are seeking correction of surgery performed elsewhere). The consultation fee covers any necessary follow-up consultations for the same procedure.

Can I have a virtual consultation?

Yes, by video. A virtual consultation can assess broad suitability and answer most questions, but does not replace the in-person physical examination required before any surgery is booked. Patients living outside London often start with a virtual consultation before travelling in.

What questions should I ask the surgeon?

The most consequential questions cover GMC Specialist Register status, procedure-specific volume, who performs the surgery, the anaesthetic plan, the facility’s CQC rating, and the revision policy. Full list in 10 questions to ask your surgeon.

The procedure itself

What type of anaesthetic is used?

Most Centre for Surgery procedures are performed under total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA), a controlled general anaesthetic with rapid recovery profile. A consultant anaesthetist is present throughout, with full monitoring including ECG, pulse oximetry, blood pressure, and capnography. Some procedures — labiaplasty, otoplasty in adults, smaller blepharoplasty cases — can be performed under local anaesthetic. See twilight sedation in cosmetic surgery.

How safe is cosmetic surgery?

UK consultant-led cosmetic surgery performed in CQC-regulated facilities is very safe in absolute terms, with mortality from elective cosmetic surgery in fit patients well under 1 in 100,000 for most procedures. Specific complication rates vary by procedure and are discussed in detail at consultation. The factors that materially affect safety are surgeon qualifications, facility standards, anaesthetic provision, and patient selection.

Will I need to stay overnight?

Most procedures at Centre for Surgery are day cases — admitted in the morning, discharged the same day. Some larger procedures (abdominoplasty, large mummy makeover, some combined cases) require one or two nights of in-clinic stay. This is confirmed at consultation.

How long does the surgery take?

Varies by procedure. Blepharoplasty 1 to 2 hours. Breast augmentation 1.5 to 2 hours. Rhinoplasty 2 to 3 hours. Liposuction 1 to 4 hours depending on areas. Abdominoplasty 3 to 4 hours. Facelift 3 to 5 hours. Mummy makeover 4 to 6 hours.

Recovery

How long does recovery take?

Time off work ranges from 5 to 7 days for blepharoplasty or liposuction, to 2 to 3 weeks for abdominoplasty or mummy makeover. Full exercise resumption is typically 6 to 8 weeks. Final aesthetic result takes 6 to 12 months as residual swelling resolves and scars mature. Procedure-by-procedure breakdown in how long is recovery after cosmetic surgery.

How do I prepare for surgery?

Stop smoking and vaping six weeks before. Stop relevant blood-thinning medications on medical advice. Arrange an adult to accompany you home and stay 24 hours. Book time off work. Arrange childcare. Set up your home for low-effort recovery. Full checklist in essential preparations before your plastic surgery.

Will the scars be visible?

Any surgical incision leaves a scar. The realistic standard is well-placed scars that fade significantly over 12 to 18 months and are positioned where clothing or natural skin folds conceal them. Rhinoplasty and blepharoplasty scars are typically hidden inside the nostril or in the natural eyelid crease. Abdominoplasty leaves a long but low scar below the bikini line. See how to minimise scars after cosmetic surgery.

How should I sleep after surgery?

Position depends on procedure. Propped at 30 degrees for facelift, blepharoplasty, and upper body surgery. On your back with knees elevated for abdominoplasty. On your front or sides only for BBL. See how to sleep after cosmetic surgery.

When can I exercise again?

Light walking from day 3 to 4 for most procedures. Stationary cycling and gentle activity from week 2 to 3. Full gym, contact sport, and heavy lifting from 6 to 8 weeks for most procedures, longer for abdominoplasty. Always check with your surgeon at the 6-week review before resuming intense activity.

When can I travel after surgery?

Short domestic travel after the one-week follow-up for most procedures. International flights after two to four weeks depending on procedure, because of cabin pressure and VTE risk. BBL patients should not fly within at least two weeks because economy seating is incompatible with positional restrictions.

Cost and finance

How much does cosmetic surgery cost?

Centre for Surgery publishes guide prices on each service page. Indicative ranges: blepharoplasty £2,000 to £5,000; rhinoplasty £6,500 to £9,000; breast augmentation £6,000 to £8,500; abdominoplasty £8,000 to £12,000; mummy makeover £12,000 to £18,000; facelift £9,000 to £15,000 depending on technique. Full pricing breakdown at cosmetic surgery costs and prices.

What does the cost include?

Surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist’s fee, facility fee, implants or specific consumables where applicable, pre-operative assessment, the day of surgery, and all routine follow-up appointments through the 12-month review. Anything additional is itemised in advance — there are no hidden costs.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes. Chrysalis Finance, our FCA-regulated finance partner, offers 0% APR over up to 12 months on most procedures, subject to standard credit checks. Longer payment terms with interest are also available. Full explanation in cosmetic surgery payment plans.

Is cosmetic surgery available on the NHS?

Almost all purely aesthetic cosmetic surgery is private. The NHS funds reconstructive procedures (after trauma, cancer, congenital conditions) and a narrow set of functional procedures (some breast reductions, some rhinoplasty with breathing problems, some blepharoplasty with significant visual field obstruction) where strict clinical criteria are met. Aesthetic motivation does not qualify.

Psychological and motivational

How do I know if I’m doing this for the right reasons?

The patients who do best are those pursuing surgery for themselves, with specific, anatomy-focused goals, in a stable point in their lives. The patients who do worst are those expecting surgery to resolve a difficult relationship, career problem, mood disorder, or a sense that “something is wrong with me”. Honest reflection on motivation matters, and is part of what the consultation assesses.

What is body dysmorphic disorder, and why is it relevant?

BDD is a recognised psychiatric condition in which a patient is preoccupied with a perceived flaw that is mild or invisible to others. Patients with untreated BDD have poor satisfaction rates after cosmetic surgery, may seek repeated procedures, and benefit more from psychological treatment than surgical intervention. UK consultant practice screens for this at consultation. Full discussion in body dysmorphia and cosmetic surgery.

What if I change my mind?

Acceptable at any point before surgery. The two-week cooling-off period exists for exactly this reason. Deposits may not be fully refundable depending on how far into the booking process you are, and our terms set this out in advance — but the option to defer or cancel is always available.

Booking a consultation

If your question isn’t answered above, the next step is a consultation with one of our consultant plastic surgeons. Call 0207 993 4849 or use the contact form. We are based at 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone, and consultations run six days a week including Saturdays.